Morff/fiffcfi and Old Honfiea 85 



qiient chapter) . All changes presuppose well 

 matured plans and long and careful study of 

 problems which will have to be solved if the 

 location of the house or barn is changed. 



The scope, and particularly the cost, of the 

 changes should be known approximately before 

 the execution of the plan begins. " For which 

 of you, intending to build a tow^er, sitteth not 

 down and counteth the cost, whether he have 

 sufficient to finish it? Lest haply after he hath 

 laid the foundation, and is not able to finish it, 

 all that behold it begin to mock him, saying, 

 this man began to build and was not able to 

 finish." Far better live in the old house, with 

 its inconveniences, and get the greatest possible 

 happiness out of the ancient structure, than to 

 build a new one and cover it with shining paints 

 of many colors and a mortgage which sticks 

 longer than the paints. 



Some of these old farm houses embody many 

 beautiful and reposeful characteristics, are well 

 located, and need only slight modifications to 

 make them fit the site as nicely as a bird fits 

 its nest. If thought can be awakened as to 

 the possibilities of these neglected homes and 

 some information imparted as to their treatment, 

 or, in other words, if the eyes and understand- 

 ing can be trained to take in the fundamental 

 principles of beauty, dignity, fitness, and repose, 



