The Forest Republican. [volume] (Tionesta, Pa.) 1869-1952, 1876-05-17
The House on Wheels.

keV. RoDeFt SlOSS, IN Cnurcn OnlOn.l
/ have man in my congregation
who moves buildings, draws houses,
not full, but empty ones. That is his
business. If you have an old house
that you don't know what to do with,
even though it was good enough for
your father and grandfather, you just
speak to my friend, and he lifts it up,
puts it on wheels or rollers, and trun-
dies IL down the streets or around the
corner, into some out.ofthe way place,
and you are at liberty to go on put
ting your brown stone front on the
old family lot at your leisure.
One afternoon, in the deepening
twilight of quiet street far from the
heart of the busy town, met one Of
these old family mansions on wheels,
standing right, in the middle Of the
road, as though it would like to say
something to somebody before going
to the rear. Its shadow cast a spell
upon me, and without making me ex-
actly trance medium, it said a few
ihings to me, that it might be we'll for
those of Us who profess to "Love Thy
kingdom Lord, the house of Thine
abode" to think of also.
had just questioned myself in my
own mind how an old house might feel ,
if feel it could, on seeing itself thus
unceremoniously moved out of the
way, knowing that new-fangled no.
ton in brick or stone with the improve.
menls was soon to take its place.
When the spirit of the old house thus
addressed me: "No, no, sir, / feel no
envy, | bear no malice; that is all as
it should be. 1t is right that new
plans and new materials, yes, many
and more of them should occupy. the
ground which /, in my old fashioned
,ody held so long time. 1t is we'll
that the new life should have O new
body, a new house to live in. A house
larger, more convenient, more attrac-
tive if you will, but, sir, if you will
condescend to listen to an old fogy Of
a building like myself, must say that
| feel sad sometimes, that they do not
embody more frequently in the new
mansions few of those things which
were often tried and seldom found
,Oanting in the DID,"
"Will you mention some of them p
l said.
"Well, here" said the spirit of the
house on wheels, "before | obey the
injunction, Come, move onp | will
tell you: To begin first at the very
entrance into house, there are some
things belonging TO a door that we
seem to lose. This old threshold ol
mine you see worn so low, had some
thing sacred about it. The inmates,
felt that when they reached it, home
with all It's meaning was Just inside
and so, no matter what romping, and
rushing, and scampering there had
been outside, they paused to enter the
presence of the household gods with
at least, reverent and respectful mein
81 am told, and indeed | catch
glimpses of it sometimes, when toe
many blinds do not intervene, that in
the new aud better buildings they are
erecting, this part of a door is fregent
ly left out. The massive panels OF the
new house close too often on a place
simply to stay. And so people hurry
on, saunter out and in with hearts on
ly full of the outside.
"Can you step up on that large
block and over that large pulley, sir
l just want to show you this room
my FIRST floor, front, or parlors, as yor
call them. Well, in the new build
ing which follows me on the old lot il
town, / am told they have most ele
CANT parlors, lots of shining veneering
and all that sort of thing. Well,
am glad of it. often thought mine
might be vastly improved-more room
more light, more air, more that il
cheerful and pleasant to the eve, and
these things they tell me they have il
the new. There is one thing, however
/ could wish they had more of, which
we old ones never found unwelcome
I mean furniture which in its very
look seemed to invite to hospitality
and made every one at once feel cosy
and comfortable. When things ge
very stiff and very shiny, you know
sir, people will stand off from them
It's instinct like, and it does seen
kind of hard to keep your mother anG
your brethren who have come a long
distance to see you and whom yor
know are at the door, waiting in dis
NAL state while the servant passes W
a card.
"Now, don't know that it was thu
stiffness Of the furniture; perhaps i
was not; but somehow their hearts
got nearer and quicker together in th'
| Old hOuaa cir