It isn't every book dedication that envisions the death of its recipient. But this one goes straight to the very last glimmer of consciousness before oblivion sets in. From Lives of the Hunted by Ernest Seton-Thompson, 1901. The text reads:
To "Sir Charles." Here's hoping that for many years you will enjoy a happy return of this day; that as you pass further along Life's pathway, the road may become more smooth and even; that the trees of Thought and Memory which line that path may hold you ever in their pleasant shade, sheltering you from the glare of Life's setting sun; that as twilight falls and surroundings grow dim, it shall bring naught but peace so that the last shall be but a harmonious blending into the landscape of a life well spent, whose final end is Rest. Will, October 28, 1901.
