1871 Book Discovered with a Surprise Inside

The year is 1880. What is is like for a boy growing up? Aside from all the chores inside the house, there are numerous chores outside as well. There are no alarm clocks - everyone rises with the sun or earlier if the home is also part of a farm. A 12 year-old boy would get to school either by walking, via a parent on horseback or by wagon.

While at school he is grouped with other students, not by age, but by reading level. He is asked to read from books out loud as a way to practice his elocution and share facts with other students. The books he might carry are small and there is one for each subject - math, history, reading, geography.

Learning new things interest him but his thoughts drift to the outside world. He has heard about things from the other boys and visiting relatives that excite and fascinate him. Catalogs and newspapers offer the promise of big events, sports and other leisure activities. His parents see this and warn him of the distraction. Too much wayward thinking and dreaming will cause him to languish between responsibility and his true calling. Such leisures are for the lazy and the only way to guarantee a future is a strong mind, farm and family. School books are allowed but catalogs are not!

One catalogue makes its way to his hands and fascinates him more that any other. “Peck and Snyders Catalogue of Out and Indoor Games and Novelties, etc.” (1879) This book so excites him that he will do whatever necessary to keep it nearby. But how?

To find out How, click here to continue reading.