HOUSE, PLANS, AND SPECIFICATIONS. 59 



grew and floors were laid, windows crept into their 

 sash-cases, and doors and blinds were hung, but &quot; the 

 end was not yet.&quot; The seventh day of July had 

 come and gone, and the country house bid fair to f be 

 finished about Christmas time. 



Of the cost of the progressing dwelling it is not 

 pleasant to speak ; but as this veritable history de 

 pends greatly, for its value to future generations, 

 upon its accuracy and minuteness, I will admit the 

 expense was not despicable. Labor was high, as the 

 Nantutfket builder explained, and timber was high, 

 and bricks were high, and Irishmen occasionally got 

 high, and altogether he was compelled much against 

 his wishes to charge a high price. As the building 

 progressed, or rather failed to progress, it was sug 

 gested that he may have charged enough to leave a 

 surplus to cover a few days delay at ten dollars a 

 day ; but that would hardly have accorded with the 

 proverbial honesty of Nan s dower island. 



I concluded to hire a house near by, which, al 

 though not the one I expected to occupy, was doubt 

 less as good, and had the advantage of a tight roof 

 and solid walls. Here I could conveniently watch 

 the progress of the undertaking without being so 

 deeply interested as if my lodging depended on it. 

 As distance is supposed to lend enchantment to the 



