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POPULAR  SHORT TREASURE  STORIES FROM  PAST NEWSLETTERS

    Whether coin and relic hunting with a metal detector or digging a privy for antique bottles, it is natural to start asking questions. The most common one is "What is this?"  Other questions are, " How did this get here?" Or, "What was this product?"  "What were these used for?" Of course, for some the first question is always "I wonder what this is worth!"
     If your first and main question is "What's it worth?" you are missing the real thrill that is hidden in treasure hunting. There is a treasure that can be found in the treasure itself if you look deep enough.

         And what about the early settler family, what did the loss of this coin mean to them ? To help us understand the value of the penny in the early 19th century let's think about the little book pictured above. The Memoir of Susan B. Marble was part of a 100-volume library of books printed by the American Sunday School Union in the 1820's. They were proudly promoted as the "CHEAPEST SUNDAY-SCHOOL LIBRARY EVER PUBLISHED!" The one hundred books sold for $10.00.

        The publishing of  this book was no simple task. The printing press used was much like the one used by Ben Franklin in the mid-1700's. Each printing plate was loaded and inked by hand. After the pages were printed the book was bound together by hand stitching.
        Books were many things to the early settlers. They represented  schooling, entertainment, and a sense of contact with the world. As a result books were considered very precious and were often read and re-read many times.

        This little book was the treasured possession of a young boy or girl. It is the touching, true story of young Susan Marble. Susan was a new 'convert to Christ', who wanted so badly to be baptized. Twice a date was set for her baptism in the winter of 1820-21. Each time the special event she longed for was postponed because of the terrible Connecticut winter storms. Finally on the day that she was to be baptized, Sunday, the 4th day of February, 1821, in her 14th year and before baptism, her Lord called her to his side.
        This little book was purchased for ten of those big pennies and was dearly treasured. At some time the little book's cover was torn ---- it was promptly mended. Scotch tape was not  invented yet so the owner carefully stitched the tear with a needle and thread.

     Take some time out! Think about your new found connection with the past. You are  the first person to handle this coin in perhaps 150 years or more!  Who was the last person to hold that coin? Look around you ----- how much has the landscape changed since your coin was lost? Just think, the last time this penny saw  light of day Thomas Jefferson may have been the President!  The terrible Civil War still lay in our country's future.
         And what about the early settler family, what did the loss of this coin mean to them ? To help us understand the value of the penny in the early 19th century let's think about the little book pictured above. The Memoir of Susan B. Marble was part of a 100-volume library of books printed by the American Sunday School Union in the 1820's. They were proudly promoted as the "CHEAPEST SUNDAY-SCHOOL LIBRARY EVER PUBLISHED!" The one hundred books sold for $10.00.

       The publishing of  this book was no simple task. The printing press used was much like the one used by Ben Franklin in the mid-1700's. Each printing plate was loaded and inked by hand. After the pages were printed the book was bound together by hand stitching.
        Books were many things to the early settlers. They represented  schooling, entertainment, and a sense of contact with the world. As a result books were considered very precious and were often read and re-read many times.

        This little book was the treasured possession of a young boy or girl. It is the touching, true story of young Susan Marble. Susan was a new 'convert to Christ', who wanted so badly to be baptized. Twice a date was set for her baptism in the winter of 1820-21. Each time the special event she longed for was postponed because of the terrible Connecticut winter storms. Finally on the day that she was to be baptized, Sunday, the 4th day of February, 1821, in her 14th year and before baptism, her Lord called her to his side.
        This little book was purchased for ten of those big pennies and was dearly treasured. At some time the little book's cover was torn ---- it was promptly mended. Scotch tape was not  invented yet so the owner carefully stitched the tear with a needle and thread.

Here are the Susan Marble memoirs just as they were first written in the 1820's.  It is a short, little book of only 23 small pages. I reprinted it exactly as it was published with the beautiful early 1800's English and spelling. It was a lot of work for a one-finger typist. I hope you enjoy it. Susan's testimony is still making a difference in lives 177 years later. I feel that it was no accident the little booklet fell into my hands; I pray that it will touch your heart...........