1 84 FROM A NEW ENGLAND HILLSIDE. 



serve us without alteration, and it being 

 understood that the best face is to be 

 shown to the world, this costs a good deal 

 of time. But the game is amply worth the 

 candle. I verily believe that no such beau 

 tiful wall, considering its location and pur 

 pose, could be erected of any other mate 

 rial. The softer mosses, I suppose, will 

 all disappear under the greater exposure, 

 and perhaps some of the larger and coarser 

 lichens also; but the finer and more delicate 

 ones, I am sure, will remain and continue to 

 grow. And the weather stains are also cer 

 tainly permanent. When the cement in 

 the cracks is thoroughly dried, it is covered 

 with a whitish efflorescence, which is very 

 effective, though perhaps it has rather too 

 much accent. It will doubtless, however, 

 gradually tone down under the action of 

 the dust, little of this though there be, 

 which can wander hitherward across the 

 fields ; certainly none that can be perceived 

 in the air. The vines, I am sure, will take 

 kindly to this rough surface, and I shall 

 only hesitate to let them cover too much 

 of it. 



JULY 9, 18i. 



