
<html><head><meta http-equiv="content-type" content="text/html; charset=utf-8"></head><body dir="auto"><div dir="ltr"><span style="color: rgb(84, 130, 53); font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; font-size: 24pt; -webkit-text-size-adjust: auto;">The Bridge Builder</span><div dir="ltr"><div><p class="excerpttext" style="margin: 11.25pt 0in; font-size: medium; font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; -webkit-text-size-adjust: auto;"><span style="font-size: 14pt; font-family: Arial, sans-serif;">Author unknown</span></p><p class="excerpttext" style="margin: 11.25pt 0in; font-size: medium; font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; -webkit-text-size-adjust: auto;"><span style="font-size: 14pt; font-family: Arial, sans-serif;">An</span><span class="apple-converted-space"> </span><span id="word1">old</span><span class="apple-converted-space"> </span><span id="word2">man</span><span class="apple-converted-space"> </span><span id="word3">going</span><span class="apple-converted-space"> </span><span id="word4">a</span><span class="apple-converted-space"> </span><span id="word5">lone</span><span class="apple-converted-space"> </span><span id="word6">highway,</span><span class="apple-converted-space"> </span><br><span id="word7">Came,</span><span class="apple-converted-space"> </span><span id="word8">at</span><span class="apple-converted-space"> </span><span id="word9">the</span><span class="apple-converted-space"> </span><span id="word10">evening</span><span class="apple-converted-space"> </span><span id="word11">cold</span><span class="apple-converted-space"> </span><span id="word12">and</span><span class="apple-converted-space"> </span><span id="word13">gray,</span><span class="apple-converted-space"> </span><br><span id="word14">To</span><span class="apple-converted-space"> </span><span id="word15">a</span><span class="apple-converted-space"> </span><span id="word16">chasm</span><span class="apple-converted-space"> </span><span id="word17">vast</span><span class="apple-converted-space"> </span><span id="word18">and</span><span class="apple-converted-space"> </span><span id="word19">deep</span><span class="apple-converted-space"> </span><span id="word20">and</span><span class="apple-converted-space"> </span><span id="word21">wide,</span><span class="apple-converted-space"> </span><br><span id="word22">The</span><span class="apple-converted-space"> </span><span id="word23">old</span><span class="apple-converted-space"> </span><span id="word24">man</span><span class="apple-converted-space"> </span><span id="word25">crossed</span><span class="apple-converted-space"> </span><span id="word26">in</span><span class="apple-converted-space"> </span><span id="word27">the</span><span class="apple-converted-space"> </span><span id="word28">twilight</span><span class="apple-converted-space"> </span><span id="word29">dim,</span><span class="apple-converted-space"> </span><br><span id="word30">The</span><span class="apple-converted-space"> </span><span id="word31">sullen</span><span class="apple-converted-space"> </span><span id="word32">stream</span><span class="apple-converted-space"> </span><span id="word33">had</span><span class="apple-converted-space"> </span><span id="word34">no</span><span class="apple-converted-space"> </span><span id="word35">fear</span><span class="apple-converted-space"> </span><span id="word36">for</span><span class="apple-converted-space"> </span><span id="word37">him;</span><span class="apple-converted-space"> </span><br><span id="word38">But</span><span class="apple-converted-space"> </span><span id="word39">he</span><span class="apple-converted-space"> </span><span id="word40">turned</span><span class="apple-converted-space"> </span><span id="word41">when</span><span class="apple-converted-space"> </span><span id="word42">safe</span><span class="apple-converted-space"> </span><span id="word43">on</span><span class="apple-converted-space"> </span><span id="word44">the</span><span class="apple-converted-space"> </span><span id="word45">other</span><span class="apple-converted-space"> </span><span id="word46">side</span><span class="apple-converted-space"> </span><br><span id="word47">And</span><span class="apple-converted-space"> </span><span id="word48">built</span><span class="apple-converted-space"> </span><span id="word49">a</span><span class="apple-converted-space"> </span><span id="word50">bridge</span><span class="apple-converted-space"> </span><span id="word51">to</span><span class="apple-converted-space"> </span><span id="word52">span</span><span class="apple-converted-space"> </span><span id="word53">the</span><span class="apple-converted-space"> </span><span id="word54">tide.</span><span class="apple-converted-space"> </span><o:p></o:p></p><p style="margin: 11.25pt 0in; -webkit-text-size-adjust: auto;"><span id="word55"><span class="apple-converted-space"><font face="Arial, sans-serif" size="4">“</font><font face="Times New Roman, serif" size="3">Old </font></span><span id="word56" style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: medium;">man,"</span><span class="apple-converted-space" style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: medium;"> </span><span id="word57" style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: medium;">said</span><span class="apple-converted-space" style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: medium;"> </span><span id="word58" style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: medium;">a</span><span class="apple-converted-space" style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: medium;"> </span><span id="word59" style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: medium;">fellow</span><span class="apple-converted-space" style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: medium;"> </span><span id="word60" style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: medium;">pilgrim</span><span class="apple-converted-space" style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: medium;"> </span><span id="word61" style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: medium;">near,</span><span class="apple-converted-space" style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: medium;"> </span><br><span id="word62" style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: medium;">"You</span><span class="apple-converted-space" style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: medium;"> </span><span id="word63" style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: medium;">are</span><span class="apple-converted-space" style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: