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- Sold on eBay.com for $202.50 on 11/11/01 ===================================== Young Lady's Diary and Friendship Book, 1845. Opening with a hand-colored engraved title page, it is part diary, part autograph book, part scrapbook, part history, but all poetry, wrapped upin a fine leather and gilt book. The front cover reads 'Scriptural Album with Floral Illustrations' in well-preserved gilt, and the back cover featured as stamped and brightly gilt image of a girl dancing amongst flowers, scattering petals in the wind. This 'Scriptural Album' belonged to Ann Frances Dyer of Rhode Island. (She later married and became AnnFrances Dyer Manton; died 8 Feb 1870, interred at Swan Point Cemetery,Providence.) The notes, poems and entries are largely dated in and around the year1845, with many entries from The Smithville Seminary. Friend, cousins, beaux and others wrote to their 'dear Ann Francis,' sometimes calling her 'Frank.' The poems range from sweet to romantic, and the penmanship on all of them is exacting and perfect. Some of the titles include 'Friendship,' while they all cover friendship, love and beauty. Signatures and writers are Ann R. Weatherhead (of Cumberland), Susan C.Hopkins (of Warwick), Margaret M. Harrington (of Manville), Lizzie W.Knight, Josiah K. Mallory, Frances E. Moury, Mary H. Phillips, John O.Dyer (cousin), 'Leander' and others. One of the poems is signed simply'One of the Trio,' which sounds like Miss Ann Francis had an innercircle. While many are dated with the Smithville Seminary location,others are from Providence, Pawtucket, Smithfield, Central Falls, more. Title Page Two favorite 'short and sweet' entries are from 1845, and read as follows: Can I forget, Can I forget The tie of friendship: Never! Around my heart it lingers yet A tie I ne'er can sever. and I write not here for beauty I write not here for fame 'Tis for you to remember me That I here record my name.
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1809 - 1870 (61 years)