48 OUT-OF-TOWN PLACES. 



drawing of it, and it is a good type of a great many 

 " small and convenient houses " scattered through our 

 country towns. 



" Of course, this will never do," wrote Lackland 

 to me, " and yet the skin of the house (as our car- 

 penter calls it) is very good, and I wish to make the 

 needed changes, so far as possible, without disturbing 

 the exterior outline of the main building. But how 

 shall I rid myself of that preposterously narrow en- 

 trance-way in which I can almost fancy Mrs. L., (who 

 is something large) getting wedged on some warm 

 day ? How shall I throw sunlight into that dismal 

 parlor? You will perceive that along the whole 

 south front there is not a single available window 

 below. Now, half the charm of a country place, to 

 my notion, lies in the possession of some sunny porch 

 upon which the early vines will clamber, and under 

 whose eaves the Phoebe birds will make their nests. 



