A book of life, completed

In the dappled shade at the western edge of Red Bank Cemetery stands a thick tablet marker with a small carved book seemingly balanced on the domed top. It marks the graves of Obadiah Sebring (d. 1848) and his wife, Esther Sebring (d. 1857).

Carved books are not uncommon in the graveyard, but they are found more often on gravestones that have a pedestal shape. 

OBADIAH SEBRING
DIED
Dec. 13, 1848
AGED
70 Y. 2 M. 4 D.

ESTHER
WIFE OF
O. SEBRING
DIED
Dec. 31, 1857
AGED
75 Y. 7 M. 22 D.

The book is closed, which usually represents a completed life. The carver took the time to carve page edges on three sides, and at first glance I thought I saw text on the spine. Turns out, there are no words that I can see; just texturizing that nonetheless adds to the realistic look of the book.

 

Red Bank Cemetery, Delaware County, Ohio