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some little flower patch even, near the dwelling ? A root of blos- 

 soming chrysanthemum, in some rude wooden box even, a rosebush 

 trained over the front door, a few beautiful flowers in the borders 

 of the sauce garden or herb beds, some bright berried shrub, such 

 as the spindle bush or tree, cranberry or mountain ash, planted 

 near the wall, will add much to the real pleasure, attracting, too, 

 the birds about the house and garden ; — the birds, the friends of 

 the farmer. I consider these as sureties of self-respect, of re- 

 finement and culture within. The noble, spreading, umbrageous 

 elm tree of a century's growth overshadowing the house, old and 

 venerable as it may be, and weather-stained and even paintless as 

 it may have grown by time, is significant of some such limited pros- 

 pective wisdom of ancestry, who planted for the comfort and jilea- 

 sure of those who Avere to come after them. I often see farm 

 houses Avhich seem to stand out of doors, they look so lonely and 

 cheerless, and with a mean kind of air, as if they had no right on 

 the premises, but intended to quit on shortest notice. The sun, 

 too, seems to consider them as some ripening vegetable produc- 

 tion, and glares upon them with his most vivid rays, as if to fit 

 them for harvest, and to have them ready to be gathered and 

 stored away with the pumpkins and corn. And in a cold Avintry 

 day, how the Avind SAveeps, and hoAvls, and mutters about them, 

 making one feel that discomfort must be Avithin as Avell as Avithout. 

 This, to be sure, is not ahvays the case, and often hospitality may 

 be found in such abodes. But hoAV it Avould Avarm the heart, hoAV 

 cheer the Avhole man, how much more social and refined the aspect 

 of the farm house, AA'hen judicious planting about it Avould render 

 really delightful the scenery by beautifying the premises. If a 

 ncAv house Avere never considered finished or fitted for a residence 

 until shade trees Avere provided, or an old house Avere considered 

 defective until tree-planting Avere attended to, its owner Avould 

 find how much dearer his home Avould become to him year by 

 year. It is time to do aAvay Avith our strict, puritanical notions of 

 utility, and to do aAvay Avith habits of thought and of practice, 

 Avhich are better suited to a century ago than to the present day. 

 A man Avill have none the less potatoes because he has a maple or 

 tAvo on his avenues, nor need he abridge his field crops because 

 he chooses to raise artificially a fcAv acres of pines. The idle 

 complaint of Avant of time to make these experiments is altogether 

 too idle for excuse ; for we have all the time there is, and it Avill 

 be found enough to fulfil Avhatever our hands find to do, if inter- 

 est and prudent calculation are in the right place. And then, 

 too, Avho does not knoAv the influence the female part of the family 

 exerts ? Who so churlish as to refuse to gratify a wife or daugh- 

 ter by a little extra Avork to make their homes more agreeable ? 

 I have been accpiainted with Avives in farm houses whose hands 

 " Avere never Aveary in Avell doing," and Avho Avere ever diligent in 