medium;"> </span><span id="word64" style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: medium;">wasting</span><span class="apple-converted-space" style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: medium;"> </span><span id="word65" style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: medium;">your</span><span class="apple-converted-space" style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: medium;"> </span><span id="word66" style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: medium;">strength</span><span class="apple-converted-space" style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: medium;"> </span><span id="word67" style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: medium;">with</span><span class="apple-converted-space" style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: medium;"> </span><span id="word68" style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: medium;">building</span><span class="apple-converted-space" style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: medium;"> </span><span id="word69" style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: medium;">here;</span><span class="apple-converted-space" style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: medium;"> </span><br><span id="word70" style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: medium;">Your</span><span class="apple-converted-space" style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: medium;"> </span><span id="word71" style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: medium;">journey</span><span class="apple-converted-space" style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: medium;"> </span><span id="word72" style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: medium;">will</span><span class="apple-converted-space" style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: medium;"> </span><span id="word73" style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: medium;">end</span><span class="apple-converted-space" style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: medium;"> </span><span id="word74" style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: medium;">with</span><span class="apple-converted-space" style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: medium;"> </span><span id="word75" style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: medium;">the</span><span class="apple-converted-space" style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: medium;"> </span><span id="word76" style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: medium;">ending</span><span class="apple-converted-space" style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: medium;"> </span><span id="word77" style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: medium;">day,</span><span class="apple-converted-space" style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: medium;"> </span><br><span id="word78" style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: medium;">Yon</span><span class="apple-converted-space" style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: medium;"> </span><span id="word79" style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: medium;">never</span><span class="apple-converted-space" style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: medium;"> </span><span id="word80" style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: medium;">again</span><span class="apple-converted-space" style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: medium;"> </span><span id="word81" style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: medium;">will</span><span class="apple-converted-space" style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: medium;"> </span><span id="word82" style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: medium;">pass</span><span class="apple-converted-space" style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: medium;"> </span><span id="word83" style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: medium;">this</span><span class="apple-converted-space" style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: medium;"> </span><span id="word84" style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: medium;">way;</span><span class="apple-converted-space" style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: medium;"> </span><br><span id="word85" style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: medium;">You've</span><span class="apple-converted-space" style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: medium;"> </span><span id="word86" style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: medium;">crossed</span><span class="apple-converted-space" style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: medium;"> </span><span id="word87" style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: medium;">the</span><span class="apple-converted-space" style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: medium;"> </span><span id="word88" style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: medium;">chasm,</span><span class="apple-converted-space" style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: medium;"> </span><span id="word89" style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: medium;">deep</span><span class="apple-converted-space" style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: medium;"> </span><span id="word90" style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: medium;">and</span><span class="apple-converted-space" style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: medium;"> </span><span id="word91" style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: medium;">wide,</span><span class="apple-converted-space" style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: medium;"> </span><br><span id="word92" style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: medium;">Why</span><span class="apple-converted-space" style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: medium;"> </span><span id="word93" style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: medium;">build</span><span class="apple-converted-space" style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: medium;"> </span><span id="word94" style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: medium;">this</span><span class="apple-converted-space" style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: medium;"> </span><span id="word95" style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: medium;">bridge</span><span class="apple-converted-space" style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: medium;"> </span><span id="word96" style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: medium;">at</span><span class="apple-converted-space" style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: medium;"> </span><span id="word97" style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: medium;">evening</span><span class="apple-converted-space" style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: medium;"> </span><span id="word98" style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: medium;">tide?"