MY LITTLE GIRL Lester A. Rowland The happiest time I ever spent was seven years ago, I was I think fifteen years old; had never had a beau. ‘Twas long about good Christmas time; I had so very much joy, My teachers then were Miss Scoville and Miss Hasseltine Mulloy. These teachers had some company, that long remembered year, Miss Hassa had her uncle, a speaker with no peer. He kept us all a-laughing, he was so very witty. Miss Scoville had her nieces who certainly were pretty. What pleased me most that Christmastime, among those joys unnumbered, Was not the funny reading made by one who never blundered. Was not the gifts I got that year, nice toys and fruits so juicy, But twas a little girl I met whose given name was Lucy. She was a very little girl, her hair was bobbed just right. Of all the girls I’ve ever met, not one was half so bright. She had a sister also nice who seemed to like my brother, But I did not care for that, for you see I like the other. They all went home with us that night, oh that was sure a treat. In all the puzzles and games we played, she just could not be beat. She had such a desire to learn, I’ve never seen desire so great, I taught her to play “Chewing Gum”, before the clock struck eight. Next day it rained and I was glad because they had to stay, So we played and read and talked and happy spent the day. Oh yes, this has been long ago; I think the years were seven, My little girl was very young, her age was just eleven. Next day I ran into the house, a-shouting with delight, For Miss Scoville had invited us to come and stay the night. She had a party for the girls, we must not fail to come, Refreshments she would have and games there would be some. She seemed quite glad to see me, this nice statement she made, “I enjoyed myself more at your house than anywhere else I stayed. Her sister didn’t seem to like me, she liked my brother more, But Lucy said, “I like you better.” That evened up the score. She asked me then in a way so nice, to help her build a fire, I jumped at the chance, I’d work all day and never would I tire. ‘Twas a pleasure to do what she said, to obey her least command, I’d do anything in the world she wished, whatever she should demand. We played some games that night, you bet we had some fun, Till all at once my girl was gone, my good time then was done. For I did not see her anywhere, around me I did look. I quit the game and went in search, I found her with a book. Next day we all went in the woods, for mountain tea and to explore, We found an old coal mine out there; flowers, birds and other things galore, We climbed the trees and took a ride, away thru the breeze we went. How lovely! Her hair waving bright, her eyes filled with merriment. The happy day at last did end, as all such days will do. Such pleasant days have come to me, in number very few. It seems it was but yesterday I heard her say “Good-bye”, And when I turned away to go, I thought that I would cry. What comfort I have gained by what she told me then, Just these very simple words, “I hope we’ll meet again.” Oh those words she said that day, I’ve always kept in store, They’ll always ring on in my head, until we meet once more. Long years have passed since then; I’ve never seen her once, I’ve heard how she was getting on, was far from being a dunce. How in her class she took the lead, and made her life a joy, How she was liked by all the girls and loved by every boy. I’m going to leave this town next week, to see her is my aim. She may not even know me now, and maybe not my name. In all these years that’s passed and gone, has she once thought of me? I do not know but I’ll find out, I’m going home to see. (My first poem. I met this little girl when a lad of 15.)