And you will be hated by all for My name’s sake. But he who endures to the end shall be saved (Mark 13:13).

The Spite House

Joseph Richardson, a New York millionaire lived and died in a house only five feet wide. It was called the “Spite House,” and it deserved its name. Owning the narrow lot of land on which it was built, Mr. Richardson wished to sell it to the neighboring property owners. They would not pay him what he asked, and so he put up this house, which disfigured the block—and then condemned himself to a life of discomfort in it.

The Devil’s Lane

Two neighbors had a falling-out over the boundary line fence between their farms. Feelings became so intense that each built his own fence. These fences were built about four feet apart. Not only were they added expenses, but neither of the neighbors had the use of the four-foot strip of land—it rightfully belonged to neither of them. For lack of a better name, this four-foot strip was called “The Devil’s Lane.” I guess it was rightly named because Old Beelzebub did take control of it. At least he controlled the men involved.

Unless otherwise noted, Scripture taken from the New King James Version®, NKJV © 1982 by Thomas Nelson.
Used by permission. All rights reserved.