I thought some of you might like to read this. It is an inscription in a book, Messer Marco Polo by Don Byrne, of my paternal grandfather's:

This volume is the property of one Frank Hudson a resident of (a) village hamlet (in?) town of Carbondale which is situated near the foot of (Mount) Sopris. Whosoever shall steal this book may the hungry hounds of hell pursue his soul through the eternal fires of damnation until the same are congealed by the frost of the big winter.

No wonder my family is passionate about our books!:-)