THE HOUSE
The cornerstone in Truth is laid,
The guardian walls of Honour made,
The roof of Faith is built above,
The fire upon the hearth is Love:
Though rains descend and loud winds call,
This happy house shall never fall.
THE HEARTH
When the logs are burning free,
Then the fire is full of glee:
When each heart gives out its best,
Then the talk is full of zest:
Light your fire and never fear,
Life was made for love and cheer.
THE DOOR
The lintel low enough to keep out pomp and pride:
The threshold high enough to turn deceit aside:
The fastening strong enough from robbers to defend:
This door will open at a touch to welcome every friend.
THE DIAL
Time can never take
What Time did not give;
When my shadows have all passed,
You shall live.
Hurstmont is a significant early 20th-century estate. New York industrialist James Pyle rebuilt the house there in 1902-3. The Friends of the title are presumably the Pyle family.
The house fell into decay and renovation began in 2019.
Poetry Atlas has many poems about New Jersey.