A New England Girlhood

I dedicated this sketch

To my girlfriends in general;

And in particular

To my namesake-niece,

Lucy Larcom Spaulding.

Happy those early days, when I

Shined in my angel-infancy!

--When on some gilded cloud or flower

My gazing soul would dwell an hour,

And in those weaker glories spy

Some shadows of eternity:--

Before I taught my tongue to wound

My conscience by a sinful sound;--

But felt through all this fleshy dress

Bright shoots of everlastingness.

HENRY VAUGHAN

The thought of our past years in me doth breed

Perpetual benediction.

WORDSWORTH