A SELF-SUPPORTING HOME 



and ceiling of which were made of hardwood, 

 so they were scoured with strong lye, and 

 dried, shining examples of cleanliness. The 

 floors were next graded half a foot to the back, 

 where a gutter a foot wide and deep was 

 built by inserting three boards below the sur- 

 face, with a tile drain-pipe at the end, to con- 

 duct the liquid to a barrel which was to be 

 sunk into the ground outside the shed. Scour- 

 ing, grading, making the gutter, and sinking 

 the barrel cost $3, as a man was hired for 

 two days. 



The earth floor did not meet my ideas of 

 cleanliness, and for a few days it puzzled and 

 worried me. Then I read an account of how 

 "stone" gate-posts could be made out of 

 Portland cement. This suggested trying a 

 coat for the stable floor. A bag of cement 

 was bought, and I proceeded to "flag" my 

 cow stable, and succeeded. To family and 

 friends it seemed a wonderful accomplish- 

 ment. Really, it was as easy and amusing 

 an occupation as making mud pies in pinafore 



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