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

We hold the keys of Heaven within our hands,

The gift and heirloom of a former state,

And lie in infancy at Heaven’s gate,

Transfigured in the light that streams along the lands!

Around our pillows golden ladders rise,

And up and down the skies,

With winged sandals shod,

The angels come, and go, the messengers of God!

Nor do they, fading from us, e’er depart,—

It is the childish heart;