But, I must not write too long a preface to my present story.  Mr. Smith and myself cannot boast of larger organs of Inhabitativeness—­ I believe, that is the word used by phrenologists—­than many of our neighbors.  Occasionally we have felt dissatisfied with the state of things around us, and become possessed of the demon of change.  We have moved quite frequently, sometimes attaining superior comfort, and some times, getting rather the worst of, it for “the change.”

A few years ago, in the early spring-time, Mr. Smith said to me, one day: 

“I noticed, in riding out yesterday, a very pleasant country house on the Frankford Road, to let, and it struck me that it would be a fine thing for us, both as to health and comfort, to rent it for the summer season.  What do you think of it?”

“I always, loved the country, you know,” was my response.

My heart had leaped at the proposition.

“It is such a convenient distance from the city,” said Mr. Smith.

“How far?”

“About four miles.”

“Do the stages pass frequently?”

“Every half hour; and the fare is only twelve and a half cents.”

“So low!  That is certainly an inducement.”

“Yes, it is.  Suppose we go out and look at the house?”

“Very well,” said I. And then we talked over the pleasures and advantage that would result from a residence in the country, at such a convenient distance from the city.

On the next day we went to look at the place, and found much, both in the house and grounds, to attract us.  There was a fine shaded lawn, and garden with a stock of small and large fruit.

“What a delightful place for the children,” I exclaimed.

“And at such a convenient distance from the city,” said my husband.  “I can go in and out to business, and scarcely miss the time.  But do you think you would like the country?”

“O, yes.  I’ve always loved the country.”

“We can move back into the city when the summer closes,” said Mr. Smith.

“Why not remain here permanently?  It will be too expensive to keep both a city and country house,” I returned.

“It will be too dreary through the winter.”

“I don’t think so.  I always feel cheerful in the country.  And, then, you know, the house is at such a convenient distance, and the stages pass the door at every half hour.  You can get to business as easily as if we resided in the city.”

I was in the mood for a change, and so it happened was Mr. Smith.  The more we thought and talked about the matters, the more inclined were we to break up in the city, and go permanently to the country.  And, finally, we resolved to try the experiment.

So the pleasant country house was taken, and the town house given up, and, in due time, we took our flight to where nature had just carpeted the earth in freshest green, and caused the buds to expand, and the trees of the forest to clothe themselves in verdure.