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

(FROM THE “WIDOW BEDOTT PAPERS.”)

REVEREND sir, I do declare

It drives me most to frenzy,

To think of you a lying there

Down sick with influenzy.

A body’d thought it was enough

To mourn your wife’s departer,

Without sich trouble as this ere

To come a follerin’ arter.