I just slipped a piece of parchment into a frame. I bought this copy of Michie Tavern''s "Receive Ye Welcome" about six or seven years ago on a foray to Charlottesville with the women of Will's family. (They have really good friend chicken there! One of my favorite things to eat.) To be honest, I had no idea the copy was still around, had completely forgotten about it, and somehow it got packed into a box and I found it here in Lexington a few weeks ago. Not a wrinkle or a crease I bent the buttery paper.
It expresses so much of what I wish for my family and for those that join us, for however long or short a stay. You're always welcome to visit us.
Michie Tavern's
Receive Ye Welcome
Let the guest sojourning here know that in this home our life is simple. What we cannot afford we do not offer, but what good cheer we can give, we give gladly.
We make no strife for appearance sake. Know also friend, that we live a life of labour therefore, if at times we separate ourselves from thee, do ye occupy thyself according to thine heart's desire.
We will not defer to thee in opinion or ask thee to defer to us. What thou thinketh ye shall say, if ye wish, without giving offense. What we think, we also say, believing that truth hath many aspects, and that love is large enough to encompass them all.
So, while ye tarry here with us, we would have thee enjoy the blessings of a home, health, love, and freedom, and we pray that thou mayst find the final blessing of life, Peace.
In the year of our Lord 1784
Charlottesville, Virginia
William Michie, Proprietor
Sounds like William Michie was a very wise man.
A paragraph from the webside:
"The upstairs Ballroom, for example, was once used as a makeshift school room, space for Sunday worship and offered an additional sleeping area at night. An itinerant dentist may have rented space in the Ballroom or a traveling magician may have entertained Mr. Michie's guests. Today, in this wide-open sunlit space, youth learn about a room once crowded with activities. And here, a Tavern hostess invites our young guests to enjoy a colonial dance. Period music plays while youth whirl through the steps, suddenly transported into another time. One room, so many lessons . . ."
How life has changed. Sigh.
pax Christi,
lisa
the gift of hospitality is so beautiful to me. i love the idea of a simplistic hospitality. that we can be cheerful and gracious givers no matter how much we do or don't (materially) have to give. i have a tendency to want to "put on the dog" when ryan and i have friends over...to give beyond our means. it's freeing to be reminded that superb hospitality doesn't mean an expensive bottle of wine. (two buck chuck would actually work for most of our friends). thanks for sharing these words, lisa. beautiful.
Posted by: jodie | July 17, 2005 at 08:29 PM
Science is never wait for inspiration, can come. Etc. If scientific discoveries have what accidental opportunity, then this "accidental opportunity" to those who learn literacy only to those who, at independent thinking, to those who have the spirit of perseverance, and not give loafers.
Posted by: Nike Shox Rivalry | September 16, 2010 at 03:20 AM
William Michie was really a nice man.
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