"more bed-time stories," sweetest heart,

and all to you belong:

all that i have and am, my dear,

i give you with my song.

all that i have and am, my dear,

is not too much to pay

as tribute to the fair, young queen

who rules my heart to-day;

as tribute to the dear, blue eyes,

and to the golden hair,

and sweet, new grace of maidenhood

that wraps you everywhere,—

the shy surprise of maidenhood,

that still turns back to hear

the tales i tell at shut of day:—

so these are yours, my dear.

l. c. m.

october, 1874.