One feature of The Old Manse that inspires me are the four panels of bull's eye transom on the front door. Wealthier homeowners valued these as rejects since the outer edges of the blown glass were preferred. The distortion is what I have been inspired by and who might be looking up through them. How the "doors of perception" inspired many an author here at the house.

      

For our young fictitious protagonist living at the Old Manse during the time of Emerson, he might see figures or various moods of the trees on his way out.

As one enters and leaves, the transom might say, "Consider the distortion," The distortion is not only through our own physical eyes and imagination, but the "reality" created and imposed by others. 

A fool sees not the same tree that a wise man sees.
William Blake