MY VINEYARD, 15 



the country, but from a habit which the great mass of 

 American people have got into, a habit which increases in 

 prevalence the further West we go. 



This continual desire for a change of place, I consider 

 as productive of bad results. When one is continually 

 expecting to move, he does not take that pains to make 

 his home pleasant and comfortable, which he otherwise 

 would. He does not like to plant trees, and flowers, and 

 fruit, when there are no probabilities of his reaping the 

 rewards of his labor. Thus it is that the homes of the 

 people present so few appearances of comfort and beauty. 

 When the Amei-ican people learn a little contentment, 

 when they begin to make for themselves homes which are 

 to be tlieirs, aud for their enjoyment, tlien will our fair 

 land begin to blossom as the rose. 



In regard to the relative healtli of East and West, I 

 may state here as the result of many years of observation 

 and exiDcrience, that in the main, neither region has any 

 perceptible advantage over the other. 



In clioosing a home, I did not lose sight of a purpose 

 which I had always entertained of having it near a body 

 of water. No other advantage of beauty can compensate 

 for the loss of a water view. The angry tumult amid the 

 storms I do not so much admire ; but the calm serenity 

 at the twilight hour, esj^ecially in the golden October 

 days, imparts a serenity of mind whicli exerts a lasting 

 and beniiicent influence upon all the aflfairs of life. 



