ule the ugliness of our houses,
this much must be admitted in favor of our villages and country towns,
that in cleanliness and an appearance of substantial comfort, they
infinitely surpass their rivals in Europe. I do not except the
villages in England. Who can walk through one of our New England
country towns, where majestic elms throw their shadows over spacious
streets, and the white rose clambers over the front doors of the neat,
white painted houses, standing back a rod or two from the street with
gardens stretching behind, while Peace and Plenty bless the whole, and
not be grateful for a scene so fair, for a land so fortunate!"

They had now arrived in sight of the Judge's farm-house, which stood
at some distance from the main road, from which a lane planted on both
sides with maples, led to it. As they drove along the Judge pointed
out the changes he had made since he became the owner.

"When I purchased the property," he said, "the house looked very
differently. It was stuck full of little insignificant windows that
affected me like staring eyes; its two or three inches of cornice
stole timidly out, as if ashamed of itself, over the side, and the
whole wore an awkward and sheepish air. It made me uncomfortable every
time I looked at it, and I resolved upon an alteration. So I shut up
half the windows, and increased the size where I could, and threw
out a cornice, which, besides the merit of beauty, has the practical
advantage (that is the national word, I believe) of acting as an
umbrella to protect the sides against the mid-day heat of the sun in
summer, and the storms in winter. Besides, I added the veranda, which
runs nearly the whole length of the front."

"I confess it is an improvement upon the ancestral style," said
Armstrong.

"I expected the acknowledgment from your natural taste, which is
excellent," said the Judge laughing, "except when corrupted by
traditional prejudices. I must take care of my horse myself, I
suspect," he added, as they drove up to the door: "the men are
probably all in the fields. He will stand, however, well enough under
this shed." So saying, and after Armstrong had alighted at the door,
he drove the horse under a shed, near the barn, and fastened him; then
joining Armstrong, the two entered the house.

"La, Judge!" said Mrs. Perkins, the farmer's wife who received them,
smoothing down her check apron, "you take us by surprise to-day. We
didn't expect you, and the men-folks