HOUSE, PLANS, AND SPECIFICATIONS. 51 



fore my eyes, and a very pretty case as introduction 

 to a lucrative legal practice in the place of my new 

 ly-intended residence. Vistas of writs, and suits, 

 and appeals, and new trials, rose in my mind in grace 

 ful array, and I thanked Barney, who was reported 

 to be not only &quot; ugly,&quot; but responsible, with all my 

 heart. There were two difficulties in the way of le 

 gal action first, that until the suit was terminated 

 the residence could not be built ; secondly, that Sille, 

 who would have to be plaintiff, had disappeared from 

 the sight of man. ISTow the house might be delayed, 

 as the damages would thus be increased ; but a suit 

 without a plaintiff was beyond ordinary legal reme 

 dies, and was not provided for even by the new Code 

 of Procedure. So Barney, Irishman-like, in spite of 

 law, justice, sense, or hospitality, kept my house, or 

 rather intended house, by &quot; force and arms,&quot; and the 

 cellar and foundation were completed alone. 



A cellar is a delightful part of a house, it is so 

 cool in summer and warm in winter; it is such a 

 nice place to store &quot; things,&quot; as the housewives call 

 them ; but to have all cellar and no house is carry 

 ing the point too far. It is a pleasant place when 

 surmounted by the proper amount of beams and mor 

 tar, but alone is like an alligator s countenance, alto 

 gether too open. I am not particular, and could 



