ays. The work that
remains for the carpenters and for the plumbers to do is of a
pottering character, just enough and of just such a character as to
be slow, and, consequently, exasperating. I presume to say that we
will be in the house at the end of this week, but another week must
elapse before we are in anything like order. Meanwhile the painters
have nearly completed painting the outside of the building, which,
with its new fresh coat of white paint and its green blinds is going
to look quite stunning, we think.

The front lawn has engaged my attention pretty much all of the time
since you were here, and I have brought it around into a state of
subjection, although I am told--and I think--that it will not be at
its best before another year. The neighbors have been very kind, and
have provided me with plants and flowers, and other green growing
things, and the consequence is that I have a fine lot of flowers,
roses, nasturtiums, and poppies. I have devoted about five square
feet of ground to pop-corn, and, not knowing anything about the
habits of the creature, planted it in a bunch. I have now enough
pop-corn to do the whole State of Illinois for the next two years.
It grows so fast that I seem almost to hear it grow. I also have
thirty hills of potatoes which I planted myself. I dug them up every
day to see how they were getting along. The neighbors made all sorts
of fun, and said the potatoes would not live. They are not only
living, but flourishing. All that I fear now is that the potato-bug
will put in an appearance, and thus blast my first and fondest
agricultural hope.

You see I am so devoted to the garden and to the lawn that I am
likely to neglect telling you what you are probably most anxious to
know about--the interior of the house. We have extended a porch from
the front side around to the north side of the house, so that when
you come here next (and I hope that will be soon), you will be able
to step from your room out through a French window upon the north
side to the porch. This change we did not have in view when you were
here, but our friends tell us it is a vast improvement upon the
original plan. The front door is a very imposing affair. It is of
solid oak, very tasteful in design and very imposing in appearance.
We are going to hang our best brass knocker upon it, and this
ornamentation will enhance its beauty. The front h