FARM BOYS AND GIRLS 



CHAPTER I 



BUILDING A GOOD LIFE 



IF you were about to begin the construction of a 

 dwelling house, what questions would most likely 

 be uppermost in your mind ? If this house were 

 intended for your own use, you would doubtless 

 consider among other important matters those of 

 comfort, convenience of arrangement, attractiveness 

 of appearance, strength, and durableness. The great 

 variety of dwellings to be seen on every hand is 

 outwardly expressive of the great variety of ideals 

 in the minds of the people who construct them. No 

 matter what means there may be available for the 

 purpose, it may be said that he who builds a house 

 thereby illustrates in concrete form his inner char- 

 acter. 



With practically the same quality of materials, 

 one man will construct a house apparently with the 

 thought that its chief purpose is to be looked at. 

 Much work and expense will be put upon outer 

 show and embellishment, while in its inner arrange- 

 ments it may be exceedingly cramped and thought- 

 lessly put together. Another will erect his building 



