AN OLD-STYLE FARM 



the flat. In this erection each owner's views 

 of economy (no other views being recog- 

 nized) had taken wide divergence. Thus, one 

 had given a circular sweep to his trail, for the 

 sake of inclosing some tempting smooth spot 

 upon the lowest slope of the hills ; another had 

 made a flanking movement in the other direc- 

 tion, for the sake of excluding some unfortu- 

 nate little group of innocent rocks. But the 

 sinners and the well-doers, on the score of the 

 walling, must have long before gone to their 

 account, since the stones were all mossy, and 

 the frequent gaps had been blocked up by lop- 

 ping over some vigorous young hickory or 

 chestnut which had started from the base of 

 the wall. 



But even this rustic device had not given 

 full security, for with settlements and the 

 "bulging" under frosts, this great line of bar- 

 rier was no proof against the clambering pro- 

 pensities of the sheep; and the whole line of 

 fence had been topped with long poles, kept in 

 their places by cross stakes firmly driven into 

 the ground and sustaining the "riders" at the 

 point of intersection. To complete the fence 

 picture, I have to add to those half-lopped 

 hickories in the gaps— to those bulging tumors 

 of stone— to those gaunt over-riding poles — 



I II 



