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Literary
July 22, 1831
Richmond Enquirer
Richmond, Richmond County, Virginia
What is this article about?
A lyrical poem by W. F. N. Bailey reminiscing about a chance encounter and dance with a gentle girl at a crowded country gathering, contrasting the simple joy with the speaker's later life in elegant halls, where memories of that night persist in dreams.
Clipping
OCR Quality
95%
Excellent
Full Text
THE COUNTRY DANCE
BY W. F. N. BAILEY.
I stood amid the glittering throng—
I heard a voice—its tones were sweet!
I turned to see from whence they came—
And gazed on all I longed to meet.
She was a fair and gentle girl!
Her bright smile greeted me by chance!
I whispered low—I took her hand—
I led her forth to dance!
There was but little space to move,
So closely all were drawn;
Yet she was light of heart and step,
And graceful as a fawn.
A virgin flower gemmed her hair,
Her beauty to enhance;
She was the star of all who stood
In that close cottage dance.
I've moved since then in princely halls—
I tread them even now;
I hold in mine the hand of one
With coroneted brow:
And I may seem to court her smile,
And seem to heed her glance;
But my heart and thoughts will wander home
To that sweet country dance.
O! when I sleep, a melody
Comes rushing on my brain.
And the light music of that night
Is greeting me again;
I take her still small hand in mine,
Amid my blissful trance:
And once more—vision worth a world!
I lead her forth to dance.
BY W. F. N. BAILEY.
I stood amid the glittering throng—
I heard a voice—its tones were sweet!
I turned to see from whence they came—
And gazed on all I longed to meet.
She was a fair and gentle girl!
Her bright smile greeted me by chance!
I whispered low—I took her hand—
I led her forth to dance!
There was but little space to move,
So closely all were drawn;
Yet she was light of heart and step,
And graceful as a fawn.
A virgin flower gemmed her hair,
Her beauty to enhance;
She was the star of all who stood
In that close cottage dance.
I've moved since then in princely halls—
I tread them even now;
I hold in mine the hand of one
With coroneted brow:
And I may seem to court her smile,
And seem to heed her glance;
But my heart and thoughts will wander home
To that sweet country dance.
O! when I sleep, a melody
Comes rushing on my brain.
And the light music of that night
Is greeting me again;
I take her still small hand in mine,
Amid my blissful trance:
And once more—vision worth a world!
I lead her forth to dance.
What sub-type of article is it?
Poem
What themes does it cover?
Love Romance
Social Manners
What keywords are associated?
Country Dance
Nostalgia
Romance
Rural Joy
Social Dance
Memory
What entities or persons were involved?
By W. F. N. Bailey.
Literary Details
Title
The Country Dance
Author
By W. F. N. Bailey.
Key Lines
I Stood Amid The Glittering Throng—
I Heard A Voice—Its Tones Were Sweet!
I Turned To See From Whence They Came—
And Gazed On All I Longed To Meet.
She Was A Fair And Gentle Girl!
Her Bright Smile Greeted Me By Chance!
I Whispered Low—I Took Her Hand—
I Led Her Forth To Dance!
But My Heart And Thoughts Will Wander Home
To That Sweet Country Dance.
And Once More—Vision Worth A World!
I Lead Her Forth To Dance.