| I KNEW her for a little ghost | |
| That in my garden walked; | |
| The wall is high—higher than most— | |
| And the green gate was locked. | |
| And yet I did not think of that | 5 |
| Till after she was gone— | |
| I knew her by the broad white hat, | |
| All ruffled, she had on. | |
| By the dear ruffles round her feet, | |
| By her small hands that hung | 10 |
| In their lace mitts, austere and sweet, | |
| Her gown’s white folds among. | |
| I watched to see if she would stay, | |
| What she would do—and oh! | |
| She looked as if she liked the way | 15 |
| I let my garden grow! | |
| She bent above my favourite mint | |
| With conscious garden grace, | |
| She smiled and smiled—there was no hint | |
| Of sadness in her face. | 20 |
| She held her gown on either side | |
| To let her slippers show, | |
| And up the walk she went with pride, | |
| The way great ladies go. | |
| And where the wall is built in new | 25 |
| And is of ivy bare | |
| She paused—then opened and passed through | |
| A gate that once was there. | |
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