TAKING REINS IN HAND. 47 



by extending the area of the lower story some 

 teii feet, in both front and rear, while the roof of 

 this annex was concealed by a heavy balustrade, 

 perched upon the eaves ; thus giving the effect of 

 one large cube, surmounted by a lesser one ; the 

 uppermost was topped with a roof of sharp pitch, 

 through whose ridge protruded two enormous chim- 

 ney stacks. But this alteration was of so old a dale 

 as not to detract from the venerable air of the house. 

 Even the jaunty porch which jutted in front of 

 all, showed gaping seams, and stains of ancient leak- 

 age, that forbade any suspicion of newness. 



Within, the rooms had that low-browed look 

 which belongs to country farm-houses ; and I will 

 not disguise the matter by pretending that they are 

 any higher now. I have occasional visitors whom I 

 find it necessary to caution as they pass under the 

 doorways ; and the stray wasps that will float into 

 the open casements of so old a country house, in the 

 first warm days of Spring, are not out of reach of my 

 boy, (just turned of five,) as he mounts a chair, and 

 makes a cut at them with his dog-whip, upon the 

 ceiling. 



I must confess that I do not dislike this old hu- 

 mility of house-building ; if windows, open chimney 

 places, and situation give good air, what matters it, 

 that your quarters by night are three or four feet 



