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Excerpt from The Prophet of the Alleghany Mountains: A Missionary Tale, and Other Poems It may be asked why the following poems should be sent into the world at a time when so many are issuing from the press with far greater claims to patronage and support. The answer is obvious. The writer conceives that the language of our best poets can be properly appreciated only by those who have received a superior education, and whose minds have been cultivated in the highest degree; hence it is she thinks her poems better adapted to those in more humble life, and at the same time she flatters herself they will not be found unpleasing to the most fastidious reader. The aim of the writer has not been so much to please the car by elegance of language as to enforce the first principles of Christianity, not only by precept but by bringing forward examples to prove the excellence of those principles in operation. Therefore she conceives the present volume suited to the capacity of the rising generation, whose best interests she would be ever happy to promote, but more especially the welfare of those pupils who have been, and still are, entrusted to her care, to be instructed in the various branches of female education. About the Publisher Forgotten Books publishes hundreds of thousands of rare and classic books. Find more at www.forgottenbooks.com This book is a reproduction of an important historical work. Forgotten Books uses state-of-the-art technology to digitally reconstruct the work, preserving the original format whilst repairing imperfections present in the aged copy. In rare cases, an imperfection in the original, such as a blemish or missing page, may be replicated in our edition. We do, however, repair the vast majority of imperfections successfully; any imperfections that remain are intentionally left to preserve the state of such historical works.

This historic book may have numerous typos and missing text. Purchasers can usually download a free scanned copy of the original book (without typos) from the publisher. Not indexed. Not illustrated. 1860 edition. Excerpt: ...journeying on my weary way In evening's fading light, I cross'd the moss and stood before This cottage on the height. A new-made widow met mine eye In life's delicious prime, All wet with grief, which surely is The saddest sight in time. O, she was bended like a reed, Her cheeks were pale as death; Her eyes were red with weeping much, And feverish was her breath. She sobb'd like one about to die, On some deserted shore, When glancing on her little ones, "My William is no more: "O, yestermorn he left his home With health and beauty blest; He press'd my hand, and kiss'd our babe Sweet-sleeping in its nest. But ere the cricket chirp'd at eve, Or stars began to shine, My little ones were fatherless--He's buried in the mine. "O Sir,"--and here she raised her eyes Above earth's dusty clod, --"My William was a man of prayer; He's surely now with God. Though in the mine his body lies A hundred fathoms down, And I shall never see him more, He wears a golden crown. i "This gives me now a second life; When whelm'd in blackest seas, I breast the waves, and seem to hear His voice upon the breeze. Soon we shall meet above the stars, On Canaan's peaceful plain, Where tears are wiped from every eye, And never part again." I spoke of Him whose watchful eye Discerns the sparrow's fall, Whose mercy and benevolence Extend alike to all, --The Father of the fatherless; Then cross'd the common wide: But this poor bended widow'd one Was ever at my side. AN OLD WOMAN IN TEARS. I Saw an old woman in tears, --Her hopes were all built on the Eock, --When the minister spake in the temple of God, And the Spirit fell down on the flock. Her limbs were all shaking with pain, Her body was bended with years, And palsy was evermore twitching...

This work has been selected by scholars as being culturally important, and is part of the knowledge base of civilization as we know it. This work was reproduced from the original artifact, and remains as true to the original work as possible. Therefore, you will see the original copyright references, library stamps (as most of these works have been housed in our most important libraries around the world), and other notations in the work. This work is in the public domain in the United States of America, and possibly other nations. Within the United States, you may freely copy and distribute this work, as no entity (individual or corporate) has a copyright on the body of the work. As a reproduction of a historical artifact, this work may contain missing or blurred pages, poor pictures, errant marks, etc. Scholars believe, and we concur, that this work is important enough to be preserved, reproduced, and made generally available to the public. We appreciate your support of the preservation process, and thank you for being an important part of keeping this knowledge alive and relevant.

Richard Drake has skillfully woven together the various strands of the Appalachian experience into a sweeping whole. Touching upon folk traditions, health care, the environment, higher education, the role of blacks and women, and much more, Drake offers a compelling social history of a unique American region. The Appalachian region, extending from Alabama in the South up to the Allegheny highlands of Pennsylvania, has historically been characterized by its largely rural populations, rich natural resources that have fueled industry in other parts of the country, and the strong and wild, undeveloped land. The rugged geography of the region allowed Native American societies, especially the Cherokee, to flourish. Early white settlers tended to favor a self-sufficient approach to farming, contrary to the land grabbing and plantation building going on elsewhere in the South. The growth of a market economy and competition from other agricultural areas of the country sparked an economic decline of the region's rural population at least as early as 1830. The Civil War and the sometimes hostile legislation of Reconstruction made life even more difficult for rural Appalachians. Recent history of the region is marked by the corporate exploitation of resources. Regional oil, gas, and coal had attracted some industry even before the Civil War, but the postwar years saw an immense expansion of American industry, nearly all of which relied heavily on Appalachian fossil fuels, particularly coal. What was initially a boon to the region eventually brought financial disaster to many mountain people as unsafe working conditions and strip mining ravaged the land and its inhabitants. A History of Appalachia also examines pockets of urbanization in Appalachia. Chemical, textile, and other industries have encouraged the development of urban areas. At the same time, radio, television, and the internet provide residents direct links to cultures from all over the world. The author looks at the process of urbanization as it belies commonly held notions about the region's rural character.