260 The Farmstead 



the proposed location and take a seat ; make 

 a most careful study of the approach, the in- 

 cline of the land, note where fences and gates 

 will be necessary, where and how the water is 

 to be introduced — in fact, take in the whole prob- 

 lem of the environment of the proposed struc- 

 ture. Then imagine that you see the barn, and 

 that you have just arrived from town some 

 stormy night with your wife and baby ; in im- 

 agination help them out of the carriage. Im- 

 agine you have a span of young, restless horses 

 which you have driven to get them used to city 

 ways before selling them. That will make you 

 think of a platform onto which the family may 

 step from the carriage while you are holding the 

 colts. Consider how many big doors you will 

 have to open before the colts are made comfort- 

 able for the night. Are the democrat wagon and 

 the colts to be kept on the same floor, or one 

 up -stairs and the other down? Or is the car- 

 riage in one building situated four rods from 

 the horses? How many gates and doors have 

 you opened and closed since you arrived ? 

 Think it all over, and then go to the house and 

 talk it over with your wife, for some day she 

 may drive to town, and on her return find that 

 both you and the farm hands are in the field, 

 and that there is no one to help her put the 

 team away. After imagination has pictured the 



