A Very Special Gift
Hoss sat on the edge of Adam's bed, looking at the book of poetry that had saved his brother's life. "You sure were lucky Adam. If you hadn't been reading this book, you wouldn't be laying here now. I never cared much about books, but this is my favorite and it always will be. Where did you get it?"
"A girl gave it to me."
"She must have been awful special 'cause you read it a lot."
"Yes, she was very special. I wouldn't mind seeing her again. Maybe I'll take a trip to Boston after I'm healed to see if she still lives there."
"Wouldn't it be better to write first, instead of taking that long trip, maybe for nothing?"
Adam laughed. "I may have graduated from college, but you have more common sense than I do."
"Why don't you tell me about her and why she gave you this book?"
"Her name is Becky. Rebecca Williams. She introduced me to poetry and we became very good friends."
Adam thought back to his youth. He remembered his father teaching him to read and how much he loved it. The two of them passed the time reading to each other during the long years traveling west by wagon. His father didn't have much money, but whenever they stopped at a trading post, he always tried to trade a book they had finished for a different one. Inger loved to read and helped Adam learn to pronounce unfamiliar words. Marie also loved reading, bought him books, and encouraged him to attend college.
By the time he left for Boston, Adam loved reading, especially the classics. He read Dickens, Shakespeare, Chaucer, and Poe, among others. One thing he refused to read was poetry. As far as he was concerned, it was all romantic drivel and he wanted nothing to do with it. Or at least it was until he met Becky.
During the week, Adam lived in the dormitory at Harvard, but on weekends and holidays, he stayed with his grandfather. It was during his first Easter weekend in Boston that he met Becky. She lived with her grandparents and was attending Boston University. Abel Stoddard and Ralph Williams were good friends and one day they decided that it was long past time for their grandchildren to meet, so Ralph talked to his wife, who agreed with the men. Rose suggested that Ralph invite Abel and Adam to supper on Sunday and the two young people could be introduced to each other then.
The invitation was accepted and Abel and Adam arrived at the Williams' home early Sunday evening. Ralph introduced his granddaughter to their guests and suggested that Becky take Adam and show him her grandmother's garden. The two young people took an instant liking to each other.
While they were walking through the garden, Becky said, "Grandfather tells me that you're attending Harvard. What are you studying?"
"I'm studying Architecture and Engineering. Are you planning to attend any of the women's colleges?"
"Yes. In fact, I am enrolled in Boston University."
"That's wonderful. What are you studying?"
"I'm studying Literature and Music and plan to teach both subjects when I graduate. Do you like to read?"
"Yes I do."
"That is fantastic. What are some authors that you have read?"
"Some authors I've read are Dickens, Shakespeare, Chaucer, and Poe."
"Those are excellent authors. Have you read any works by Elizabeth Barrett Browning or Percy Bysshe Shelley?"
"No. I detest poetry. It's all romantic drivel."
Becky laughed. "You're silly Adam. Not all poems are romantic." Seeing the skeptical look on Adam's face, she said, "Please wait here and I'll be right back." Adam did as Becky requested and she returned shortly, carrying a book of poetry. "I want to show you that not all poetry is romantic drivel as you call it. This poem is called "Ozymandias" and it's by Percy Bysshe Shelley.
I met a traveller from an antique land,
Who said—"Two vast and trunkless legs of stone
Stand in the desert. . . . Near them, on the sand,
Half sunk a shattered visage lies, whose frown,
And wrinkled lip, and sneer of cold command,
Tell that its sculptor well those passions read
Which yet survive, stamped on these lifeless things,
The hand that mocked them, and the heart that fed;
And on the pedestal, these words appear:
My name is Ozymandias, King of Kings;
Look on my Works, ye Mighty, and despair!
Nothing beside remains. Round the decay
Of that colossal Wreck, boundless and bare
The lone and level sands stretch far away."
Now, is there anything romantic about that poem?"
"No, there isn't."
"Please take this book with you when you leave tonight. There are a few more poems I would like you to read. They are The Raven by Poe, Casabianca by Hemans, and The Charge of the Light Brigaide by Tennyson. I think that you will find that none of those poems are romantic at all. I would enjoy discussing them with you the next time we meet."
"I would enjoy that also."
They became very good friends and Adam often escorted Becky to literary and musical events at both schools. They graduated at the top of their classes and attended each other's graduation. As a graduation present, Adam gave Becky a book of Elizabeth Barrett Browning's work and she gifted him a copy of the book she had encouraged him to read on their first meeting. Each gift was inscribed by the giver. When the time came for Adam to return to Nevada, Becky and her grandparents were there to see him off. They hugged and Adam kissed Becky on the cheek. "I'm going to miss you," he said.
"And I will miss you too. Promise that you will write to me."
"I will whenever I get the opportunity. I expect to be very busy on the ranch. It would make me very happy if you would write to me also. I hope that you will be able to visit the Ponderosa someday."
"I would enjoy that and I hope that you will be able to return to Boston sometime."
After listening to Adam's story, Hoss walked over to Adam's desk, took out some paper and a pencil, and said, "You need to write to that little gal now and tell her how that book saved your life. You also need to invite her, her grandparents, and your grandfather to visit in the spring. I'll just bet that she'll love all of the wildflowers and baby critters."
Adam wrote a letter to Becky and Hoss mailed it for him. He was thrilled to receive a reply stating that Becky, her grandparents, and his grandfather would visit in the spring. Hoss was right. Becky loved all of the wildflowers and baby animals. She also fell in love with the ranch and Adam, who also fell in love with her and asked her to marry him. One summer Saturday the Ponderosa was full of guests as Rebecca Williams became Rebecca Cartwright.