30 OUT-OF-TOWN PLACES. 



thumping over the city pavements, who has two or 

 three young children to whom he wishes to give a 

 free tumble on the green sward, and who has an in- 

 tense desire to pick his grapes off his own vine, in- 

 stead of buying them on Broadway at forty cents the 

 pound. He comes to me for advice. 



" My dear fellow," I should say, " there's no giv- 

 ing any intelligible advice to a man whose notions 

 are so crude. Do you want a country home for the 

 year, or only a half home for six months in the year, 

 from which you'll be flitting when the leaves are 

 gone ? " 



" To be sure," says he, " it's worth considering. 

 And yet what difference could it make with your 

 suggestions? Once established, I could determine 

 better." 



" It makes this difference : if you propose to es- 

 tablish a permanent home for the year, you want to 

 provide against wintry blasts ; you don't want a hill- 

 top where a northwester will be driving in your teeth 

 all November ; you want shelter ; and you want near 

 walks for your children through the snow-banks to 

 school or church ; and you don't want the sea boom- 

 ing at the foot of your garden all winter long. If it's 

 only a summer stopping place you have your eye 

 upon, all these matters are of little account." 



"Suppose we make it a permanent home," says 



