y that Mr. Field has told portrays his genius and his humor in
a new light. We have seen him scattering the germs of his wit
broadcast in the newspapers--we have seen him putting on the cap and
bells, as it were, to lead old Horace through some modern paces--we
have heard him singing his tender lullabies to children--we have wept
with him over "Little Boy Blue," and all the rest of those quaint
songs--we have listened to his wonderful stories--but only in the story
of "The House" do we find his humor so gently turned, so deftly put,
and so ripe for the purpose of literary expression. It lies deep here,
and those who desire to enjoy it as it should be enjoyed must place
their ears close to the heart of human nature. The wit and the
rollicking drollery that were but the surface indications of Mr.
Field's genius have here given place to the ripe humor that lies as
close to tears as to laughter--the humor that is a part and a large
part of almost every piece of English literature that has outlived the
hand that wrote it.

JOEL CHANDLER HARRIS.

The Chapters in this Book

I WE BUY A PLACE
II OURSELVES AND OUR NEIGHBORS
III WE MAKE OUR BARGAIN KNOWN
IV THE FIRST PAYMENT
V WE NEGOTIATE A MORTGAGE
VI I AM BESOUGHT TO BUY THINGS
VII OUR PLANS FOR IMPROVEMENTS
VIII THE VANDALS BEGIN THEIR WORK
IX NEIGHBOR MACLEOD'S THISTLE
X COLONEL DOLLER'S GREAT IDEA
XI I MAKE A STAND FOR MY RIGHTS
XII I AM DECEIVED IN MR. WAX
XIII EDITOR WOODSIT A TRUE FRIEND
XIV THE VICTIM OF AN ORDINANCE
XV THE QUESTION OF INSURANCE
XVI NEIGHBOR ROBBINS' PLATYPUS
XVII OUR DEVICES FOR ECONOMIZING
XVIII I STATE MY VIEWS ON TAXATION
XIX OTHER PEOPLE'S DOGS
XX I ACQUIRE POISON AND EXPERIENCE
XXI WITH PLUMBERS AND PAINTERS
XXII THE BUTLER'S PANTRY
XXIII ALICE'S NIGHT WATCHMAN
XXIV DRIVEWAYS AND WALL PAPERS
XXV AT LAST WE ENTER OUR HOUSE

THE HOUSE

I

WE BUY A PLACE

It was either Plato the Athenian, or Confucius the Chinese, or
Andromachus the Cretan--or some other philosopher whose name I
disremember--that remarked once upon a time, and the time was many
centuries ago, that no woman was happy until she got herself a home. It
really makes no difference who first uttered this truth, the truth itself
is and always has been recognized as one possessing nearly all the
virtues of an axiom.

I recall that one of the first