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A lover's diary

Cary, Alice (1820-1871)

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DEDICATION.
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PART I. DREAM-LAND.
  
MONA, SEVEN YEARS OLD.
  
MONA, EIGHT YEARS OLD.
  
MONA, AT SCHOOL.
  
MONA, TEN YEARS OLD.
  
MONA, FOURTEEN.
  
MONA, SLEEPING.
  
MONA, SPINNING.
  
MONA, KNITTING.
  
MONA, MILKING.
  
KRUMLEY.
  
MONA, FIFTEEN.
  
MONA, PERFECT.
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PART II. SERENADES.
 1. 
I. APRIL.
 2. 
II. MAY.
 3. 
III. JUNE.
 4. 
IV. JULY.
 5. 
V. JULY.
 6. 
VI. AUGUST.
 7. 
VII. AUGUST.
 8. 
VIII. SEPTEMBER.
 9. 
IX. NOVEMBER.
 10. 
X. DECEMBER.
 11. 
XI. DECEMBER.
 12. 
XII. JANUARY.
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PART III. RHAPSODIES.
 1. 
[I. My beautiful little one]
 2. 
II. SPRING.
 3. 
III. CRAZY.
 4. 
IV. IN ABSENCE.
 5. 
V. ALL IN ALL.
 6. 
VI. VAGARIES.
 7. 
VII. MONA, SAD.
 8. 
VIII. MONA, SICK.
 9. 
IX. MONA, SICK.
 10. 
X. INSPIRED.
 11. 
[XI. Who wills it so, may praise]
 12. 
XII. WEARY.
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PART IV. REJECTED.
  
[I] PROPOSAL.
  
[II] REFUSAL.
 3. 
[III. Thou, that drawest aside the curtain]
 4. 
[IV. Kiss me, though you make believe]
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PART V. IN DESPAIR.
 1. 
[I. Through her I felt the evening's hush]
 2. 
II. TO THE MARCH FLOWERS.
 3. 
[III. I wish the rose were not so red]
 4. 
[IV. The violets, O the violets]
 5. 
V. AUGUST.
 6. 
[VI. The moon that was a crescent yesterday]
 7. 
[VII. O for the summers when]
 8. 
VIII. OCTOBER.
 9. 
[IX. Some quiet beams at daylight's close]
 10. 
[X. The nights they come and the nights they go]
 11. 
[XI. Her mouth was red, and you would say]
 12. 
[XII. I know not what the world may be]
 13. 
[XIII. My heart, my heart! I'm weary of your sighing]
 14. 
[XIV. The sun comes up and the sun goes down]
 15. 
[XV. The sun has vanished out o' my sight]
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PART VI. LOVE-LETTERS.
 1. 
I. TO MONA.
 2. 
II. MONA'S ANSWER.
 3. 
III. TO MONA.
 4. 
IV. MONA'S ANSWER.
 5. 
[V. My cruel little Mona]
 6. 
[VI. Before the daybreak I arise]
 7. 
[VII. My days dawn upon me in sadness]
 8. 
VIII. ON RECEIVING SOME FADED FLOWERS.
 9. 
IX. WHEN SHE HAD PROMISED TO MEET ME.
 10. 
X. AFTER WE MET.
 11. 
[XI. Would you bide in sweet content]
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PART VII. SOLILOQUIES.
 1. 
[I. As one who from a troubled dream]
 2. 
[II. Why hast thou forgot the snow]
 3. 
[III. Mona hath a slender waist]
 4. 
[IV. Down either way, from gentle, dove-like eyes]
 5. 
[V. Love's light is strange to you? Ah me]
 6. 
[VI. Whene'er I see the evening's sober gray]
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PART VIII. LIGHT AND SHADOW.
  
LANDMARKS.
  
MONA'S MOTHER.
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PART IX. MONA'S SONGS.
 1. 
[I. All day yesterday as I spun]
 2. 
[II. Wind that criest and moanest so]
 3. 
[III. Low, sweet and low]
 4. 
[IV. Six skeins and three, six skeins and three]
 5. 
[V. Like a poet in the splendor]
 6. 
[VI. Dear heart, a love so truly true]
 7. 
[VII. Little daisy, go to bed]
 8. 
[VIII. Come from your long, long roving]
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PART X. CONVERSATIONS.
 1. 
[I. Ah, blame me gently, though I sit for hours]
 2. 
II MONA ASKS ME TO SING.
 3. 
III. I ASK MONA TO SING.
 4. 
[IV. I said, “I have a tale to tell!”]
 5. 
[V. Forgive me, but I needs must press]
 6. 
[VI.“I was blind till yesterday.—”]
 7. 
[VII. I asked my darling once if she]
 8. 
[VIII. How, my love, shall I make thy bed]
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PART XI. AFTER MARRIAGE.
 1. 
[I. Say, do you love me as in the olden]
 2. 
[II. We have been lovers now, my dear]
 3. 
III. CHARITY.
 4. 
[IV. The clouds in many a windy rack]

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16

MONA, SLEEPING.

Ah, never had maiden
Such maidenly grace!
Her dream like a veil
Lieth over her face,
And the cheek next the pillow
Is printed with lace.
I dare not look on her!
But soft as I may,
I will steal from her bedside
Her slippers away,
And line them with wool
By the time it is day.
17

I hate the bold moonlight
That treads (as it dares)
The leaves at her window
As if they were stairs,
And plays with her dear
Little hand, unawares.
For her sake, and not for
Myself, I am proud:
If I live when her bright head
To death shall be bowed,
Of the white leaves of lilies
I 'll make her a shroud.
O Mona! sweet Mona!
If I by God's grace
Had a crown, I would give it
Just now, to efface
With kisses on kisses
The print of the lace.
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