: the third was what Richard termed an invisible green, an
experiment that did not succeed against a back-ground of sky. Abandoning the
attempt to conceal, our architects drew upon their invention for means to
ornament the offensive shingles. After much deliberation, and two or three
essays by moonlight, Richard ended the affair by boldly covering the whole
beneath a colour that he christened sunshine, a cheap way, as he assured his
cousin, the Judge, of always keeping fair weather over his head. The platform,
as well as the eaves of the house, were surmounted by gaudily painted railings,
and the genius of Hiram was exerted in the fabrication of divers urns and
mouldings, that were scattered profusely around this part of their labours.
Richard had originally a cunning expedient, by which the chimneys were intended
to be so low, and so situated, as to resemble ornaments on the balustrades; but
comfort required that the chimneys should rise with the roof, in order that the
smoke might be carried off, and they thus became four extremely conspicuous
objects in the view.
    As this roof was much the most important architectural undertaking in which
Mr. Jones was ever engaged, his failure produced a correspondent degree of
mortification. At first, he whispered among his acquaintances, that it proceeded
from ignorance of the square rule on the part of Hiram, but as his eye became
gradually accustomed to the object, he grew better satisfied with his labours,
and instead of apologizing for the defects, he commenced praising the beauties
of the mansion house. He soon found hearers; and, as wealth and comfort are at
all times attractive, it was, as has been said, made a model for imitation on a
small scale. In less than two years from its erection, he had the pleasure of
standing on the elevated platform, and of looking down on three humble imitators
of its beauty. - Thus it is ever with fashion, which even renders the faults of
the great, subjects of admiration.
    Marmaduke bore this deformity in his dwelling with great good nature, and
soon contrived, by his own improvements, to give an air of respectability and
comfort to his place of residence; still there was much of incongruity, even
immediately about the mansion-house. Although poplars had been brought from
Europe to ornament the grounds, and willows and other trees were gradually
springing up nigh the dwelling, yet many a pile of snow betrayed the presence of
the stump of a pine; and even, in one or two instances, unsightly remnants of
trees that had been partly destroyed by fire, were seen rearing their black