Benjamin H Coates, Steal not this book, version 2, circa 1808-1812

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Benjamin H Coates, Steal not this book, version 2, circa 1808-1812


To the thief
Steal not this book, my honest & grieve thy friend;
It is but little worth
To all but him who was the end
For which it had its birth.
Most property can be transferred;
But this is not like all,
For if it chance its owner change
Its value straight will fall.
To me ’tis dear, for it contains
Memorials of my friends:
To any other, all its worth
In bits of paper ends.
But if my friends who wrote this book
May not the less be thine;
’Twas not for thee they wrote it that it was done.
And thou must still refrine.
Ev’n with it thou’llt refrine.

Writer

Benjamin H Coates
Date written
circa 1808-1812
Paper
Pen
Penmanship Style
Collection
Historical Society of Pennsylvania
Benjamin H Coates, School Book,
Enoch Lewis Boarding School at New Garden
1808-1812
AM.8243
File name
Benjamin H Coates_Steal not this book_version 2.jpg

Benjamin H Coates Steal not this book version 2.jpg