THE OLD HOMESTEAD. 



21 



are all its associations with the times of sixty years 

 ago. There is an atmosphere of age about it which 

 makes it exceedingly restful in these rushing times of 

 to-day. It is like a cool, mossy spring beside a dusty 

 road. 



We can see it, as we approach, by the tops of the 

 spruces, or the big black walnut out by the gate. The 

 place is surrounded with evergreens and maples, and 

 there was a large hemlock at one time near a summer- 

 house bowered in roses. Two enormous Mayduke 

 sweet cherry-trees formerly grew in the front yard, one 

 with great expanding limbs, like an oak, and with a 

 trunk diameter of close to thirty inches — the wonder, 

 and, in cherry time, the envy, of all who saw it. 

 Myrtle spreads beneath the spruces ; two dogwoods, 

 planted years ago, blow masses of white in springtime ; 

 petunias and roses paint the walks; hollyhocks border 

 the buildings; nasturtiums nod and sprangle in the 

 rockery; wild flowers and ferns from the woods droop 

 and play in under the cedars; and a bed of red lilies 

 colors the way to the garden. With its broad open 



THE ROCKERY. 



