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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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33

I.
APRIL.

With the yellow daybreak
Shimmering on his wings,
A robin in my orchard-trees
Sings and sings and sings;
Come to my nest o' down,
Lady-bird o' mine,
Come in your russet gown,—
Don't you be too fine!
Flushing like great jewels
Warmed alive in the sun,
34

Dainty triflers round me
Are flitting, many a one;
Some with caps of sky-blue
Dashed with flakes of white,—
Some with golden zigzags
In velvets black as night.
Some in pretty bodices
Of green, with silver specks,
And some with blood-red ruffles
Shivering on their necks.
How they flash and sparkle
Round each orchard-tree,
With their darling little heads
All aside to me!
You may go, my beauties,
Each of you your gate,—
Your finery frightens from me
My modest little mate;
35

She will come in colors
As quiet as a mouse,—
Go your ways and sing your lays,—
She shall keep my house!
So this robin with the dews
Shimmering on his wings,
Daily in my orchard-trees
Sings and sings and sings;
Come to my nest o' down
Lady-bird o' mine,—
Come in your russet gown,—
Don't you be too fine!
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