When I was Your Age

BY
LAURA E. RICHARDS
AUTHOR OF “CAPTAIN JANUARY,” “MELODY,”
“QUEEN HILDEGARDE,” ETC.
ILLUSTRATED
BOSTON
ESTES AND LAURIAT
1894

Copyright, 1893,
By Estes and Lauriat.
University Press:
John Wilson and Son, Cambridge, U. S. A.

TO THE
Dear and Honored Memory of my Father,

DR. SAMUEL GRIDLEY HOWE.

Thy voice comes down the rolling years
Like ring of steel on steel;
With it I hear the tramp of steeds,
And the trumpet’s silver peal.

I see thee ride thy fearless way,
With steadfast look intent,
God’s servant, still by night and day,
On his high errand bent.

Thy lance lay ever in the rest
’Gainst tyranny and wrong.
Thy steed was swift, thine aim was sure,
Thy sword was keen and strong.

But were the fainting to be raised,
The sorrowing comforted,—
The warrior vanished, and men saw
An angel stoop instead.

O soldier Father! dear I hold
Thine honored name to-day;
Thy high soul draws mine eyes above,
And beacons me the way.

And when my heart beats quick to learn
Some deed of high emprise,
I almost see the answering flash
That lightens from thine eyes.

I greet thee fair! I bless thee dear!
And here, in token meet,
I pluck these buds from memory’s wreath,
And lay them at thy feet.

CONTENTS.

Page
[I.][ Ourselves][13]
[II.][ More about Ourselves][27]
[III.][ Green Peace][42]
[IV.][ The Valley][62]
[V.][ Our Father][77]
[VI.][ Julia Ward][107]
[VII.][ Our Mother][129]
[VIII.][ Our Teachers][163]
[IX.][ Our Friends][180]
[X.][ Our Guests][194]

LIST OF ILLUSTRATIONS.

Page
[Green Peace][Frontispiece]
[Maud][43]
[Laura was found in the Sugar-Barrel][53]
[Dr. Samuel Gridley Howe][79]
[The Doctor to the Rescue!][97]
[Julia Ward and her Brothers, as Children][109]
(From a miniature by Miss Anne Hall.)
[Lieut.-Colonel Samuel Ward][117]
(Born Nov. 17, 1756; Died Aug. 16, 1832.)
[Julia Ward][125]
[Julia Ward Howe][131]
[Julia Romana Howe][149]
[Julia Ward Howe][157]
(From a recent photograph.)
[Laura E. Richards][177]