The Democratic press. [volume] (Ravenna, O. [Ohio]) 1868-1901, 1882-10-05
A Harm lsaisfNX.

A Barn Raising.
On Tuesday last Mr.. Elmer Frost,
of Mantua, raised his barn frame. 1t
has been mentioned heretofore that
| MIR. Frost il preparing to build an inn
mense barn. Mr.. HoOt, of Randolph,
with eight men, has been at work
over a month in framing the timbers
aud during the past week it WAS raised
and placed upon the walls. The prin-
cipal part of the raising was done Oh
Tuesday, when about one hundred
men were present.
1t is not often that one farmer is
called upon to solicit the assistance of
the entire neighborhood, yea, almost
the entire township, on one occasion.
Those met at the call Of Mr.. Frost, to
assist him in the performance ofa work
such rs they will in all probability
never be called upon to perform again
in all their lives, for buildings of such
vast proportions as this barn are sell
dom erected in the country. Mr.. Frost
therefore, most keenly appreciated the
services of his friends and neighbors,
servant should in speech return the
| thanks of both Mr.. Frost and Mr.
Hoot upon the. occasion. But una
voidable circumstances prevented the
speaker from attending, which he
deeply regrets.
Gratitude is an element of human
nature. No one who has favors shown
him can be insensible to gratitude
without being lessened in the estima-
ton of all good people. 1t would
therefore be most unjust to Mr. Frost
| if I neglected now and in this manner
to comply with his wishes on that oc-
casien, to-wit, to return to his friends
and neighbors his kind regards and
obligations for the Willingness with
which they responded in raising that
grand barn frame. 1t is noble struc-
ture and nobly they labored in placing
it upon the walls, and for this they
have the thanks Of both Mr.. +. and
Mr.. H. But these men have not only
the thanks of these parties but they
will have the satisfaction before long
of seeing one of the grandest barns in
this part of the country. 1t is destined
to be the notoriety of the county, at
least. / have no doubt it will be styled
the great Mantua barn by everyone
who sees it and learns the name of the
township. Mr.. Frost has already ex-
pended $500 for the walls. The
probable cost of the barn above the
walls, when complete, will be $4,000
more. 1t will be an object of which
every resident of Mantua may well
feel proud.
Every great improvement in a neigh
borhood or a town adds to its pleasant
ness and makes it more desirable to
live in it, 1t is true, this is but barn,
and it costs much money. All the
more commendable therefore to Mr..
Frost for giving his money free circu-
lation 1t is better than to sit upon it.
Money is an excellent thing to have,
but its desire is the root of all evil.
Money is n9ither good to eat nor to
wear, and yet we can not do without
the use of it. 1t may be blessing or
curse, according to the use we make
of it. He who makes good use of his
money by allowing it to circulate freely
among the masses of the people, al
though his aim be to enhance his
wealth by receiving it's equivalent in
creased by fair profit in return, is new
ertheless benefactor to the world, for
he gives everybody a chance. 1t is
only the man who lives in imagine
tion and who Is devoid of human feel
iugs that can see his fellow man suffer
for the want of food and shelter when
he has his thousands invested in bonds
and mortgages. Excellent buildings
are a thousand times more enjoyable
than the money itself. While the
money they cost goes to satisfy the
wants of the carpenter, the mason, the
lumberman and hundred others
whose time and labor enters into their
| construction, anu he WIN HAS given IL
circulation has the blessings of thou
sand mouths which he helps to feed.
Take this world as we will, it is our
common home and abiding place
while we live upon it. We are one
family here. Every man is our broth
er and every woman our sister. To
live for one another and thereby to
make the best of this world is our
highest duty, whether there be God
or devil, or neither. AS to our friend
Mr.. Frost, may he live to realize the
satisfaction which he anticipates and
! enjoy it many years.