286 MY FARM. 



tent beside the road, for what forage he may 

 easily gather up, and is ready always for a sale, will 

 care little for any of the more delicate graces of 

 home. And with those who have some permanent 

 establishment, I think the root of the difficulty may 

 lie very much in that proud and sensitive individual- 

 ity which is the growth of our democratic institu- 

 tions. There is an absolute and charming fittingness 

 about most of these humble rural adornments, of 

 which I speak, which our progressive friend does not 

 like to adopt, by reason of their fittingness, and be- 

 cause they give quasi indication of limited means and 

 humble estate. When, therefore, such an one makes 

 blundering effort to accomplish something in the way 

 of decorative display, it is very apt to take a grand- 

 iose type, showing vulgar strain toward those adorn- 

 ments of the town which are wholly unsuited to his 

 habits and surroundings. Thus a thriving ruralist 

 with a family of two, will build a house as large as a 

 church, and perch a cupola upon it, from which he 

 may review the flat country for miles, while he con- 

 tents himself with occupancy of the back-kitchen. 

 If contented with small space, why not, in the name 

 of honesty, declare it boldly, instead of covering the 

 truth, under such lumbering falsehood ? What for- 

 bids giving to the country home a simple propriety 

 of its own, with its own wealth of rural decoration 



