22 
THE BEAUTIFUL LADDER. 
the good terms maintained with the numerous 
feathered songsters, whose “ wood-notes wild ” 
seemed to be their spontaneous songs of grat¬ 
itude for the kindly care bestowed upon them. 
The whole aspect of the place was such as to 
show that it was under the care of those who 
delighted in the beautiful, and that it was not 
an attempt to make nature a vehicle for a dis¬ 
play of their own vanity. It was a place for 
study as well as for gratification, a retreat for 
meditation as well as for indulgence. 
Within, the cottage exhibited a fitting coun¬ 
terpart to the exterior surroundings. Nothing 
was rich or costly, but the genius of neatness 
and attraction seemed to preside there with 
an undisturbed sway. The home was indeed 
“ swept and garnished,” yet there were no un¬ 
sightly reminiscences, indicating that ‘‘unclean 
spirits ” had ever gone thence “ seeking rest 
but there was something pervading the very at¬ 
mosphere which suggested that any attempt to 
introduce any such disreputable visitors would 
be an unsafe undertaking. Truly it might be 
said of Willow Brook Cottage, that 
“ If there’s peace to be found in the world, 
The heart that is humble might look for it here.” 
