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INSPIRATIONAL PAGES
THE HOUSE BY THE SIDE OF THE ROAD - BY SAMUEL WALTER FOSS
There are hermit souls that live withdrawn
In the place of their self content;
There are souls like stars, that dwell apart
In a fellowless firmament
There are pioneer souls that blaze their paths
Where highways never ran--
But let me live in a house by the side of the road
And be a friend to man.
Let me live in a house by the side of the road
Where the race of men go by--
The men who are good and the men who are bad,
As good and as bad as I.
I would not sit in the scorner's seat
Or hurl a cynic's ban--
Let me live in a house by the side of the road
And be a friend to man.
I see from my house by the side of the road,
By the side of the highway of life,
The men who press with the ardor of hope,
The men who are faint with strife.
But I turn not away from their smiles or their tears--
Both parts of an infinite plan--
Let me live in a house by the side of the road
And be a friend to man.
I know there are brook-gladdened meadows ahead
And mountains of wearisome height;
That the road passes on through the long afternoon,
And stretches away to the night
But still I rejoice when the travelers rejoice,
And weep with the strangers that moan,
Nor live in my house by the side of the road
Like a man who dwells alone.
Let me live in my house by the side of the road--
It's here the race of men go by.
They are good, they are bad, they are weak,
They are strong, wise, foolish-- so am I;
Then why would I sit in the scorner's seat,
Or hurl the cynic's ban?
Let me live in the house by the side of the road
And be a friend to man.
-Samuel Walter Foss, 1858-1911
