"There is a saying of King Alfred's that I like to apply to our School,--"I have found a door," he says. That is just what I hope your School is to you--a door opening into a great palace of art and knowledge in which there are many chambers all opening into gardens or field paths, forest or hills. One chamber, entered through a beautiful Gothic archway, is labeled Bible Knowledge, and there the Scholar finds goodness as well as knowledge, as indeed he does in many others of the fair chambers. You see that doorway with much curious lettering? History is within, and that is, I think, an especially delightful chamber. But it would take too long to investigate all these pleasant places and indeed you could label a good many of the doorways from the headings of your term's programme.
"But you will remember that the School is only a "Door" to let you in to the goodly House of Knowledge, but I hope you will go in and out and live there all your lives--in one pleasant chamber and another; for the really rich people are they who have the entry to this goodly House, and who never let King Alfred's 'Door' rust on its hinges, no, not all through their lives, even when they are very old people.
-H. Franklin, 1923, In Memoriam, p. 115
I love it! It's so true, opening a good book is like opening the door into another world.
ReplyDeleteI didn't realize Henrietta was writing until I saw the British spelling! I'm positive there are no rusty hinges at your house.
ReplyDeleteRichele
oooh. wow. LOVE it, especially in light of everything we've talked about. I wrote you a book in the car today... sending now...
ReplyDeleteamy outta peru
ps. richele, all those wouldbe rusty hinges and stuck fast window frames will be gone very soon... I just happen to know this from firsthand info, right Nancy? ;)
This is so beautifully and wonderfully said. Ahhh, the "truly rich people"...yes, indeed!
ReplyDeleteWhere is that fabulous illustration from?
ReplyDeleteBonnie,
ReplyDeleteIt's from an old St. Nicholas magazine!
Sursum Corda,
Nancy
oh it is most , most wonderful.
ReplyDeleteI would love to have it up on my wall.
I'm digging through the Way of the Will for those in Uncle Tom's Cabin right now! Thanks for all the helps for "the children's sake" (my lit. class!) You bless me !
This is lovely post. Thanks for letting me take a peak around your blog.
ReplyDeleteOh, I love the comparison! Books are indeed a door, and once our children know how to open them, they can truly live in the House of Knowledge all their lives. :-)
ReplyDeleteSuch beautiful words! My heart leaps with joy at these thoughts and images.
ReplyDeleteSurely if we have shown our children some of the delights that linger inside, they will choose to discover more the rest of their lives.
Thanks for sharing this, it was very encouraging and beautiful to see and read.
ReplyDeleteI will read this over and over again. Thank you for posting this. Ah, the power of well-chosen words!
ReplyDeleteThat is really beautiful, and such a great aspiration to reach toward. I really liked this:
ReplyDelete"But you will remember that the School is only a 'Door' to let you in to the goodly House of Knowledge, but I hope you will go in and out and live there all your lives..."
That is one thing CM has helped me to see, that learning really never ends, and it is the wise and happy person who truly can say, there is more in store and always another adventure waiting. I hope to be like that as I age.