196 Old and Nezv Homes. 



last-named feature that finally decided our sensible friend : so, after a few 

 days' deliberation, he secured a little farm of thirty acres, partly cleared, 

 and contracted at once for a house to be built upon it within three months. 

 Twenty-five dollars per acre sounded like a small sum for the land, with 

 a fine bed of muck upon one end of it ; and he set himself vigorously to 

 the work of removing the many stumps that encumbered it. There were 

 many others about him engaged in precisely the same employment 3 and 

 if the work was hard, and somewhat different from former experiences, he 

 had only to look around him upon his neighbors' newly-planted tracts to 

 feel new encouragement. At the present rate of progress, his land must 

 speedily rise in value. Not a month passed without witnessing the erec- 

 tion of some thirty or forty new buildings. A newspaper was in prosper- 

 ous existence ; and those who were willing to sell found plenty of purchasers 

 for their improved plantations. 



One of the pleasantest discoveries made in connection with his new loca- 

 tion was, that nearly one-half of the population constantly coming hither 

 to settle were New-Englanders, attracted by the reports of its mild climate 

 and fruitful soil. Thus our friend found himself at once in the midst of 

 old acquaintances, — persons whose associations and antecedents were iden- 

 tical with his own, with whom he might compare notes, and discuss a 

 multitude of topics. 



We heard from him occasionally; for, as was natural, he was as curious 

 to know how we succeeded as we were to know what he was doing ; and 

 my father found time, even in his busiest seasons, to write occasionally to 

 his friends. Both were too closely engaged to exchange visits : yet we knew 

 that Mr. Brown's new house,- to which he brought his family as soon as 

 possible, must be much prettier and pleasanter than our own old affair ; 

 and my mother felt rather desirous that all our embellishments should be 

 added before they came to see us. Even my father, with all his plain idea.s, 

 had caught a little of the spirit of improvement, and, much to our delight, 

 announced his intention of turning carpenter himself in order that our new 

 grape-arbor might be arranged and raised before the busy spring-time should 

 again come round. So the lumber was purchased, and hauled into the 

 barn ; and sure enough, after a few days' work, in which my brother assist- 



