A New England Girlhood, Outlined from Memory (Beverly, MA)

Project Gutenberg/Make a Difference Day Project 1999. A NEW ENGLAND GIRLHOOD OUTLINED FROM MEMORY By LUCY LARCOM 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.