In the early stages my wife used to laugh at me for digging up
the seed to see if it had sprouted, so impatient was I to see the
growing plants.

We had an ice-house, filled for us by the owner without charge, and
in melon season I picked the melons in the morning and left them
in the ice-house all day.

My mouth waters at the thought of those delicious melons.

The fact that I raised everything myself, practically by my own
labor, added greatly to our enjoyment in the eating.

The walk between house and station was for most of the distance
through a private lane which was in part shaded by large trees.

The quaint old village, one of the oldest in the State, was interesting;
but not so the people, at least to us. It was a farming community,
and of social life there was none.

Still, we felt that no privation. We had found what we sought--a
pleasant, comfortable home, my return to good health, and economical
living.

During the first year of our residence in the country our entire
expenditure was but thirteen hundred dollars, which was fully three
thousand dollars less than the year previous.

A few of our most intimate friends were invited occasionally for
visits of a few days, and these little visits we always enjoyed;