CHAPTER XXVIII 
DISCOUNTING THE MARKET 
We broke ground for the house late in May, 
and Nelson said that we should be in it by 
Thanksgiving Day. Soon after the plans were 
settled Polly informed me that she should not 
spend much money on the stable. 
«“Can’t do it,” she said, “and do what I ought 
to on the house. I will give you room for six 
horses; the rest, if you have more, must go to. 
the farm barn. I cannot spend more than $1100 
or $1200 on the barn.” 
Polly was boss of this department, and. I was 
content to let her have her way. She had already 
mulcted me to the extent of $436 for trees, plants, 
and shrubs which were even then grouped on 
the lawn after a fashion that pleased her. I 
need not go into the details of the lawn planting, 
the flower garden, the pergola, and so forth. I 
have a suspicion that Polly has in mind a full 
account of the “fight for the home forty,” in a 
form greatly better than I could give it, and it is 
only fair that she should tell her own story. I 
am not the only one who admires her landscape, 
her flower gardens, and her woodcraft. Many 
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