288 MY FARM. 



complete in its simplicity, so fitted to its offices, so 

 governed by neatness, so embowered by wealth of 

 leaf and flower, that no riches in the world could add 

 to it, without damaging its rural grace ; and my 

 gardeners Sunshine, Frost, and Showers are their 

 names shall work for me with no crusty reluctance, 

 but with an abandon and a zeal that ask only grati- 

 tude for pay. 



But let us come to details. 



Walks. 



A WALK is, first of all, a convenience ; whether 

 leading from door to highway, or to the stable 

 court, or through gardens, or to the wood, it is essen- 

 tially, and most of all a convenience ; and to despoil 

 it of this quality, by interposing circles or curves, 

 which have no meaning or sufficient cause, is mere 

 affectation. Not to say, however, that all paths 

 should be straight ; the farmer, whose home is at a 

 considerable remove from the highway, and who 

 drives his team thither, avoiding rock, and tree, and 

 hillock, will give to his line of approach a grace that 

 it would be hard to excel by counterfeit. Pat, stag- 

 gering from the orchard, under a bushel of Bartlett 

 pears, and seizing upon every accidental aid in the 

 B irface of the declivity to relieve the fatigue of his 

 walk zigzagging, as it were in easy curves, is uncon- 



