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

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