XIV. She told me that the humblest place Can be made pure and good by love; She told me angels waited near, To bear our prayers to God above; And from her lips I learned to say The prayers I whisper night and day! XV. Ah me! she came one day and said, My child, I'm going over-sea, We shall not meet for many years, Perhaps, in life, no more again!"— And then she stopp'd with sudden pain. XVI. I could not speak, I loved her so, I cried, and kiss'd her out-stretch'd hand; She told me more, but in my grief I had no sense to understand. I only know that she would be F XVII. I saw her brush away a tear, And then she quickly kiss'd my cheek; But though my heart was over-full, My secret thoughts I could not speak; Although I tried, I could not tell That I had loved her, oh, how well! XVIII. And now, I fain would send to her I have no better gift to make, And yet she'll prize it for my sake! XIX. Will some one bear this flower in charge, And place it in her much-loved hand? Perhaps no primroses are found In that far distant foreign land; Perhaps she'll love it tenderly, XX. It is my only pride and pet, My treasure and my playmate too; I ne'er may have another flower, And yet I'm glad to let it go. I should not think that it could be XXI. Her name is Alice, you must know So soft it is, and like the note, Oh, take my primroses, some one, And say to her, they come from me; Say, when I'm tall, and woman grown, I'll sail to Sidney o'er the sea; For her I'll sew, and knit, and run, And never think my work is done!" XXIII. And some one took the pot of flowers, With kindly word of promised care: Then joyfully the child retraced Her way along the vessel stair. Ah me! so beaming was her face, 'Twas like a sunbeam in the place! XXIV. But hasten, children; not so far Is London, but you'd reach it soon; The ship is not yet on her way, For tides are waited with the moon; I'm sure, from all that primrose store, You'd get a bloom or two, or more. But little Lucy shook her head, |