Hi guys,

Many years ago I read this heart warming poem by Sam Foss. I would like to share it you with here

The House by the Side of the Road

Sam Foss like to walk. But he had wandered a bit too far today in the blazing sun, lost in his thoughts; and now suddenly he realized how hot and tired he was. The big tree at the side of the road looked tempting, and he stoppped for a moment to rest in its shade.

There was a little sign on the tree, and he read it with surprise and pleasure: "There is a good spring inside the fence. Come and drink it if you are thirsty."

Foss climbed over the fence, found the spring, and gratefully drank his fill of the cool water. Then he noticed a bench near the spring, and tacked to the bench was another sign. He went over to it and read: "Sit down and rest awhile if you are tired"

Now thoroughly delighted he went to a barrel of apples nearby -- and saw that here,  too, was a sign: "If you like apples, just help yourself," he read. He accepted the invitation, picked out a plump red one, and looked up to discover an elderly man watching him with interest. 

"Hello there!" Foss called, "Is this your place?"

"Yes,"  the old man answered, "I am glad you stopped by." And he explained the reasons for the signs. The water was going to waste; the bench was gathering dust in the attic; the apples were more than they could use. He and his wife thought that it would be neighborly to offer tired, thirsty passers-by a place to rest and refresh themselves. So they had brought down the bench and put up the signs --- and made themselves a host of fine new friends! "You must like people," Foss said.

"Of course," the old man answered simply. "Don't you?"

All the way home Sam Foss kept thinking of the line from Homer's ILIAD: "He was a friend to man, and lived in a house by the side of the road." How perfectly that described the old man he had just met, living in his house by the side of the road, eagerly sharing his water and the comfort of his shady grounds, befriending every stranger who passed by!

The lines of the poem began to shape up in his mind. It would be a poem friendship, simple and sincere as the old man himself. He would call it THE HOUSE BY THE SIDE OF THE ROAD

The House by the Side of the Road

by Sam Walter Foss (1858-1911)

There are hermit
souls that live withdrawn
In the peace of their self-content;
There are souls, like stars, that dwell apart,
In a fellowless firmament;
There are pioneer souls that blaze their paths
Where highways never ran;-
But let me live by the side of the road
And be a friend to 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 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;
That 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.

Calvin comments:

This poem is taken from Sword Scrapbook pp  85 Vol One. Many years have passed since I first read this poem.

Today I am always reminded of it when I sing in Church this hymn

Make Me a Blessing

1 Out in the highways and byways of life,

many are weary and sad;
are weary and sad
Carry the sunshine where darkness is rife
making the sorrowing glad.

Refrain:
Make me a blessing,
Make me a blessing,
Out of my life
out of my life
May Jesus shine;
Make me a blessing, O savior, I pray,
I pray Thee, my Savior,
Make me a blessing to someone today.

2 Tell the sweet story of Christ and His love;
Tell of His pow'r to forgive;
His pow'r to forgive.
Others will trust Him if only you prove
true ev'ry moment you live.

Refrain:

3 Give as 'twas given to you in your need;
Love as the Master loved you;
Be to the helpless a helper indeed;
Unto your mission be true.
Refrain