NOVEMBER TO M A Y 



the flames leaped in the dusk. What fun to gather around the 

 cooling ashes and toast marshmallows, or roast chestnuts, or 

 pop corn! 



Although the house was wired for electricity we thought we 

 would try candles that first year. We liked them so well that 

 we have never changed. I don't know that I advise it as a mat- 

 ter of economy: but in every other respect this method of lighting 

 is perfect. 



From the living-room, near the low broad shelves where lav the 

 magazines and papers, mostly garden ones, I am afraid, three 

 steps lead up into the hall, where in one corner a writing table is 

 installed, hidden by a Japanese dull-gold screen which makes a 

 wonderful background for crab-apple branches, trailing nasturtium 

 vines, or brilliant maple leaves. Opposite it a small reolian organ 

 with its stand of music rolls becomes a solace for many a (juiet hour. 

 The stairs wind up in easy stages around the walls of an adorable 

 little tower on the north, while from a s<juare vestibule on the east 

 the front door opens. Unlike most country houses, this door is 

 entirely hidden from the living apartments, nor are any roads 

 visible, only stretches of green turf bounded by the forest on one 

 side, and low shrubbery bounded by the lake on the other. 



For almost ten years we had been gathering together various 

 articles of furniture, bric-a-brac, and pictures, which '' would be so 

 nice if ever we had a country house. " There was one room in the 



city attic quite overflowing; it was not filled with our discarded and 



41 



