Of course I bought farm machinery during this first season,—­mower, reaper, corn reaper, shredder, and so on.  In October I took account of expenditures for machinery, grass seed, and fertilizer, and found that I had invested $833.  I had also, at an expense of $850, built a large shed or tool-house for farm implements.  It is one of the rules at Four Oaks to grease and house all tools when not in actual use.  I believe the observation of this rule has paid for the shed.

In October 1896 I had a good offer for my town house, and accepted it.  I had purchased the property eleven years before for $22,000, but, as it was in bad condition, I had at once spent $9000 on it and the stable.  I sold it for $34,000, with the understanding that I could occupy it for the balance of the year if I wished.

After selling the house, I calculated the cost of the elementary necessities, food and shelter, which I had been willing to pay during many years of residence in the city.  The record ran about like this:—­

Interest at 5% on house valued at $34,000 $1700.00
Yearly taxes on same 340.00
Insurance 80.00
Fuel and light 250.00
Wages for one man and three women 1200.00
Street sprinkling, watchman, etc. 90.00
Food, including water, ice, etc. 1550.00
                                            ________
     Making a total of $5210.00

It cost me $100 a week to shelter and feed my family in the city.  This, of course, took no account of personal expenses,—­travel, sight-seeing, clothing, books, gifts, or the thousand and one things which enter more or less prominently into the everyday life of the family.

If the farm was to furnish food and shelter for us in the future, it would be no more than fair to credit it with some portion of this expenditure, which was to cease when we left the city home.  What portion of it could be justly credited to the farm was to be decided by comparative comforts after a year of experience.  I did not plan our exodus for the sake of economy, or because I found it necessary to retrench; our rate of living was no higher than we were willing and able to afford.  Our object was to change occupation and mode of life without financial loss, and without moulting a single comfort.  We wished to end our days close to the land, and we hoped to prove that this could be done with both grace and profit.  I had no desire to lose touch with the city, and there was no necessity for doing so.  Four Oaks is less than an hour from the heart of town.  I could leave it, spend two or three hours in town, and be back in time for luncheon without special effort; and Polly would think nothing of a shopping trip and friends home with her to dinner.  The people of Exeter were nearly all city people who were so fortunate