1287. W. W. to SARAH COLES STEVENSON¹

• MS. Library of Congress. Hitherto unpublished.

• Rydal Mount
• 24 Dec^br 1838

•       There are to whom the garden, grove and field,
•       Perpetual lessons of forbearance yield;
•       Who would not lightly violate the grace
•       The lowliest Flower professes in its place;
•       Nor shorten the sweet life, too fugitive,
•       Which nothing less than infinite Power could give.²

W^m Wordsworth   

Mr Wordsworth hopes that the Autograph is not sent too late for Mrs Stephenson's purpose.—