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 now farewell. ’Tis hard to give thee up,

With death so like a gentle slumber on thee;

And thy dark sin—oh! I could drink the cup

If from this woe its bitterness had won thee.

May God have called thee, like a wanderer, home,

My lost boy, Absalom!”

He covered up his face, and bowed himself

A moment on his child; then giving him

A look of melting tenderness, he clasped

His hands convulsively, as if in prayer: