is not altogether so.  The paper-hangers and painters are nearly through with the second-story, and have done considerable work down-stairs.  I suppose that if everything was ready for them they could get through in two days.  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 hall is completed, and so is the parlor, through which you go to enter your room.  The large front room on the ground floor, which we call the library, is now in the hands of the cabinetmaker.  By this you are to understand that we are having the oak trimming stained very dark so as to match the permanent book-cases which the cabinetmaker has constructed for us, and