Preserve the Old Rouse 113 



served and held sacred) of a Burns and a 

 Shq^kespeare. Then is it not well to preserve 

 the farm houses, where possibly are the birth- 

 places of many " Cromwells guiltless of their 

 country's blood." 



The first thought, then, should be to save 

 and improve the old house, not to destroy it. 

 But most of these farm houses are either too 

 low or too high : that is, they are neither one- 

 nor two-storied, but a story and a half. A 

 two -story wing may often be placed either at 

 the front or side, and may serve to give dignity 

 to the house; or a lower room or two, a few 

 comfortable chambers, and an entrance hall or 

 vestibule may be added. Such addition would 

 make it possible to remove the low, flat- roofed, 

 leaky kitchen to more appropriate quarters. 

 The formerly unused parlor might be trans- 

 formed into a living-room, the former living- 

 room into a dining-room, and the old dining- 

 room into a kitchen. The details by which 

 this evolution is made must, of necessity, be 

 worked out by those who are to occupy the 

 house. That home is enjoyed best which is 

 planned by those who have to pay the bills ; 

 therefore, I shall not go into detail of arrange- 

 ment. My object will have been accomplished 

 if I succeed in creating a greater respect and 

 love for the houses of our ancestors, and shall 



