The "Discovering Lost Stuff: Part II - Childhood Stuff" Story

It was an ordinary day.  Having the best time looking at all the neat stuff that I found in the antique desk we bought after we moved into our beach house over 20 years ago.  Much of the "stuff" was college items I needed for my courses.  But, some of the items I found date back to my childhood and are perhaps older than many of you reading this story.  Books printed in the 1930s and a few items that belonged to my dad were part of the find in the old desk.  See if you can remember some of the items that I discovered after I opened the top of the desk to see where I might have placed a scrapbook I wanted to visit once again.  It was another extraordinary day in the life of an ordinary guy.

The desk where I discovered much of what I have posted today.  Click on images to enlarge.

This was my father's book which I still use today to say grace before we eat.  There is a prayer for every day of the year as well as table prayers for special days such as Christmas and Easter.  At times I will ask others to read the blessing and they are happy to have the chance to read from dad's book.

These are childhood plates that were in the desk.  The bottom two and top right one were plates our children used when they were young while the one on the top left was a ceramic dish I used as a child.  That dish is over 70 years old and to me is priceless.

This is a very small stamp holder.  Not sure where I got it, but it holds some old stamps from all over the world.  Still in great shape.

This is a small cardboard case that holds writing paper as well as rubber seashell stamps to stamp on a letter.  Haven't used it for years, but may just have to keep it out and write a few letters.

The book on the left was given to me by my mom and dad.  Tells, as it says on the cover, the story of Jesus.  Fully illustrated and was used all the time to teach me different lessons about Jesus.  The book on the right belonged to my dad.  It was stamped inside March 11th, 1928.  My dad was 8 years-old at the time he was given the book.  It looks as if his Sunday School Teacher gave it to him "For bringing in the new scholars to Sunday School."  It too tells the story of Jesus as told by his earthly father.

The nameplate in my book.

The nameplate inside my father's book.

One of favorite childhood books, Black Beauty. 

Nameplate inside that book.

This was also one of my favorite books.  It was printed in 1938.  Tomorrow I will post a story about one of the most controversial stories within this book; Little Black Sambo.  I have included two pages of the story to show you what I was read as a young boy.  To this day I don't believe my mom and dad were racists, but didn't realize the ramifications of this story being in a children's book and spreading the racist attitude it may have spread.

The title page in the book.

Some of the pages have been torn from my book.  This is the beginning of the fairy tale "The tale of Peter Rabbit."

This is the beginning of the fairy tale "Little Black Sambo."