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

Of manhood, and to thee the grace

Of woman’s pensive beauty brought,

On life’s rough blasts for blame or praise

The schoolboy’s name has widely flown;

Thine in the green and quiet ways

Of unobtrusive goodness known.

And wider yet in thought and deed

Our still diverging thoughts incline,

Thine the Genevan’s sternest creed,

While answers to my spirit’s need