(This is about a trip to Europe in 1852 by the author, a son of Judge Thomas Maney, formerly a Murfreesboro attorney, who moved to Tennessee. The dedication of the book is to "Miss F.W.S. of Murfreesborough, N.C." and it is followed by a poem on her death.)
"On the morning of the 2nd of May we took the steamer down the broad-flowing Potomac .... Passed through Richmond and Petersburg, Va., and reached Weldon N.C. that night.
Here we got out, and in the old village of Murfreesboro', and on the banks of the Megerrin and the Chowan, we learned the hospitality of the old North State. Many were our evening rides on horseback, and many a cozy hour, with our lady friends and favorite poets, went magically by. But among those bright-eyed ones there was a being of youth and beauty, from out whose wild blue orbs broke a wild and spiritual light. Into the fair paradise of that young heart no thought of evil passes - over the glad canopy of her life no storm-cloud sent its frown. From out of the sweet, unbroken dream of youth she had ne'er awakened. She
Dream'd that earth was bright with beauty
Dream'd that hearts grew never cold,
Dream'd that all were true and worthy,
And dreaming sought the spirit-fold.
Upon her pure and gentle dreaming, and all unknown to the loved and loving ones about her, the shadow of death was stealing. We have stood by her side, at evening's blushing sunset, and by the grave of those who had gone before her to the spiritland; and we heard, as though it were the voice of an angel, her thoughts of the life that was, and of the life that is. At that lone spot, where weeps the willow, she slumbers now. She bloomed awhile, like some fair lily by the shore of death's dark stream. The envious current saw and bore away the flower. But the kind mariner looked upon the lily, tossed upon the turbid tide, and taking it up transplanted it to smile forever in his garden home."
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