Orleans County monitor. [volume] (Barton, Vt.) 1872-1953, 1874-11-09
2fericilfilral Department
AN OLD NEW ENGLAND FARM
HOUSE.

Let your doors and windows be wide,
and your roof be high. A wide door is
far more convenient than a narrow one.
usually much better in appearance; and
for the windows,-where shall we learn
the unspeakable worth of the bountiful
light of heaven? Does Mrs. John COM
plain that the sunlight will fade her
carpets? Let them fade, and know of a
truth that the colors of all the carpets of
all the looms that ever throbbed, are not
worth to the civilized mortals who tread
the disseminating fabrics one single
hour of uuobstructed sunshine. Is it
that our deeds are evil, that we seem to
love darkness rather than light or is it
through our ignorant exclusion of this
glorious gift, offspring of heavens first
BORN that we are left to wander in so
many darksome ways? Be generous.
did l say rather try to be just to your
self. Practically, the larger opening is
scarcely more expensive than the small
one. The work of construction is no
greater, and the material costs but little
more for the door or window than the
thicker wall of wood, brick or stone. |
remember an old farm house on the side
of one of our rocky New England hills,
type of fashion almost extinct, broad
and brooding, low in the walls, small
windows and far between, high roof and
wide gables, pierced by windows of va
riOus sizes, and queerly located, as if the
huge garnet were inhabited by a mixed
company of dwarfs and giants, each with
his own particular window suited TO his
height; in the center massive chimney
like the base of tower, out of which
the smoke rolled in hazy curves. At the
east side of the house, under the narrow
caves, and opening, 1 think, into the
long kitchen, was one huge window, as
high as the others, and as wide as it was
high. How it found place there new
er knew, but nothing could be more be-
nign in effect than its generous breadth.
The panes were small and green and
warped, after the manner of glass known
to former times; but through it the sun
poured food of warm light every morn
ing, and on winter evenings the glow Of
the freight within made a grand illu-
mination far across the snowy hillsides
yet don't think the old window was
ever truly appreciated.
The others seemed to despise it, and
try to keep at distance in their narrow.
Less and regularity. The little square
loopholes in the gables lifted their dimin.
alive eyebrows IN contempt; even the
green door looked blank and scowling. a:
though at a possible rivel. l fancy the
hOusekeeper fretted at the larger curtain
covering this wide, unwinking eye, and
the extra labor required on cleaning days.
But this one great square window was
the sole redeeming feature beneath the
roof of the ancient farm house. Beneath
the roof, | say. The roof itself was and
is, and ever shall be the great charm Of
those antiquated houses not of the old
alone, but if any new house shall ever
rise, if you succeed in building your OWL
so that it shall seem to be the abiding.
place of the incarnate genius of domestic
happiness, the root of your earthly para.
disc will be bold and high.-Gardner'.
Homes and HO,c to Make Them