A HOUSE BY THE SIDE OF THE ROAD . . .

Heres one that may ring an accord with people who "caretake" old houses
THE KITCHEN CHIMNEY

Builder, in building the little house,
In every way you may please yourself;
But please me in the kitchen chimney;
Dont build me a chimney upon a shelf.

However far you must for bricks,
Whaterver the cost apiece or a pound,
Buy enough for a full length chimney,
And build the chimney clear up from the ground.

Its not that Im greatly afraid of fire,
But I never heard of a house that throve
(and I know of one that didnt thrive)
Where the chimney started above the stove.

And I dread the ominous stain of tar
That there always is on the papered walls.
and the smell of fire drowned in the rain
That there always is when the chimney's false.

A shelf is for a clock or vase or picture,
But I dont see why it should have to bear
A chimney that only serves to remind me
Of castles I used to build in the air.

-Robert Frost
from "A Boys Will" -1913

Thanks for the story, Setanta. You always have some of the best threads here. :wink:

You are very kind, Stray Cat . . . our other members contribute so very much good material to my threads that i don't think i can claim much of the credit for their quality, though . . .

Nice thread, Setanta.

You seem a little nostalgic of late. Is there some reason for this? Not that nostalgia is a bad thing, mind. I'm enjoying reading about your recollections, on various Setanta threads!

When I have the time I'll try writing about our first real home in Oz. My father built that house, all by himself. (Now why didn't THAT amaze & impress me a long time ago? )

I do hope that you will . . . if my threads are good, it is because others contribute so much of value . . . promise that you will . . . come on, promise . . .

Ah, too humble by far, Mr Set!

And yes I will write about my dad & that house he built for us. For someone who had no formal education at all, he was so incredibly smart! What a shame it took me so long to fully appreciate that!