122 OBSERVATIONS OF A RANCHWOMAN 



Rainy Season comes along. But the gods 

 can make them an American roof, should 

 their patience or philosophy give out which 

 roof, if painted a deep crimson, adds to, rather 

 than detracts from, the picturesqueness of 

 their dwelling. For adobe houses are pic- 

 turesque ; not only so, but they adjust them- 

 selves admirably to the requirements of the 

 landscape ; and should the day ever arrive 

 when American enterprise sweeps them from 

 the face of Nature, the beauty which abides in 

 harmony, as well as the solid comfort of the 

 citizen, will depart with them. To draughts, 

 that bugbear of the sensitive, their heavy 

 walls and deep-set windows are impervious. 

 The bedroom of the invalid, interpenetrated 

 by the radiant winter sunlight, becomes a 

 sun-parlour of the choicest. In summer our 

 adobe, its windows protected by Venetian, or, 

 as we call them, outside blinds, its roof 

 sheltered by the widespreading arms of the 

 cottonwood - tree, is a veritable palace of 

 delight. 



Noxious beasts are not numerous, venomous 

 ones few. Of the noxious variety, the 

 American housefly stands easily first, both 



