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WALKS IN CHILDHOOD.
111
emn stars,—and tell me of their names." Sometimes, too, I wept in my bed, because I had no sister, to lay her gentle head upon the same pillow.
Sometimes, at twilight, before the lamp was lighted, there came up, out of my brotherless and sisterless bosom, what seemed to be a companion. I talked with it, and was comforted. I did not know that its name was Thought, but I waited for it, and whatsoever it asked me, I answered.
It questioned me of my knowledge. And I said,—I know where the first fresh violets of spring grow, and how he sweet lilly of the vale comes forth
from its broad, green sheath and where the vine climbs to hide its purple grapes,