194 FROM A NEW ENGLAND HILLSIDE. 



Already within the brief period of my ab 

 sence the infant had pecked a way into the 

 world through the crisp limestone wall by 

 which he had been surrounded, and had 

 begun to push &quot;hisr&quot; pin-feathers. Its 

 voice was at least twice as big as its body, 

 and attested as good a pair of lungs as one 

 could wish. Yet a little while, and doubt 

 less the infant prodigy will bridle and strut 

 with all the dignity appropriate to the first 

 born on the new estate. 



The house has made good progress, and 

 the masons are completing their work. 

 Four walls with many and large port-holes 

 form the hull of the vessel, and we shall 

 soon be ready for the top-hamper. 



The persistency with which most of the 

 inhabitants of the garden continued to grow 

 during the drought was a constant marvel. 

 Doubtless last night s rain will help them 

 greatly, although the ground is not soaked 

 for a depth of more than from one to four 

 inches, in reverse degree according to its 

 firmness. But even before this came, the 

 general appearance was good, and some 

 things were doing finely. My sweet peas, 

 my &quot;sweet sixteen,&quot; the sole representa 

 tives in the garden of those that neither toil 

 nor spin, gave me a great jar full of blus- 



