Redcrest Cottage 
grass from the pebbles ot the prim, sym¬ 
metrically-plotted paths. The shrubbery 
was massed at the end of each walk,—a 
system of planting which partly screened 
the lower story ol the house and afforded 
privacy. 
The house faces south, and the main living- 
rooms are planned to welcome summer air 
and sunshine through their big triple case¬ 
ments. The first floor is but a step above 
the garden; and this low setting, so inviting 
and unpretentious, makes the house seem as 
it it were glad to live among the flowers. 
The ground, receding from the front toward 
the back, permits large basement windows on 
the rear. The first story is built of red 
stretcher brick, irregularly laid with white 
joints. The upper story and roof are covered 
with bright red tiles producing a texture rich 
and varied in color and absolutely unobtain¬ 
able with slate or shingle. The chimneys, 
generous in size, promise large open fire¬ 
places and comfortable interiors. As I 
pondered on these hidden things, the 
owner of the house,, having noticed my 
interest, kindly invited me to enter and 
inspect more closely the beauties about the 
dwelling. 
We walked along the narrow paths between 
the roses; and he, unmindful of his visitor’s 
ignorance of botany and sensible only of a 
stranger’s attention, undertook to explain this 
and that variety. I listened with respect, 
but loved better to admire flowers en masse 
than to heed botanic detail. We crossed the 
drive to the kitchen-garden, where peas and 
lettuce and rows of other vegetables grew 
sweet and plentiful. The attractiveness of 
this part of the garden and the fitness of its 
placing prompted the thought, how often 
at home the “truck patch” was scorned 
and put away in an unseen spot. The stable 
is located in the northwest and lowest corner 
of the property out of the direction of 
the prevailing summer winds, and it is 
low enough to avoid danger of contami¬ 
nating the well water. A small green¬ 
house and hotbeds are conveniently placed 
near by. 
We entered the house through the rear 
hall and passed into the large sitting-room 
which has a comfortable bay and pleasant 
outlook. Next we reached the main hall 
and a capacious fireplace there confirmed 
my roadside conjectures upon the chim¬ 
ney. A broad east window in the dining¬ 
room affords a view across a valley, rich 
in verdure, with here and there a cottage 
dotting the distant hills. Just the sort 
of prospect that gives, every morning, 
energy and freshness to start the day 
upon. We left the house by the entrance 
porch,—floored with a durable red tile, 
—and followed the path leading to the 
east side of the house. Then, descending 
a flight of steps we were in a little round- 
end garden, now cool in the afternoon 
shade. The sun was sinking slowly as I 
turned to leave. At the gate I looked back 
again at the vine-covered bay. The rich 
green mass against the red was all ablaze 
along its sun-touched side. While coasting 
down the hill toward the destination for the 
night came the envious thought of the 
traveller. Were it possible that such a 
garden, house and host might be trans¬ 
planted to our own land ! 
IVetherill P. Trout. 
412 
