Here's an explanation of the difficult words and phrases from the story:
"It's now or never": This is an idiom that means a decision or action must be taken immediately, or the opportunity will be lost. It implies a sense of urgency and finality.
"navigated the streets easily": To navigate means to find one's way through an area, often using maps or directions. In this context, it means she had no trouble finding her way around the town.
"Trent River on an old-fashioned drawbridge":
A drawbridge is a type of bridge that can be raised or lowered to allow boats or ships to pass underneath. They are often associated with older engineering.
"began the final leg of her journey": A leg in this context refers to a distinct section or stage of a journey or process. So, the "final leg" is the last part of her trip.
"low country": This term refers to a geographical region that is typically flat and close to sea level, often found along coastal areas or river deltas. It contrasts with higher elevation areas like mountains or plateaus.
"Piedmont area": The Piedmont is a geographical region located at the foot of a mountain range. It's often characterized by rolling hills, distinct from the flat "low country."
"silty, fertile soil":
Silty soil is a type of soil that contains a high proportion of silt, which is a fine, granular material between sand and clay in size. Silty soils are generally smooth and powdery when dry, and often feel slippery when wet.
Fertile soil is soil that is rich in nutrients and capable of producing abundant crops.
"timber": This refers to wood that has been prepared for use in construction or other purposes. In this context, it refers to the logging industry.
"river the color of iron": This is a descriptive phrase, likely referring to a river that has a reddish-brown or dark, somewhat metallic hue, possibly due to the presence of minerals or the type of soil it flows through.
"veered toward the road and then turned away": To veer means to change direction suddenly. Here, the river's path briefly moved closer to the road before moving away again.
"giving up its life to a different, larger river": This is a poetic way of saying that the smaller river flows into and merges with a larger river, effectively becoming part of it.
"antebellum farms": Antebellum is a Latin term meaning "before the war." In the context of the United States, it specifically refers to the period before the American Civil War (1861-1865). So, "antebellum farms" are farms that were established or existed before the Civil War.
"The constancy of the place brought back a flood of memories":
Constancy refers to the state of being unchanging or stable. The fact that the place hadn't changed much created this effect.
A flood of memories is an idiom meaning a sudden and overwhelming rush of many memories.
"felt her insides tighten": This is a common way to describe a physical sensation associated with strong emotions like anxiety, nostalgia, or a pang of sadness. It suggests an emotional reaction manifesting physically.
"War between the States": This is another name for the American Civil War, fought between the Union (Northern states) and the Confederacy (Southern states) from 1861 to 1865.
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