sixteen] nooks and CORNERS 



I have spoken plainly, but none too strongly, 

 about the average house. It is the ugliest thing in 

 a country landscape. It has rarely a line of beauty 

 or of peace, or a suggestion of rest, inside or out- 

 side of it. It is just a barn for human folk. It is 

 not quite as healthy as the animal barn, and not 

 generally as pretty. Your house should be a part 

 of the property — that is, of all the acres that you 

 occupy. Your residence should be the whole of 

 your property. This sort of home we shall have by 

 and by. What I mean to say is that we must learn 

 to get out of doors, and stay out most of the time — 

 to work outside, play outside, eat outside, sleep out- 

 side. Form your sympathies with nature; talk gar- 

 den, think flower and fruit; study bugs and butter- 

 flies; then lie down on the sweet sod, under your 

 blossoming apple trees, and let your soul sing: *' Our 

 Father, Who art in the Heavens ! and in the apple 

 blossoms! and in the roses, too! Thy name be 

 hallowed!" 



[367] 



