DECORATIVE MATERIAL 



will be pierced at 5 by a gate leading, I hope, 

 to fair acres and pleasing rambles; possibly to 

 some quiet stream or wood of mystery. This 

 gate should be of heavy wood, and either stained 

 green, with hand-wrought iron hinges, or, if the 

 wood were old enough to have taken on a ripe 

 and quiet tone, it would be left of its natural 

 color. The wall should be almost hidden by 

 vines : sweet pea and morning-glory, where the 

 sun shone, honeysuckle, clematis, woodbine, and 

 at the back two or three trees should throw an 

 afternoon shade over the ground. On top of 

 the wall at a farther corner, or, better, built into 

 the masonry, would be a bird-house where, if 

 possible, some starlings should be domesticated 

 and protected. I don't know whether these soft- 

 voiced musicians eat bees or not, but if bees dis- 

 agree with them there should be a hive some- 

 where among the shrubbery, near the back, that 

 their tuneful hum might be added to the restful 

 whispering of the leafage and the tinkle of water, 

 which would spray from a little fountain in the 

 pool at the center of the yard. The long beds on 

 either side of the walk should be filled with 

 flowers, perennials Uke roses and lilies, beside 

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