The New England Girlhood; Outlined from Memory (Beverly, Ma)

Larcom, Lucy, 1824-1893

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