crimson color and the beauty of the mahogany. In assorting these, we will often do 

 well to separate the stutf from the wood by a cord or narrow galloon of yellow, or of 

 golden-yellow, with gilt nails ; or better still, a narrow galloon of green or black, 

 according as we wish the border to be more or less prominent. The red woods always 

 lose a portion of their beauty when in juxtaposition with red stuffs. And hence it is 

 that we can never ally mahogany to vivid reds, such as cherry-color ; and more par- 

 ticularly to orange reds, such as scarlet, nacarat, and aurora ; for these colors are so 

 brio-ht that, in taking away from this wood its peculiar tint, it becomes no better than 

 oak or walnut. Ebony and walnut can be allied with brown tones, also with certain 

 shades of OTcen and violet. 



llg fifi hx iht C0untrs: 



OR CHRO^'ICLES OF OAKLAND HOME. 

 BY FRANK HAZLETON. 



CHAPTEH III. 



BUILDS A HOUSE AND BUYS EXPERIENCE. 



The next thing of course was to build a siiitable house. I well remembered the old 

 maxim that " fools build houses and wise men buy them." I think, however, that the 

 fools must be a very useful class of community; for if they did not build, the wise ones 

 must go houseless. But this wise saying, though very good perhaps for cities, will no 

 'answer for the countiy. In the city, if the house is satisfactory, and the neighborhood 

 good, all is right. It matters not whether the " seven-by-nlne" lot is high or low, rich 

 or poor. But in the purchase of a fann — even a thirty acre farm — there are other 

 considerations vastly more important than the value or convenience or beauty of the 

 house. The nature and fertility of the soil — the convenience to market — the varieties 

 of fruit in the orchard — is of the first consideration ; — even a running brook, is of 

 more value to many fanns than would be a costly house. These are facts I have 

 learned by observation and expeiience, and I have no doubt they will be of ser\ice to 

 s me of my readere. 



In searching for a plan for my house, I visited many residences I had previously 

 noticed as being remarkable for their beauty or novelty; but finding nothing that came 

 \i[) to my ideas of what my house should be, I applied to an architect, stating the sum 

 of money I wished to expend. In a few days I had a beautifully colored picture of a 

 house that all said was very pretty, and I concluded it was about what I wanted. 

 Some time after, on examining the ground plan, which I had almost forgotten in my 

 admiration of the pretty picture, I found it lacked many conveniences. Some changes 

 were made for the better, and I now regret that I did not make other and more impor- 

 tant modifications. I have too much parlor, and too Httle kitchen and diningr-oom; 

 too much show, and too little comfort Downing remarked that the garden is the 



