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

And when I ask, with throbs of pain,

“Ah!” when shall they all meet again?

As in the days long since gone by,

The ancient timepiece makes reply,

“Forever—never!

Never—forever!”

Never here, forever there,

Where all parting, pain, and care

And death, and time shall disappear,—

Forever there, but never here!