TAKING REINS IN HAND. 47 



by extending the area of the lower story some 

 ten feet, in both front and rear, while the roof of 

 this annex was concealed by a heavy balustrade, 

 perched upon the eaves ; thus giving the effect of 

 one large cube, surmounted by a lesser one ; the 

 uppermost was topped with a roof of sharp pitch, 

 through whose ridge protruded two enormous chim 

 ney stacks. But this alteration was of so old a date 

 as not to detract from the venerable air of the house. 

 Even the jaunty porch which jutted in front of 

 all, showed gaping seams, and stains of ancient leak 

 age, that forbade any suspicion of newness. 



Within, the rooms had that low-browed look 

 which belongs to country farm-houses ; and I will 

 not disguise the matter by pretending that they are 

 any higher now. I have occasional visitors whom I 

 find it necessary to caution as they pass under the 

 doorways ; and the stray wasps that will float into 

 the open casements of so old a country house, in the 

 first warm days of Spring, are not out of reach of my 

 boy, (just turned of five,) as he mounts a chair, and 

 makes a cut at them with his dog-whip, upon the 

 ceiling. 



I must confess that I do not dislike this old hu 

 mility of house-building ; if windows, open chimney 

 places, and situation give good air, what matters it, 

 that your quarters by night are three or four feet 



