Monday, May 16, 2011

Magpie Tales 66


Belle's heart was pounding as she hastily placed the book back on the shelf. She loved this library in the 36th and Madison mansion and spent hours here, sorting, examining, reading.

Today she could not believe her eyes: Walden, innocuously placed in a row at the back of the desk, had been autographed several years ago by Henry David Thoreau!
"My dearest John,
Allow me the pleasure of presenting to you a line from this book:
'Rather than love, than money, than fame, give me truth.'
I beg you to receive, dear Sir, the expression of my very best sentiments.
I remain yours truly,
Henry David Thoreau."

She had heard the clatter of John's carriage in the passageway, and he would be coming in the downstairs entry any moment. Belle retrieved her feather duster and studiously began dusting. She mentally went over her plans to be very gracious and impeccable in her work with both John Sr. and John Jr.


John~ John Pierpont Morgan, Sr. and Jr.

Belle~ Belle de Costa Greene, first director of the Pierpont Morgan Library


Magpie Tales is the vision of Tess Kincaid. If you would like to participate, just post your poem or vignette--based on Tess Kincaid's photo prompt--on your blog and link back to http://www.magpietales.blogspot.com.
Posted by at
Labels:

33 comments:

  1. Rinkly RimesMay 17, 2011 at 2:46 AM

    You make me want to learn more about these people.

    ReplyDelete
  2. AnneMay 17, 2011 at 7:34 AM

    Wow! What a find! That is very special!

    ReplyDelete
  3. AnonymousMay 17, 2011 at 7:37 AM

    Intriguing choices! Thanks for sharing. My magpie: http://verseinanutshell.wordpress.com/2011/05/16/open-book/

    ReplyDelete
  4. DianaMay 17, 2011 at 8:08 AM

    Very nice Margaret! I did get your comment. I don't know how often I'll be online. It seems I've been very busy lately!!
    Love Di ♥

    ReplyDelete
  5. Brian MillerMay 17, 2011 at 10:51 AM

    ah you bring just a bit of history to life...nice vignette...

    ReplyDelete
  6. Tess KincaidMay 17, 2011 at 1:59 PM

    Very nice. Have you seen the film Possession?

    ReplyDelete
  7. AnonymousMay 17, 2011 at 7:06 PM

    Great write...and it makes you wonder if belle has some plans for that special edition? perhaps i am just suspicious by nature. really enjoyed this historical write. vb

    ReplyDelete
  8. Margaret PangertMay 17, 2011 at 9:50 PM

    Hi Rinkly~ I think that era was best captured in the novel Ragtime by Doctorow. Of course, Thoreau was a little before them, a transcendentalist and a social reformer. Now how did I think I coud make him a friend of JP Morgan, Episcopalian and capitalist? Poetic license, I guess!
    Thanks for stopping by!

    ReplyDelete
  9. Margaret PangertMay 17, 2011 at 9:51 PM

    Thanks, Jabblog!

    ReplyDelete
  10. Margaret PangertMay 17, 2011 at 9:52 PM

    Thanks, Smiles! I'm glad you stopped by!

    ReplyDelete
  11. Margaret PangertMay 17, 2011 at 9:54 PM

    Thanks, Verseinanutshell! I did visit you and read your poignant poem--loved it! I commented more on your blog.

    ReplyDelete
  12. Margaret PangertMay 17, 2011 at 9:56 PM

    Hi Diana! I'm glad you'll be stopping in from time to time! I'll be checking your blog! I feel as though we are old friends... Love xxox

    ReplyDelete
  13. Margaret PangertMay 17, 2011 at 10:05 PM

    Thank you, Brian! It was fun to attempt historical fiction. I love the opportunity we have here to explore different genres, ideas...

    ReplyDelete
  14. Margaret PangertMay 17, 2011 at 10:13 PM

    Thanks, Tess! No, I haven't seen Possession--the one with Gwyneth Paltrow? However, you piqued my interest, and I googled it: I love the way they unravel the trail of the Victorian poet and poet laureate at the same time they write secret letters to each other that are uncovered! I'm ordering it now! Thanks for the suggestion. Do you remember Ragtime by E. Doctorow, another historical novel? I understand that the new Lincoln movie is quite good, too. xxox

    ReplyDelete
  15. Margaret PangertMay 17, 2011 at 10:15 PM

    Thanks, Versebender! Yes, I don't have much faith in Belle, either! In actuality, a portrait of JP Morgan with his granddaughter Mabel (resting on an easel) was stolen from this very same room!

    ReplyDelete
  16. AnonymousMay 17, 2011 at 10:26 PM

    Ah...the plot thickens!

