Compact

Compact: closely packed or knit together

Another treasure discovered at the Lighthouse Avenue Goodwill today: the entire Oxford English Dictionary plus supplement and bibliography condensed into two volumes. It’s practically travel sized. The type is like ant footprints. For the word doctor alone there are thirteen explanations. And with that fetching little drawer for the magnifying glass, how could I resist? I lugged it to the counter only to discover it was unmarked.

“Flora!” the cashier hollered. I wondered how much I would be willing to pay.

Flora peered at the set through librarian glasses on the end of her nose. She opened and closed the drawer, rapped the box with her knuckles like a melon and declared, “$10.25.”

Sold. 

Comments

[Mary Ann Peters]

Precisely the set we splurged on in 1979...essential magnifying glass included! It's been well used over the years, and holds pride of place at Solstead. I love the little pull tabs at the front to dislodge the book from the box.