Friendship book 1863, with poem about a slave, "The Faith of a Negro Boy"
Ca. 1863. Hardcover. Civil War era friendship book belonging to an unidentified owner, containing many manuscript poems, including a poem about a young slave boy. "The Faith of a Negro Boy" describes the young boy yearning for his lost parents, and praying at the shore for the return of "the ship from home". "Kind teachers have told the little slave, This world will pass away, But the Saviour has died our souls to save, Who hears us when we pray". The text of the poem was published in 'The Church Missionary Juvenile Instructor', London: Seeley, Jackson and Halliday, 1854.
Other poems include: "On Winter", William Cowper; "An Acrostic" by David [Mulholland]; and "The Voice of the Grass", by Sarah Roberts Boyle, an American poet.
Poems in manuscript period ink, on pale green, pink and yellow paper, watermarked "J. Davis 1833".
Square 4to, not paginated. Bound in three quarter brown leather and maroon paper covered boards. Covers rubbed, spine chipped, inner hinge starting but intact; manuscript pages bright and clean. Good condition. Item #25517
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