One Sister have I in our house

One Sister have I in our house,
And one a hedge away
There's only one recorded
But both belong to me.

One came the way that I came,
And wore my last year's gown,
The other, as a bird her nest,
Builded our hearts among.

She did not sing as we did.
It was a different tune,
Herself to her a music—
As Bumble-bee of June.

Today is far from childhood,
But up and down the hills
I held her hand the tighter,
Which shortened all the miles.

And still her hum the years among
Deceives the Butterfly,
Still in her eye the Violets lie
Mouldered this many May.

I spilt the dew but took the morn,
I chose this single Star
From out the wide night's numbers,
Sue—forevermore!

—Emilie.