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vi   PREFACE.

women as much grace of form, and powerful sweetness of thought and feeling, as in the blossoms of woman's genius culled from other lands.

The personal pleasure enjoyed during some careful searches for the greatest specimens of worth and beauty in this fertile garden of literature, has led the editor to believe that the collection now made may not be unwelcome to the public generally.  It must be borne in mind that not many ladies in this country are permitted sufficient leisure from the cares and duties of home to devote themselves, either from choice, or as a means of living, to literary pursuits.  Hence, the themes which have suggested the greater part of the following poems have been derived from the incidents and associates of every-day life.  And home, with its quiet joys, its deep pure sympathies, and its secret sorrows, with which a stranger must not intermeddle, is a sphere by no means limited for woman, whose inspiration lies more in her heart than her head.  Deep emotions make a good foundation for lofty and beautiful thoughts.  The deeper the foundation, the more elevated may be the superstructure.  Moreover, the essence of poetry is beauty; "the essence of beauty is love."  And where should women lavish most unreservedly, and receive most largely, the warmest, purest, and most changeless, affection, but in the sacred retirement of home

"Where love is an unerring light,
And joy its own security?"

As it would not be altogether right to send forth the editor's gatherings without some attention to order and 


PREFACE.   vii

classification, a chronological arrangement, so far as it was possible, has been pursued.  Neither have pains been spared to seek out those who in the earlier years of the country have written verses perhaps of slight merit, yet whose names are interesting from other considerations.  At the same time the desire of indulging a mere antiquarian taste, has not tempted the editor from the main and more useful purpose of presenting a compilation of the best pieces.  It may be also, that a few names have been omitted, which, in the estimation of some, should have received notice.  Where, however, the materials were so abundant, and the space so restricted, it was necessary to select.

The accomplishment of this work has been greatly assisted, by the cheerful kindness with which permission to use the name and productions of the authors has been granted.  Such permission has been sought in every case where it was practicable; and, with very few exceptions, nothing could exceed the courtesy and liberality shown the editor by those ladies whose favours were asked.  It only remains for her to regret that one or two names, which she would gladly have inserted, have been omitted, in compliance with the wishes of those who had the only perfect right to dictate the omission.

With regard to the biographical part, facts have been sought, and generally obtained from the direct sources of reliable information.  In a few instances, the editor has been compelled to resort to printed authorities; for one notice (that of Mrs. Lowell,) she is wholly indebted to Mr. Gris-

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