THE TIM BUNKEK PAPERS. 179 



What made me more ready for painting was the fact that 

 Jo Dennis, the painter, was out of a job, complaining of 

 the war, hard times, and nothing to do in his line. Now 

 I like to see industrious people busy, earning money, and 

 so I set Jo at work. 



I find I learn something about painting every time I do 

 the job. It requires from five to ten per cent of the first 

 cost of a building every fifth or sixth year to keep it 

 painted. This amounts to a heavy tax, such as we should 

 think oppressive if it was imposed upon us by the Govern 

 ment. I have been thinking that a great many could 

 save this expense by building with stone. In most parts 

 of the country stones are plenty granite, sandstone, 

 marble that split easy, and are of handsome color. In 

 many places, near good quarries, it would not cost any 

 more to build of stone than of wood. Barns, and out 

 houses especially, might be made of stone, wholly or in 

 part, to great advantage. Deacon Smith built a stone 

 barn, ten years ago, and it keeps hay just as well as his 

 old one, and has some advantages over wood. He claims 

 that it is a great deal warmer in winter, and of course it 

 takes less fodder to carry his cattle through. It is cooler 

 in summer, and more comfortable for such animals as he 

 keeps in the stable. It is more easily made rat-proof. 

 The walls are made of split granite laid in mortar, and will 

 never need any repair or paint in his day, or in that of 

 his grandchildren. The first cost was only a third more 

 than wood, and he thinks the interest on this difference is 

 more than made up in the saving of fodder, repairs, and 

 paint. 



We have a few stone houses in Hookertown, some of 

 them the natural color of the granite, and some white 

 washed, and they are the warmest and most comfortable 

 houses among us. If I were going to build again, I should 

 certainly use stone, for both house and barn. 



But most of us have built of wood, and we must do 



