IN the plan, Fig. 17, and the perspective, Fig. 18, we present what may be appropriately termed a RURAL COTTAGE HOME. The first floor, Fig. 17, shows a very complete arrangement of rooms, consisting of large parlor, hall in the center of house, the dining-room being of the same size as the parlor, with the front end beveled, giving it the appearance of a bay-window. A double window is in this end, and china closet on one side, with a private pantry on the other. A door from one corner of this room opens into the rear hall, which is cut off from the front hall by door C, with a small closet in the back end and a cellar door and stairs under main stair-way. The kitchen is of good size, with a back entry, pantry, and store-room off from side.

In the rear of the parlor is a child's room and a fair-sized bed-room. On the front, off from the main hall, is the [128] study or sitting-room, with two closets on each side of a mantel, and grate in the center, there being one on tin-opposite side from this in the dining-room, both using the same chimney.

Fig. 18.

The door A should be glazed, as it comes opposite to the window in the bed-room, and will serve to light the hall. The second-floor plan contains five bed-rooms all accessible from a central hall-way at the head of the stair landing, and all being accommodated with closets.

Fig. 17.

The main posts being 16 ft. long, the first story should be 9 ft. and 8 in. between timbers; and the second story 6 ft.

4 in. on the sides, and 9 ft. through the center. The outside walls are intended to be boarded vertically with ten-inch boards with molded battens over the joints.

We think the exterior of this cottage admirable; the rustic veranda and trellises over the doors and windows are intended for vines, not merely as supports for them, but to give thereby an air of rural refinement and poetry to the house.

Cedar poles are the best for trellises, but other accessible woods may be used, and the bark should be left on. The embellishment with vines may be cheaply and quickly secured by any person of taste who knows how to select, plant, and train them; and they should be selected, planted, and trained by every person who lives in such a cottage. Such garniture is the best external evidence of refinement and good taste that can be employed; and as an educational agency in a family, nothing is more potent nor gives greater pleasure.

This cottage would probably cost near $1500 but a cheaper one with the same rooms and conveniences could scarcely be devised.