Tuesday, March 24, 2009

A House by the Side of the Road...



I took a little diversion from quilting today


and decide to make a pillow from a vintage sampler. I think the embroidery was done in the 1940s or 1950s. If it was in the 40s perhaps it was done by my grandmother...but it could have been done by my aunt. The margin of the sampler indicates it was a Vogue Sampler Pattern...couldn't read the number...but it says it is on 100% pure linen. The sampler is about 8x12 inches and says: Let me live in the house by the side of the road and be a friend to man in cross stitch embroidery. It fits just perfectly on this child's rocker that was given to me by a special friend who used it for her children who now live far away.


I searched out the saying and found that it was a poem written by Sam Walter Foss in 1897. It is in the public domain according to my research so I thought I might include it....what a message!



The House By the Side of the Road

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 the 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 the strife.

But I turn not away from their smiles nor their tears -

Both parts of an infinite plan;

Let me live in my 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;

And 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

Where 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 should I 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.


3 comments:

Eileen said...

I think I am going to try and memorize this poem. Fabulous! Thanks for it. we should all live like this.

Pat said...

Love this poem and your little pillow is just adorable! Hpw nice that you are discovering (AND using) things that were made by your relatives.

Kaye said...

Cathy, Please go to my blog, I can't find an email for you. I have nominated you for the sisterhood award