By DOROTHEA McCARTY

"Life is so short," the old man said.
"Life is long, and long it will be."

He shook his gray head as he looked at me.
As you get older, you surely will see:

How cold and how cruel life really can be.
But now I am young, and I am so free;

Surely it will be lovely for me.
Ah! My child you are so naive,

But you are young, and you will see.
When life takes your loved ones,

As it will take me.