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lucy's gem.
"Mamma! and were they all her own!
And might she always with them play
What color were the toys, mamma?
What kind of stones were they?"
And might she always with them play
What color were the toys, mamma?
What kind of stones were they?"
"Two beaming sapphires! Heaven's own light
And color shone within them soft;
But clouds would o'er them flit at times,
And dew would dim them oft.
And color shone within them soft;
But clouds would o'er them flit at times,
And dew would dim them oft.
"Each in an ivory casket kept,
Whose lid was moved on viewless hinge,
With azure scroll-work all inlaid,
And trimm'd with silken fringe.
Whose lid was moved on viewless hinge,
With azure scroll-work all inlaid,
And trimm'd with silken fringe.
"Sometimes the child the caskets lock'd,
And kept them closed for many an hour;
And none could lift the little lids,
Save the kind Giver's power.
And kept them closed for many an hour;
And none could lift the little lids,
Save the kind Giver's power.
"But then, when He commanded her
To ope each tiny oval case,
The gems within, by some strange charm,
Had gain'd new light and grace.
To ope each tiny oval case,
The gems within, by some strange charm,
Had gain'd new light and grace.
