histmss-074989-0002

My Life
Warp and Woof. March 1880. Sharon

Memory still weaves her webs for me,
From scenes that long have past away,
And figured gay and bright I see
As erst they were in the childhood's day.

Natures then spread her carpet green
With trees and brooks and birds and flowers,
"The world," unknown ne'er came between
To chase away my happy hours.

Short was the period spent at school,
(A village school of every class)
Where if I chanced to miss a rule
My teacher gently, let it pass!

I scarce had opened learning's page
Ere fortune shifted all the scene
And gave my life a longer stage
To be unthought of and unseen,

Love by my parents ever dear,
Sisters and brother well beloved,
But I had deeper woods to cheer
And by a deeper stream I roved.

And oh! how many happy times!
We had apart from all turmoil,
There in the woods began my rhymes,
Without a listener to spoil!

For later days a web was spun;
[crossed out: Than] A far more intricate design,
Than that in childish days begun
And many tangled threads combined!!

The Muse grows silent on this theme
Some scenes too deeply move for speech
Then of the past no longer dream,
Come gentle Hope! the shuttle reach!
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