The Hall Tree
Today we cleaned up and found a spot to display an antique hall
tree well over a hundred years old. We made a trip to Mom's house and brought
back several items that had been treasures to my folks and some were treasures
of their folks as well. Some of the items probably have monetary value of some
sort. Some are only treasures of the heart.
We worked about half the day on the old hall tree trying to
clean the dust of years past from its nooks and crannies. Although clean the
old hall tree still displays the scars of its past, but still stands with a
certain air of majesty. After finishing the superficial cleansing, I stepped
back to inspect the finished product. What happened to me then was very
un-Terry-like.
I stared into the mirror for the first time with thought. As I
peered into the aged, stained glass at my face, I suddenly realized I was in
the presence of more than an old piece of furniture. My normally simple mind
began to swirl with thoughts and questions. How many others had looked at the
reflection of their face in that mirror? What were their thoughts at that
moment? What emotion was being reflected as they stood before the mirrored hall
tree?
I could see my great grandma checking her hat to make sure it
sat just right before walking out the door on the way to church. I could see
Papa Dan staring into the mirror as he hung his hat on the peg possibly trying
to figure how to tell Mama May Delle that he was going fox hunting with Jesse
Marlin. I saw Pop looking into the mirror adjusting his uniform before telling Mom
good-bye as he prepared to go overseas. I saw Mom looking into the mirror with
a smile as she paused for only a moment before she continued the chores
necessary when raising five boys.
The people that passed before that old hall tree were an important
part of my being who I am today. I hope to preserve it for those that follow in
hopes that they too will look into its reflective window and have fond thoughts
of those of us who have stood before it and saw more than just our own
reflection.
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