    ReplyDelete
  17. ReflectionsMay 17, 2011 at 11:52 PM

    Just enough of a morsel to wet the appetite... just enough to keep us searching the shelves.

    I really like what I am seeing on your site. Nicely shared.

    ReplyDelete
  18. kjMay 18, 2011 at 1:33 AM

    margaret! this is great! economical and compelling. i love her decision to be gracious and impeccable.that is so cleverly written.

    how are you? i hope fine.

    ♥
    kj

    ReplyDelete
  19. anthonynorthMay 18, 2011 at 2:42 AM

    Now that is quite a find. Excellent.

    ReplyDelete
  20. Other MaryMay 18, 2011 at 11:38 AM

    Hmmm...what will Belle do next? Interesting piece.

    ReplyDelete
  21. Doctor FTSEMay 18, 2011 at 1:28 PM

    Very interesting. Actually a signed first edn. of "Walden"? I was surprised to learn (Wiki) that H.D.T's log cabin was only about 2 miles from the bosom of his family!
    I read "Ragtime" a long time ago. Tremendous book.

    ReplyDelete
  22. Noelle ClearwaterMay 18, 2011 at 2:23 PM

    Well this is fabulous. Now I know what you have been up to. I have not seen you and was worried. I am glad you are thriving here. Wonderful story!
    xoxo,
    Noelle

    ReplyDelete
  23. Lynne with an eMay 18, 2011 at 6:55 PM

    What fun to witness your imagination taking flight with a photo prompt, creating another time and world.

    WV: ovenslyt
    Where one inserts pies into an oven.

    ReplyDelete
  24. Steve IsaakMay 19, 2011 at 12:33 PM

    Well-written, engaging scene.

    ReplyDelete
  25. Margaret PangertMay 19, 2011 at 9:33 PM

    It does indeed, Versebender! Maybe this can be a historical novel!
    Thanks!

    ReplyDelete
  26. Margaret PangertMay 19, 2011 at 9:41 PM

    Thanks, Petrina! Cute--that is enough to keep us searching the shelves! Can you imagine?!:)
    Your delectable poem also depicted the treasures to be found...

    ReplyDelete
  27. Margaret PangertMay 19, 2011 at 9:45 PM

    Thanks, kj!
    I'm planning some adventures so I can at least halfway catch up with you! I admire your energy! You should have called me when you were in NY! (I live in NJ.)
    Love and all good things, Margaret

    ReplyDelete
  28. Margaret PangertMay 19, 2011 at 9:48 PM

    Thanks, Anthony! That kind of find would really make my day!

    ReplyDelete
  29. Margaret PangertMay 19, 2011 at 10:01 PM

    Thanks, Mary! Yes, this is turning into a compelling historical mystery!

    ReplyDelete
  30. Margaret PangertMay 19, 2011 at 10:29 PM

    Hi Dr. FTSE! Thoreau was pretty independent, though--quite skilled at woodcraft. He was a good friend of Emerson's, and I believe he went into town from time to time to visit him. Thoreau very much supported Emerson's ideas on civil disobedience and his "freedom fighters."
    Ragtime was made into a Broadway musical--also excellent! I can't remember: was it also made into a movie?

    ReplyDelete
  31. Margaret PangertMay 19, 2011 at 10:31 PM

    Noelle, thank you! You are the most thoughtful person. I'm definitely doing haiku my heart Friday tomorrow and hope you are, too! Love, me

    ReplyDelete
  32. Margaret PangertMay 19, 2011 at 10:50 PM

    Hi Lynne! It is fun! You should try it! Monday morning go to http://www.magpietales.blogspot.com to pick up the photo prompt and instructions. You can write either a vignette or a poem.
    On Friday mornings, you can post a 5-7-5 haiku with your own photo and go to http://corazon.typepad.com/recuerda_mi_corazon/haiku/ to link back to your post.
    On Thursday mornings, you can join Share the Joy Thursday by posting your joy (photos, musings, poetry, artwork...) and going to http://meriak.blogspot.com to sign in and link to your blog.
    The sharing is really fun!
    I am embarrassed to say I just got the meaning of WV! Yours was a good one! I'm heading over to you to do it back! Love, me

    ReplyDelete
  33. Margaret PangertMay 19, 2011 at 10:59 PM

    Thanks, Steve~ You didn't link up to Magpie Tales this time? Well, I read your next installment (for theme Thursday), and I'm really wondering what Sandra has on her mind: not anger or resentment, more like grief? Hmmm, tune in next week...

    ReplyDelete

Subscribe to: Post Comments (Atom)