MEN INFLtrENTIAL IN IMPROVING AGRICULTURE. 37 



Whose herds with milk, whose fields with bread, 



Whose flocks supply him with attire ; 

 Whose trees in summer yield him shade, 

 In winter fire : 



Blest, who can unconcern' dly find 



Hours, days, and years slide soft away; 

 In health of body, peace of mind. 

 Quiet by day : 



Sound sleep by night, study and ease. 



Together mixt, sweet recreation ; 

 And innocence, which most does please. 

 With meditation. 



— Alexander Pope. 



THE HOUSE BY THE SIDE OF THE ROAD. 



There are hermit souls that live withdrawn 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 ne\er 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 or 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 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 a 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 on 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. 



— Sam Walter Foss. 



