I, Robert Louis Stevenson, Advocate of the Scots Bar, author of _The
Master of Ballantrae_ and _Moral Emblems_, stuck civil engineer, sole
owner and patentee of the Palace and Plantation known as Vailima in the
island of Upolu, Samoa, a British Subject, being in sound mind, and
pretty well, I thank you, in body:
In consideration that Miss Annie H. Ide, daughter of H. C. Ide, in the
town of Saint Johnsbury, in the county of Caledonia, in the state of
Vermont, United States of America, was born, out of all reason, upon
Christmas Day, and is therefore out of all justice denied the consolation
and profit of a proper birthday;
And considering that I, the said Robert Louis Stevenson, have attained an
age when O, we never mention it, and that I have now no further use for a
birthday of any description;
And in consideration that I have met H. C. Ide, the father of the said
Annie H. Ide, and found him about as white a land commissioner as I
require:
_Have transferred_, and _do hereby transfer_, to the said Annie H. Ide,
_all and whole_ my rights and priviledges in the thirteenth day of
November, formerly my birthday, now, hereby, and henceforth, the birthday
of the said Annie H. Ide, to have, hold, exercise, and enjoy the same in
the customary manner, by the sporting of fine raiment, eating of rich
meats, and receipt of gifts, compliments, and copies of verse, according
to the manner of our ancestors;
_And I direct_ the said Annie H. Ide to add to the said name of Annie H.
Ide the name Louisa—at least in private; and I charge her to use my said
birthday with moderation and humanity, _et tamquam bona filia familiæ_,
the said birthday not being so young as it once was, and having carried
me in a very satisfactory manner since I can remember;
And in case the said Annie H. Ide shall neglect or contravene either of
the above conditions, I hereby revoke the donation and transfer my rights
in the said birthday to the President of the United States of America for
the time being:
In witness whereof I have hereto set my hand and seal this nineteenth day
of June in the year of grace eighteen hundred and ninety-one.
[Picture: Circle with word ‘seal’ in it]