TAKING REINS IN HAND 



pie; none which, in one instance out of six, 

 will show more grace of outline. The ob- 

 trusive stones were removed; the elliptical 

 spaces described by the inner line of track, 

 which were untouched, and which would need 

 never to be touched by any passage of teams, 

 were dug over and stocked with evergreens, 

 lilacs, and azaleas. 



These are now well established clumps, in 

 which wild vines have intruded, and under 

 which the brood of summer chickens find shel- 

 ter from the sun, and the children a pretty 

 cover for their hoydenish "hide and go seek." 



Thus far I have anticipated those changes 

 and improvements which immediately con- 

 cerned the comfort and the order of the home. 

 With these provided, and the paperers and 

 painters all fairly turned adrift, and the newly 

 planted flowers abloom, the question occurs — 

 What shall be done with the Farm? 



WHAT TO DO WITH THE FARM 



There are not a few entertaining people of 

 the cities, who imagine that a farm of one or 

 two hundred acres has a way of managing 

 itself; and that it works out crops and cattle 

 from time to time, very much as small beer 



69 



