IN THE POULTRY YARD. IQ 
after all, I had found that our expenses would be greatly increased, 
and how were we to meet them without interfering with other obli- 
gations that were imperative? ‘This was the question that pre- 
sented itself to my mind in such a clear and definite shape. 
‘Iwo ways presented themselves: Either I must find some extra 
business which would yield the required amount, or the place itself 
must be made to yield enough to pay the deficit. 
‘The first plan was out of the question. I had already withdrawn 
as much as possible from active business, and I had no* idea of 
again saddling myself with its cares and anxieties. And to accept 
a subordinate position would now be exceedingly distasteful to me. 
If I engaged in any pursuit to make this money the business must 
be very congenial, and it must leave me entirely independent, 
otherwise it would be wiser to sell the place at a sacrifice and live 
more cheaply. 
It seemed, therefore, that there was no alternative but to make 
the place produce the required extra amount. Let me therefore 
describe it in detail. 
The house was, .as I have said, Jarger than was necessary for a 
small family in moderate circumstances. It contained twelve 
rooms, was heated throughout with hot air, had water-tanks, bath 
room, water-closets, etc., etc. In short, it was as complete in its 
appointments as most city houses. It is with the grounds, how- 
ever, the productive part, that we have chiefly to do, and therefore 
I shall say no more about the house itself. 
The land lay along a road which led from a large and thriving 
village into the country. The village almost aspired to be a city, 
and would have been one long ago if the good sense of the ma- 
jority of the inhabitants had not restrained the ambitious vanity of 
afew. ‘The road ran almost straight until it reached the foot of a 
somewhat precipitous bill, when it turned sharply to the west and 
-went round the foot of the mountain. My land was bounded by 
this road on the west and by the mountain on the north. The 
“mountain,” as it was generally called, was a steep and barren hill 
about 200 feet high,.reckoning from the plain at its base. Just 
above the base there was a rocky cliff, and above that the line of 
