Three Years She Grew in Sun and Shower

Three years she grew in sun and shower,

Then Nature said, "A lovelier

On earth was never sown;

This Child I to myself will take;

She shall be mine, and I will makeA Lady of my own."Myself will to my darling

Both law and impulse: and with

The Girl, in rock and

In earth and heaven, in glade and bower,

Shall feel an overseeing

To kindle or restrain."She shall be sportive as the

That wild with glee across the

Or up the mountain springs;

And her's shall be the breathing balm,

And her's the silence and the

Of mute insensate things."The floating clouds their state shall

To her; for her the willow bend;

Nor shall she fail to

Even in the motions of the

Grace that shall mold the Maiden's

By silent sympathy."The stars of midnight shall be

To her; and she shall lean her

In many a secret

Where rivulets dance their wayward round,

And beauty born of murmuring

Shall pass into her face."And vital feelings of

Shall rear her form to stately height,

Her virgin bosom swell;

Such thoughts to Lucy I will

While she and I together

Here in this happy dell."Thus Nature spake—-The work was done—-How soon my Lucy's race was run!

She died, and left to

This heath, this calm, and quiet scene;

The memory of what has been,

And never more will be.