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.
