Ellsworth American. [volume] (Ellsworth, Me.) 1855-current, 1921-10-05

Many may have read the poem
| based on a line from Homer, HE
lived in house by the side Of the
road and was a friend to man." The
history of it's inspiration as told by it's
| author, Sam Walter Foss, is well
| worth repeating:
II was tramping in New England
one hot and weary day. I had sent
my valise ahead twenty-five miles and
had walked twenty-four of them. I
was tired out and longed for man
with a wagon to come along and take
me up. I sat down under tree to
rest. Pretty soon 1 noticed sign
on the tree: There is spring of
good water inside the fence Drink
if you ar thirsty.
Il went in and drank and then
saw another sign on bench: sit
down and rest if you are tired While
/ was resting there l saw another
sign on a basket of apples: If you
like apples help yourself
After a little 1 looked around and
saw an old man, who was watching
me with friendly interest. asked
him what those signs meant.
well he said, we had the water
going to waste and we thought it
would be a good thing if we could get
some thirsty travellers to drink lit
tie of it. Then, this Is a pleasant
spot to rest in, and mother reminded
me of this old bench that was doing
nobody any good in our attic. So
brought it down here. We have more
apples than we can eat at this time of
the year, and we thought 1T would be
a satisfaction to US if others could en-
joy them, too. So we put up the
signs, and they seem to be doing a
little good
II thanked the old man and pursued
my journey refreshed in body and
mind, for I had learned a great les
son and gained an inspiration. There
was no WEAKNESS in that last mile
and when it was finished I sat down
and wrote those lines, Let me live in
house by the side of the road, and
be friend to man. Here is the last
stanZa:
Let me live 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 /.
Then why should sit in the scorner's
seat
Or hurl the cynics ban?-
Let me live in my house by the side
of the road
And be a friend to man."
Dear NJ. B. Friends:
l do not recollect that we have
had the story of how the above
mentioned poem came to be written !;
so l am again borrowing" from
Our Mission Work" of September,
and, by the way, wish every school
teacher in the country could read
the story in that number with the
title School To-day" 1t seems to
me one should have tact to be sue
cessful teacher, and the story illus
trates that.
Dear Aunt Madge and M. BIS:
To one and all, l send greetings. 1
think Jasmine" did fine in writing
up the reunion. l enjoyed it, but did
miss the letters from the absent ones.
l only knew of the date the day be-
fore, as my paper does not reach me
the week it is printed. 1t was a
lovely day here, SO l kept thinking of
you all and was SO sorry to know it
was such downpour of rain there.
l am glad, Aunt Madge, that you
called on NJ. A. B. l, too, would like
to make her call.
I have just read "Galusha the
Magnificent" by Joseph Lincoln, and
Adjustment" by Bryant. 1 send
these lines n lat yon oil l.pox, tho
none are forgotten by
Ann"
This surely is welcome letter
from Ann" l wish, too, you
could have seen M. A. B. Just a
pretty little lady in white, looking
so young with her fair skin and the
flush coming and going in her
cheeks. Now, dear nieces, please
remember this is the first time in
about twenty-five years l have re-
ferred to personal appearance.
Dear Aunt Madge and all the M. B.
Sisters:
I will tell you little about my trip.
Left Sunset July 16 at 10 o'clock; went
to North Deer Isle, ferry to Sargent
vile, then Sedgwick, BluehilT Surry
and Ellsworth. After a stop for a
lunch, left for Bangor by way of Ellis
worth Falls, Nicolin, Green Lake,
Holden and Brewer, arriving at $50.
Sunday went to Orono and called on
friends, then to Milford, Old Town,
Bradley, Eddington, Brewer Went to
the movies; took dinner with the fam
lily of Rev. G. Mayo, and had de-
, lightful time.
Saturday night, DR.. H. W., daughter
and granddaughter came from Port
land, and Sunday we started for Cam
den. After a lovely drive of sixty
miles, we arrived there safe and as
hungry as bears. What a delightful
reunion! Two brothers, two sisters
sons-in-law, daughters law, nieces
/ What jolly time we had-three
weeks of eating, sleeping, reading
making calls and receiving callers
The time passed SO swiftly, 1 hardly
thought l had been gone a month
Whi1a fharo rooA ssTvJ,