<h2><SPAN name="page3"></SPAN><span class="pagenum"></span>THE HOUSE OF LIFE</h2>
<p class="poetry">All wondering, and eager-eyed, within her
portico<br/>
I made my plea to Hostess Life, one morning long ago.</p>
<p class="poetry">“Pray show me this great house of thine,
nor close a single door;<br/>
But let me wander where I will, and climb from floor to
floor!</p>
<p class="poetry">For many rooms, and curious things, and
treasures great and small<br/>
Within your spacious mansion lie, and I would see them
all.”</p>
<p class="poetry">Then Hostess Life turned silently, her
searching gaze on me,<br/>
And with no word, she reached her hand, and offered up the
key.</p>
<p class="poetry"><SPAN name="page4"></SPAN><span class="pagenum">p.
4</span>It opened first the door of Hope, and long I lingered
there,<br/>
Until I spied the room of Dreams, just higher by a stair.</p>
<p class="poetry">And then a door whereon the one word
“Happiness” was writ;<br/>
But when I tried the little key I could not make it fit.</p>
<p class="poetry">It turned the lock of Pleasure’s room,
where first all seemed so bright—<br/>
But after I had stayed awhile it somehow lost its light.</p>
<p class="poetry">And wandering down a lonely hall, I came upon a
room<br/>
Marked “Duty,” and I entered it—to lose myself
in gloom.</p>
<p class="poetry">Along the shadowy halls I groped my weary way
about,<br/>
And found that from dull Duty’s room, a door of Toil led
out.</p>
<p class="poetry">It led out to another door, whereon a crimson
stain<br/>
Made sullenly against the dark these words: “The Room of
Pain.”</p>
<p class="poetry"><SPAN name="page5"></SPAN><span class="pagenum">p.
5</span>But oh the light, the light, the light, that spilled down
from above<br/>
And upward wound, the stairs of Faith, right to the Tower of
Love!</p>
<p class="poetry">And when I came forth from that place, I tried
the little key—<br/>
And lo! the door of Happiness swung open, wide and free.</p>
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