The Rescue of an Old Place 



La*drt~ the other side of the road, have done so 

 by first building a kind of rough dam of 

 stones and clay, and then gradually filling 

 in behind this dam with rubbish and stones 

 and sand until they reach the level of the 

 street. When properly covered with loam, 

 after having had plenty of time to settle, 

 this well-watered foundation affords excel- 

 lent soil for grass, which grows upon it 

 with great luxuriance. 



As the road acts still further for a dam 

 between us and the meadow, our task be- 

 comes simpler, and we can reclaim our 

 piece of land with far less trouble than 

 our neighbors have had with theirs, and 

 we are encouraged to look for equally 

 good results. 



But it is distressing to see the surface 

 of the hill, which we would fain see rolling 

 in graceful slopes to the swale, waving 

 with the forest of our imagination, still 

 vexed by the presence of carts and horses, 

 and torn by the torturing spade. 



He who undertakes to change the face 

 * nature must needs have patience. Mon- 

 archs like Nebuchadnezzar may hang gar- 

 dens in the air in a few months, or a 



