Library of the best American literature / Containing the lives of our authors in story form, their portraits, their homes, and their personal traits, how they worked and what they wrote; choice selections from eminent writers, embracing great American poets and novelists, foremost women in American letters, distinguished critics and essayists, our national humorists, noted journalists and magazine contributors, popular writers for young people, great orators and public lecturers

by Unknown

Youth’s sweetness turned to gall;

Hope’s faded flowers strewed all the way

That led me up to woman’s day.

Go, kneel as I have knelt;

Implore, beseech and pray.

Strive the besotted heart to melt,

The downward course to stay;

Be cast with bitter curse aside,—

Thy prayers burlesqued, thy tears defied.

Go, stand where I have stood,