CHOOSING A COUNTRY PLACE 349 



mated figure-heads of old-fashioned ships" who came there 

 to end their days. 



Since he never forgot the impression a place made upon him, 

 the memory of the island lingered in his mind until he was ready 

 to provide himself with a country home not a half -acre lot, 

 but something of the nature of a farm. The love of the country, 

 with its actualities of animals and crops and the local inde- 

 pendence, touching the border of exclusiveness, was strong 

 within him ; indeed, it was a tradition in his region of the coun- 

 try that the good of life was only to be had away from the 

 crowded centres which hindered men from being wise and happy. 

 What he desired was a "civil wilderness" that is, spacious 

 possessions tamed to comfort, but not made artificial, nor yet 

 closely packed with humanity. He used to say he loved his 

 fellow men but not too near. He liked the stateliness of 

 uncrowded fields, the sense of freedom and security from the 

 intrusion of unsought companions while tramping over land he 

 owned. The seclusion of the place he chose was one of its chief 

 attractions, and the Seven Gates through which he was obliged 

 to pass when he first took possession of it were welcome bar- 

 riers between him and the dust and noise of the busy world. 

 There was also at foundation in Mr. Shaler's nature a feudal 

 leaning toward a large estate with numerous retainers, kins- 

 folk, and dependents. In the old days he would have made an 

 ideal master, asking little service and giving much reward. And 

 for this reason, he was never severe on the subject of abstract 

 justice, for he could not conceive in human relations of one 

 man taking unfair advantage of another. Slavery, therefore, 

 was not altogether repugnant to him. He considered it a good 

 fortune for the slave, but a taxing relation for the master. It 

 was an institution not to be perpetuated, but gradually to be 

 got rid of. 



It was not, however, that he might pass his days in ease and 

 isolation that Mr. Shaler sought the country. He had the natu- 

 ralist's craving for contact with the earth in all possible ways; 



