Tulsa daily world. [volume] (Tulsa, Indian Territory [Okla.]) 1905-1919, 1915-03-09
The House BY fhe
Side of the Road

Editor World, Dear Sir: j noticed
in the sermon by DR.. Sturgis of last
Sabbath, published in The World, the
quotation of the poem entitled, "The
House by the Side OF the Road. and
that the doctor gave the author OF
Stevenson, when IL should have been
credited 90 Samuel Walter Foss. A
brief history OF how the poem came
10 be written is as follows:
Sam Walter Foss was an enthusiast
tic traveller ana on one Of his travels
through New England he came to the
top of long hill, to- a little old un-
painted house set almost in the road.
At one side was a signpost pointing
to a well worn path and a sign, Come
in and have cool drink" Following
the path he found in the side or a
cool bank a spring OF ice cold water
above which hung an old-fashioned,
long handle gourd dipper And on
bench nearby was basket full Of big,
ripe apples with another sign, Help
yourself" Scenting a story he went
back TO the house, where he found a
childless old couple in straitened
circumstances with the rock farm as
their only source Of livelihood. But
II was rich in delicious spring water
and an abundance Of fruit, 30 a sign
was placed guiding 10 the water; and
from the time of the ripening of the
first purple plum TO the harvesting of
the last big red apple n basket OF
whatever fruit happened to be in sea-
son was placed near, that anyone
passing might rest upon the long hill
and refresh himself. The old gentles
men explained that they were too poor
to give money, so took this way TO
add their mite 10 the worlds WELL
doing. The beautiful thought SO i'm.
pressed Foss that he immortalized
with his pen the ideal life OF helptule
ness in this beautiful poems
There are hermit souls that live with.
drawn
In the peace Of their self contents
There are souls, like stars that dwell
apart
In a follow1ess firmamentS
There are pioneer souls that blaze
their paths
Where the highways never rarl->
But let me live by the side OF the road
And be o friend OF 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 rs L
I would not sit in the scorner'S seat
Or hurl the cynic's BAN
Let me live in a house by the side OF
the road
And be a friend Of manO
I see from my house by the side OF
the road
t,,o %ho .laa - tS,n Sgu9,u,a1o OS 1;fA
The men who press with the ardor ot
hopes
The men who are faint with the
strife.
But turn not away from their smiles
nor their tears
Both narts of an infinite plano
Let me live In house by the side OF
the road
And be . friend Of man.
know there are brooR.gladdened
meadows ahead
And mountains OF wearisonie
heightS
And the road passes on through the
long afternoon,
And stretches away to the night.
But still rejoice when the travellers
rejoice
And weep with the strangers that
moanO
Nor live in my house by the side Of
the road
Like a man who dwelis alone
Let me five IN my house by the side
Of the road
Where the race Of men go by
They are good. they are bad. they are
weak, they are strong.
Wise. foolish--so am J.
Then why should l sit in the scorner's
seat
Or hurl the cynic's ban?
Let me live in my house by the side Of
the road,
And be a friend to man.
Very truly.
A. L. HARRISON
Hope.