When Letty had scarce pass’d her third glad year

When Letty had scarce pass’d her third glad year, And her young, artless words began to flow, One day we gave the child a colour’d sphere Of the wide earth, that she might mark and know, By tint and outline, all its sea and land. She patted all the world; old empires peep’d Between her baby fingers; her soft hand Was welcome at all frontiers. How she leap’d, And laugh’d and prattled in her world-wide bliss! But when we turn’d her sweet unlearned eye On our own isle, she rais’d a joyous cry, “Oh! yes, I see it! Letty’s home is there!” And, while she hid all England with a kiss, Bright over Europe fell her golden hair!