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EDITH HARPOUR : 1869 ORIGINAL, CHARMING MANUSCRIPT DIARY HANDWRITTEN IN THE STYLE OF A NOVEL BY THE CAPTAIN'S DAUGHTER

8vo - over 7¾" - 9¾" tall. On offer is a simply charming 1869 manuscript relic of a young girl's nautical life being a unique 184 page journal handwritten by 16 year old Edith (or Edeth) Harpour, daughter of Captain John Harpour and at the beginning of the work we find them aboard the yacht "Astor". Edith proves to be a singularly unique diarist creating her autobiography in the form of a novel. She begins: "These "just fruits" at a late day are affectionately dedicated to a good papa by his daughter, May 1869." The index of chapter titles: The Trial Trip, Chapter I; Home Sweet Home, Chapter II; Sunsets and Philosophy, Chapter III; Twilight and Educational, Chapter IV; Miss Falkland, Chapter V; Bittern Lodge, Chapter VI; The Village Curator and "other lights", Chapter VII; Changes and Nationalism, Chapter VIII; Letters from Home and Air Castles, Chapter IX; Ralph Cotteran's Daughter, Chapter X; Turning New Leaves, Chapter XI; Improves Each Shinning Move, Chapter XII; John Harpour "Again", Chapter XIII; For better and worse, Chapter XVI. Historians and collectors of personal narratives on life aboard ships will be hard pressed to find a more charming well written work. Here are some snippets: "How is her head Captain? On hearing a voice, a broad shouldered fine looking white haired gentleman stopped in his short walk, turned round and faced a young girl who not with an assumed air of gravity had asked the above question. The "Captain" advancing a step or two passed his hand quietly through the brown curls of his daughter and gazing into her dark eyes said "If I informed my Eddie that "her head" was N.W. by W. or N.E. by E. how much wiser would she be? But papa dear, how are we getting along? I don't like this perfectly quiet gliding! I wish a friendly breeze would come and give us a tossing! Then she added I don't think mama would relish it so much as I think and almost know I should. The lady spoken of, mama, smiled faintly, a glance would show that she was an invalid. She sat or rather reclined on a heap of downy pillows, a rich woollen wrap careful "fixed" about her, the colors of which contrasted vividly with the pure delicate face and thin white hands that lay listlessly on the coverlid. Before describing any more of my dramatic person, I must inform my reader that all of the hero's and heroines in this opening scene were enjoying a sea voyage on the fact and world renowned yacht, Astor, commanded and owned by Captain Harpour. The captain had seen service and for many years was the commander of one of the finest ships in the merchant service. His dream from a boy had been to cruise in a yacht of his own and having been a steady youth, determined to get one. He gradually raised himself from one step to another until he having reached the top most rung of his profession……" The 6½" x 8¼" book's front cover is pulling away but overall G.. Manuscript. Book Condition: Good

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