Chapter XLIII: Epilogue

_If this little world to-night_
_Suddenly should fall thro' space_
_In a hissing, headlong flight_
_Shrivelling from off its face,_
_As it falls into the sun,_
_In an instant every trace_
_Of the little crawling things--_
_Ants, philosophers, and lice,_
_Cattle, cockroaches, and kings,_
_Beggars, millionaires, and mice,_
_Men and maggots all as one_
_As it falls into the sun--_
_Who can say but at the same_
_Instant from some planet far_
_A child may watch us and exclaim:_
_"See the pretty shooting star!"_