-- With respect to
the farm, which was like to fall into my hands, he said he would
willingly take it at the present rent; but at the same time
owned, that if I would expend two hundred pounds in enclosure, it
would be worth more than double the sum.
'Thus encouraged, I began the execution of my scheme without
further delay, and plunged into a sea of expence, though I had no
fund in reserve, and the whole produce of the estate did not
exceed three hundred pounds a year -- In one week, my house was
made weather-tight, and thoroughly cleansed from top to bottom;
then it was well ventilated by throwing all the doors and windows
open, and making blazing fires of wood in every chimney from the
kitchen to the garrets. The floors were repaired, the sashes new
glazed, and out of the old furniture of the whole house, I made
shift to fit up a parlour and three chambers in a plain yet
decent manner. -- The court-yard was cleared of weeds and rubbish,
and my friend Wilson charged himself with the dressing of the
garden; bricklayers were set at work upon the barn and stable;
and labourers engaged to restore the fences, and begin the work
of hedging and ditching, under the direction of farmer Bland, at
whose recommendation I hired a careful hind to lie in the house,
and keep constant fires in the apartments.
Pages:
569
570
571
572
573
574
575
576
577
578
579
580
581
582
583
584
585
586
587
588
589
590
591
592
593