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 Dedication by Lewis Carroll 
						Inscribed to a Dear Child:In Memory of Golden Summer Hours
 And Whispers of a Summer Sea
 
 
 Girt with a boyish garb for boyish task,
 Eager she wields her spade: yet loves as well
 Rest on a friendly knee, intent to ask
 The tale he loves to tell.
 Rude spirits of the seething outer strife,
 Unmeet to read her pure and simple spright,
 Deem if you list, such hours a waste of life,
 Empty of all delight!
 
 Chat on, sweet Maid, and rescue from annoy
 Hearts that by wiser talk are unbeguiled.
 Ah, happy he who owns that tenderest joy,
 The heart-love of a child!
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