In these old woods you
have built a temple to the American household gods. The savage beasts of
the wilderness will fly from it, and the birds will gather around it.
The winter will be the warmer for the fire that will burn within it, and
the spring will come earlier in prospect of a better welcome. The river
that washes its feet will be more musical in its flow, because finer
ears will be listening. The denizens of the great city will come here,
year after year, to renew their wasted strength, and they will carry
back with them the sweetest memories of these pure solitudes.
"To build a human home, where woman lives and little children open their
eyes upon life, and grow up and marry and die--a home full of love and
toil, of pleasure and hope and hospitality, is to do the finest thing
that a man can do. I congratulate you on what you have done for Jim, and
what so nobly you have done for yourselves. Your whole life will be
sweeter for this service, and when you think of a lovely woman presiding
over this house, and of all the comfort it will be to the gentle folk
that will fill it full, you will be glad that you have had a hand in
it."
Yates made his bow and stepped down.
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