n8 OLD-FASHIONED GARDENING 
the Quakers, to their own material profit, when the 
latter began to build their city. 
It was never the intention of William Penn to 
dwell in the midst of a city, however, even though it 
were “a greene Country Towne.” In the beautiful 
letter of family counsel which he wrote to his wife 
from Worminghurst almost the last thing before his 
departure for America, he says: “Let my children be 
husbandmen and housewives. This leads to consider 
the works of God and nature, and diverts the mind 
from being taken up with the vain arts and inventions 
of a luxurious world. Of cities and towns of Con¬ 
course, beware. The world is apt to stick close to 
those who have lived and get wealth there. A coun¬ 
try life and estate I like best for my children.” 
To the end that their country seat should be ready 
for them when they were brought to America, his 
deputy Markham was already engaged on the work at 
“Pennsbury,” some distance above the site chosen for 
the city, even when this letter was written. Some of 
the ornamental work which was to adorn the man¬ 
sion had been taken over from England the year 
before; and the house was built, although not fin¬ 
ished, when Penn paid it his first visit a month 
after landing from the “Welcome.” The original 
tract as purchased from the Indians by Markham con¬ 
tained about 8400 acres, but this was reduced, by 
