156 



ral comfort and independence, if I refer particularly to one in- 

 stance which strongly attracted ray attention. In one of those 

 beautiful valleys in which the county abounds, where the sur- 

 rounding hills in June are covered to their summits with the 

 richest herbage and dotted over with the rejoicing herds, at the 

 foot of the hills, near a small stream which here and there 

 spreads itself like a clear mirror encased in a frame of living 

 green, and then at other places forces its gurgling waters through 

 some narrow passes of the rocks, you may find an humble un- 

 painted cottage, with the various appurtenances of sheds and 

 styes and barns around it. Three or four stately trees present 

 themselves in front of it. The door-yard is filled with flow- 

 ers and shrubs ; and the buildings seem to stand in the midst 

 of a flourishing and full-bearing orchard, the trees of which are 

 clothed with living green, with no suckers at their roots, una- 

 dorned with the nests of the caterpillar, unscathed by the blight 

 of the canker-worm, and with their bark clean and bright, indi- 

 cating alike the health of the tree and the care of the proprietor. 

 Every part of the premises exhibits the most exact order and 

 carefulness. No battered axe lies at the wood-pile ; no rotten 

 logs, no unhoused sled, no broken wheels, no rusted and point- 

 less plough, encumber the roadway; no growling sow, with her 

 hungry and squealing litter, disputes your entrance into the 

 gate ; no snarling dog stands sentry at the door. The extend- 

 ed row of milk-pans are glittering in the sun ; and the churn 

 and the pails are scrubbed to a whiteness absolutely without a 

 stain. 



The house is as neat within as without ; for such results are 

 not seen but where harmony reigns supreme, and a congeniality 

 of taste and purpose and character exists among all the partners 

 in the firm. The kitchen, the dairy, the bedrooms, the parlor, 

 all exhibit the same neatness and order. The spinning wheel, 

 with its corded rolls upon its bench, keeps silence in the corner 

 for a little while during the presence of the guest. The kitch- 

 en walls are hung round with the rich ornaments of their own 

 industry — the long tresses and skeins of yarn, the substantial 



