HINDRANCES AND HELPis. 299 



tranquilly disrobing, and retiring to the sleep of 

 winter. 



Rural Decoration. 



AMONG the things which specially contribute 

 to the charms of a country-home, are those 

 thousand little adornments, which a person of quick 

 observation and ready tact can easily avail himself 

 of; and while gratifying his own artistic perceptions, 

 he can contribute to the growth of a humble art-love, 

 which it is to be hoped will some day give a charm 

 to every road-side, and to every country cottage. It 

 is by no means true that a taste of this kind must 

 necessarily like Sir Visto's prove a man's ruin. 

 The land is indeed a great absorbent ; and if no dis- 

 cretion be brought to the direction of outlay in 

 adornments and improvements, or if they be not or- 

 dered by a severe and inexorable simplicity, it is quite 

 incredible what amounts of money may be expended. 

 I have in an earlier portion of this volume, hinted 

 at certain changes which may be made, in the throw- 

 ing out of some half dozen angular and unimportant 

 enclosures, at the door, into open lawn in the re- 

 moval of unnecessary fences, and the establishment 

 of groups of shrubbery to hide roughness, or to fur- 

 nish shelter : all which involve little expenditure, and 

 are not in violation of any rules of well-considered 



