a new england girlhood-第2章
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To different minds； poetry may present different phases。 To me； the reverent faith of the people I lived among； and their faithful everyday living； was poetry； blossoms and trees and blue skies were poetry。 God himself was poetry。 As I grew up and lived on； friendship became to me the deepest and sweetest ideal of poetry。 To live in other lives； to take their power and beauty into our own； that is poetry experienced； the most inspiring of all。 Poetry embodied in persons； in lovely and lofty characters； more sacredly than all in the One Divine Person who has transfigured our human life with the glory of His sacrifice； all the great lyrics and epics pale before that； and it is within the reach and comprehension of every human soul。
To care for poetry in this way does not make one a poet； but it does make one feel blessedly rich； and quite indifferent to many things which are usually looked upon as desirable possessions。 I am sincerely grateful that it was given to me； from childhood； to see life from this point of view。 And it seems to me that every young girl would be happier for beginning her earthly journey with the thankful consciousness that her life does not consist in the abundance of things that she possesses。
The highest possible poetic conception is that of a life consecrated to a noble ideal。 It may be unable to find expression for itself except through humble； even menial services； or through unselfish devotion whose silent song is audible to God alone； yet such music as this might rise to heaven from every young girl's heart and character if she would set it free。 In such ways it was meant that the world should be filled with the true poetry of womanhood。
It is one of the most beautiful facts in this human existence of ours； that we remember the earliest and freshest part of it most vividly。 Doubtless it was meant that our childhood should live on in us forever。 My childhood was by no means a cloudless one。 It had its light and shade； each contributing a charm which makes it wholly delightful in the retrospect。
I can see very distinctly the child that I was； and I know how the world looked to her； far off as she is now。 She seems to me like my little sister； at play in a garden where I can at any time return and find her。 I have enjoyed bringing her back； and letting her tell her story； almost as if she were somebody else。 I like her better than I did when I was really a child； and I hope never to part company with her。
I do not feel so much satisfaction in the older girl who comes between her and me； although she； too； is enough like me to be my sister； or even more like my young； undisciplined mother； for the girl is mother of the woman。 But I have to acknowledge her faults and mistakes as my own； while I sometimes feel like reproving her severely for her carelessly performed tasks； her habit of lapsing into listless reveries； her cowardly shrinking from responsibility and vigorous endeavor； and many other faults that I have inherited from her。 Still； she is myself； and I could not be quite happy without her comradeship。
Every phase of our life belongs to us。 The moon does not； except in appearance； lose her first thin； luminous curve； nor her silvery crescent； in rounding to her full。 The woman is still both child and girl； in the completeness of womanly character。 We have a right to our entire selves； through all the changes of this mortal state； a claim which we shall doubtless carry along with us into the unfolding mysteries of our eternal being。 Perhaps in this thought lies hidden the secret of immortal youth； for a seer has said that 〃to grow old in heaven is to grow young。〃
To take life as it is sent to us； to live it faithfully； looking and striving always towards better life； this was the lesson that came to me from my early teachers。 It was not an easy lesson； but it was a healthful one； and I pass it on to younger pupils； trusting that they will learn it more thoroughly than I ever have。
Young or old； we may all win inspiration to do our best； from the needs of a world to which the humblest life may be permitted to bring immeasurable blessings：
〃For no one doth know What he can bestow； What light； strength； and beauty may after him go： Thus onward we move； And； save God above； None guesseth how wondrous the journey will prove。〃
L。L。 BEVERLY； MASSACHUSETTS； October； 1889。
CONTENTS。
CHAPTER
I。 UP AND DOWN THE LANE II。 SCHOOLROOM AND MEETING…HOUSE III。 THE HYMN…BOOK IV。 NAUGHTY CHILDREN AND FAIRY TALES V。 OLD NEW ENGLAND VI。 GLIMPSES OF POETRY VII。 BEGINNING TO WORK VIII。BY THE RIVER IX。 MOUNTAIN…FRIENDS X。 MILL…GIRLS' MAGAZINES XI。 READING AND STUDYING XII。 FROM THE MERRIMACK TO THE MISSISSIPPI
A NEW ENGLAND GIRLHOOD
I。
UP AND DOWN THE LANE。
IT is strange that the spot of earth where we were born should make such a difference to us。 People can live and grow anywhere； but people as well as plants have their habitat；the place where they belong； and where they find their happiest； because their most natural life。 If I had opened my eyes upon this planet elsewhere than in this northeastern corner of Massachusetts； elsewhere than on this green； rocky strip of shore between Beverly Bridge and the Misery Islands； it seems to me as if I must have been somebody else； and not myself。 These gray ledges hold me by the roots； as they do the bayberry bushes； the sweet… fern； and the rock…saxifrage。
When I look from my window over the tree…tops to the sea； I could almost fancy that from the deck of some one of those inward bound vessels the wistful eyes of the Lady Arbella might be turned towards this very hillside； and that mine were meeting hers in sympathy； across the graves of two hundred and fifty years。 For Winthrop's fleet； led by the ship that bore her name； must have passed into harbor that way。 Dear and gracious spirit！ The memory of her brief sojourn here has left New England more truly consecrated ground。 Sweetest of womanly pioneers！ It is as if an angel in passing on to heaven just touched with her wings this rough coast of ours。
In those primitive years； before any town but Salem had been named； this whole region was known as Cape Ann Side； and about ten years after Winthrop's arrival； my first ancestor's name appears among those of other hardy settlers of the neighborhood。 No record has been found of his coming； but emigration by that time had grown so rapid that ships' lists were no longer carefully preserved。 And then he was but a simple yeoman； a tiller of the soil； one who must have loved the sea； however； for he moved nearer and nearer towards it from Agawam through Wenham woods； until the close of the seventeenth century found his descendantsmy own great…great…grandfatber's familyplanted in a romantic homestead…nook on a hillside； overlooking wide gray spaces of the bay at the part of Beverly known as 〃The Farms。〃 The situation was beautiful； and home attachments proved tenacious； the family claim to the farm having only been resigned within the last thirty or forty years。
I am proud of my unlettered forefathers； who were also too humbly proud to care whether their names would be remembered or not； for they were God…fearing men； and had been persecuted for their faith long before they found their way either to Old or New England。
The name is rather an unusual one； and has been traced back from Wales and the Isle of Wight through France to Languedoc and Pied… mont； a little hamlet in the south of France still bearing it in what was probably the original spelling…La Combe。 There is a family shield in existence； showing a hill surmounted by a tree； and a bird with spread wings above。 It might symbolize flight in times of persecution； from the mountains to the forests； and thence to heaven； or to the free skies of this New World。
But it is certain that my own immediate ancestors were both indifferent and ignorant as to questions of pedigree； and accepted with sturdy dignity an inheritance of hard work and the privileges of poverty； leaving the same bequest to their descendants。 And poverty has its privileges。 When there is very little of the seen and temporal to intercept spiritual vision； unseen and eternal realities are；
