RENOVATING THE DESERTED HOMESTEAD. 129 



place. Remember, that that which is defective in 

 itself may not be defective in relation to and combina- 

 tion with other things. Often the defective parts 

 have so grown together as to create a unity of another 

 sort ; and while your hedges are severely overgrown 

 by Other things, you had better not interfere too 

 sharply in your effort to restore absolute precision. 

 "Do not mistake me when I advise you to rely 

 largely upon yourself; because you may be the very 

 person above all others who is in need of a wise 

 friend. I do not know you, so it may be as 

 well to add, if you are confident that there 

 is someone to be found who is judicious, who 

 knows how to sympathize with nature, get him 

 to walk with you and counsel you in forming 

 your first impressions. Gardiner, in his "Homes 

 and All About Them," says he would rather dig 

 ditches for a philosopher than build palaces for a 

 fool. There are these two classes also who wish 

 advice about their lawns and their drives. The 

 philosopher thinks, studies, and above all, grows. 

 The fool knows everything at a glance. He cuts 

 trees and he plants trees with a commodore's self- 

 importance. It happens often that in doing this he 

 injures his neighbors as well as himself. No man 

 absolutely owns his acres and trees. He is under 

 moral and sometimes legal obligation to the neigh- 

 borhood. When he cuts down a grove or a wind- 

 break he is opening the currents that drive against 

 other people's homes. This an honest man will con- 

 sider. Let me say to anyone who is going into the 

 country for a home, Not only find the relation of the 

 parts of your own land, but try to comprehend the 

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