Never moments come like those,

Be they Heaven or Hell: who knows?

All too soon comes Winter’s grief,

Spendthrift Love’s false friends turn foes;

Softly comes Old Age, the thief,

Steals the rapture, leaves the throes:

Love his mantle round him throws,—

“Time to say good-bye; it snows.”

James Russell Lowell.

THE HANDSOMEST MAN IN THE ROOM