HINDRANCES AND HELPS. 319 



country life in New England, nor overstated its 

 possible attractions. I have sought at any rate, to 

 give a truthful picture, and to suffuse it all so far as 

 I might with a country atmosphere ; so that a man 

 might read, as if the trees were shaking their leaves 

 over his head, the corn rustling through all its 

 ranks within hearing, and the flowers blooming at his 

 elbow. 



Be this all as it may, when, upon this charming 

 morning of later August, I catch sight, from my win- 

 dow, of the distant water where, as at the first 

 white sails come and go : of the spires and belfries 

 of the near city rising out of their bower of elms 

 of the farm lands freshened by late rains into un- 

 wonted greenness ; of the coppices I have planted, 

 shaking their silver leaves, and see the low fire of 

 border flowers flaming round their skirts, and hear 

 the water plashing at the door in its rocky pool, and 

 the cheery voices of children, rejoicing in health and 

 the country air, I do not for a moment regret the 

 first sight of the old farm house, under whose low- 

 browed ceiling, I give this finishing touch to the last 

 chapter of MY FABM OF EDGEWOOD. 