</span><span class="apple-converted-space" style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: medium;"> </span><font face="Times New Roman, serif" size="3"><o:p></o:p></font></span></p><p style="margin: 11.25pt 0in; font-size: medium; font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; -webkit-text-size-adjust: auto;"><span id="word99"><span style="font-size: 14pt; font-family: Arial, sans-serif;">The</span><span class="apple-converted-space"> </span><span id="word100">builder</span><span class="apple-converted-space"> </span><span id="word101">lifted</span><span class="apple-converted-space"> </span><span id="word102">his</span><span class="apple-converted-space"> </span><span id="word103">old</span><span class="apple-converted-space"> </span><span id="word104">gray</span><span class="apple-converted-space"> </span><span id="word105">head;</span><span class="apple-converted-space"> </span><br><span id="word106">"Good</span><span class="apple-converted-space"> </span><span id="word107">friend,</span><span class="apple-converted-space"> </span><span id="word108">in</span><span class="apple-converted-space"> </span><span id="word109">the</span><span class="apple-converted-space"> </span><span id="word110">path</span><span class="apple-converted-space"> </span><span id="word111">I</span><span class="apple-converted-space"> </span><span id="word112">have</span><span class="apple-converted-space"> </span><span id="word113">come,"</span><span class="apple-converted-space"> </span><span id="word114">he</span><span class="apple-converted-space"> </span><span id="word115">said,</span><span class="apple-converted-space"> </span><br><span id="word116">"There</span><span class="apple-converted-space"> </span><span id="word117">followed</span><span class="apple-converted-space"> </span><span id="word118">after</span><span class="apple-converted-space"> </span><span id="word119">me</span><span class="apple-converted-space"> </span><span id="word120">to-day</span><span class="apple-converted-space"> </span><br><span id="word121">A</span><span class="apple-converted-space"> </span><span id="word122">youth</span><span class="apple-converted-space"> </span><span id="word123">whose</span><span class="apple-converted-space"> </span><span id="word124">feet</span><span class="apple-converted-space"> </span><span id="word125">must</span><span class="apple-converted-space"> </span><span id="word126">pass</span><span class="apple-converted-space"> </span><span id="word127">this</span><span class="apple-converted-space"> </span><span id="word128">way.</span><span class="apple-converted-space"> </span><br><span id="word129">This</span><span class="apple-converted-space"> </span><span id="word130">chasm</span><span class="apple-converted-space"> </span><span id="word131">that</span><span class="apple-converted-space"> </span><span id="word132">has</span><span class="apple-converted-space"> </span><span id="word133">been</span><span class="apple-converted-space"> </span><span id="word134">as</span><span class="apple-converted-space"> </span><span id="word135">naught</span><span class="apple-converted-space"> </span><span id="word136">to</span><span class="apple-converted-space"> </span><span id="word137">me</span><span class="apple-converted-space"> </span><br><span id="word138">To</span><span class="apple-converted-space"> </span><span id="word139">that</span><span class="apple-converted-space"> </span><span id="word140">fair-haired</span><span class="apple-converted-space"> </span><span id="word141">youth</span><span class="apple-converted-space"> </span><span id="word142">may</span><span class="apple-converted-space"> </span><span id="word143">a</span><span class="apple-converted-space"> </span><span id="word144">pitfall</span><span class="apple-converted-space"> </span><span id="word145">be;</span><span class="apple-converted-space"> </span><br><span id="word146">He,</span><span class="apple-converted-space"> </span><span id="word147">too,</span><span class="apple-converted-space"> </span><span id="word148">must</span><span class="apple-converted-space"> </span><span id="word149">cross</span><span class="apple-converted-space"> </span><span id="word150">in</span><span class="apple-converted-space"> </span><span id="word151">the</span><span class="apple-converted-space"> </span><span id="word152">twilight</span><span class="apple-converted-space"> </span><span id="word153">dim;</span><span class="apple-converted-space"> </span><br><span id="word154">Good</span><span class="apple-converted-space"> </span><span id="word155">friend,</span><span class="apple-converted-space"> </span><span id="word156">I</span><span class="apple-converted-space"> </span><span id="word157">am</span><span class="apple-converted-space"> </span><span id="word158">building</span><span class="apple-converted-space"> </span><span id="word159">this</span><span class="apple-converted-space"> </span><span id="word160">bridge</span><span class="apple-converted-space"> </span><span id="word161">for</span><span class="apple-converted-space"> </span><span id="word162">him!"</span><span class="apple-converted-space"> </span></span></p></div>—————————————————<br><br><div dir="ltr"><div><span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">Seeya 'round town, Moscow, because . . .</span></div><div><span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);"><br></span></div><div><span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">"Moscow Cares" (the most fun you can have with your pants on)</span></div><div><span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">http://www.MoscowCares.net</span></div><div><br></div><div><div><span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">Tom Hansen</span></div><div><span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">Moscow, Idaho</span></div></div><div><br></div><div>“A stranger is just a friend you haven’t met.”</div><div>- Roy E. Stolworthy</div><div></div></div></div></div></body></html>