19th Century Handwritten Anthology of Poetry and Quotations Compiled by an Educated Somerville, Massachusetts Woman

On offer is a beautiful, sentimental handwritten journal of both popular and obscure 19th century (and earlier) poetry and quotations. This book was transcribed and organized by Sara Abigail Stone (later Carpenter) (1861-1942). She used her creation as a birthday book to track important dates in the lives of her family, friends and public figures. To learn more about Sara and the Stone family of Somerville, see BIO NOTES at the end of this listing. 

In the late 19th century, Sara took a blank book and created an entry for each day of the calendar year. Under each date, she hand wrote a quotation or poem that resonated with her. She then noted birthdays of people who were important to her under the poetry, simultaneously creating her own birthday book and anthology of literature.

As an introduction to her book, she transcribed two poems on the first page: The Absent by Sara Louise Oberholtzer and Life’s Round by William Brunton. To close her book, after her December 31st entry, she transcribed the poignant 1891 poem by William Henry Channing, Youth and Age. 

Sara has done a lovely job of giving meaning to each day of the year through the words she selected. Some of her quotes and poems clear hat-tips to particular holidays, while others bear more subtle connection to the calendar day for which they were chosen. Some of her entries are as follows:

“If it is to be a Happy New Year to you you must be sure of making it a Happy New Year to someone else - S.J. Barrows” [January 1st]. 

“The wider the base of life, the higher we may expect to raise the summit [Birthdays: Emma Maria Stone, 1828 and Lydia E. Ring]” [March 9th; Note that Emma is Sara’s mother].

“Nay, ‘tis the golden sunshine. There is naught That can withstand its gracious power. The winter’s reign is broken from this hour. And all its terrors are to nothing bought. O heat, my heart, greet though the opening year, Sing with the birds and make sweeter cheer. - John W. Chadwick” [March 20th, Sara’s own birthday]. 

“Honor and shame from no condition rise/Act well your part, there all honor lies - Abraham Pike” [August 27th]. 

“The belfries of all Christendom/Had rung so long the unbroken song/Of peace on earth, good will to men…Oh the light and warmth and glory/Circling around the Christmas Eve!/Eastern tale or fairy story/Never could such magic weave - HW Longfellow” [December 25th].

For a social or literary historian, this volume is a gorgeous, curated collection of poetry and quotations from the 19th century and earlier, as well as a glimpse into the mind of a well-educated 19th century woman’s taste in literature. It adds to the existing body of knowledge about prominent members of the Somerville community. 

BIO NOTES: Sara Abigail Stone (later Carpenter) of Somerville, Massachusetts, was the daughter of Jonathan and Emma (Cutter) Stone. Sara was an active member of the Somerville Historical Society and wrote several chapters in the Society's journal, Historic Leaves, which was published from 1903 until 1915. Sara’s older brother, Frederick W. Stone was a locally-prominent businessman and photographer who helped found the community's Savings Bank where he went on to work for the next 42 years. As an avid photographer he created a wonderful photographic record of Somerville and its people in the 19th century. In 1908, a 37-year-old Sara married 66-year-old Allen Francis Carpenter (1842-1923), who owned and operated a grocery store in Somerville. Research has not uncovered any children born to the couple. 

This small book measures 8.0 inches by 6.5 inches and contains 108 pages. It is 72% complete. The cover is worn but still intact. The binding has come apart and the covers are barely attached. The thread binding the signatures is loose and a large number of pages have become detached. However, all pages are accounted for. There are line drawings pasted in to delineate each of the 12 months of the year.