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

The rush of Time’s resistless wings!

Nothing? One thing, and not in vain,

One thing remains: Letters remain!

Your art and mine, yours more than mine,

Good fellows of the lettered line,

To whom I owe this Curtain Call,

I thank you all, I greet you all.

Noblesse oblige! But while I may,

Another word, my last, maybe:

When this life-play of mine is ended,