New Farm: The House and Barn

The house seemed tight and dry although there was no heater, no electricity, no water, and no plumbing of any kind, and the nearest water was in the springhouse abut a hundred and fifty yards away. There was a shallow well in the pasture where the original house and barn had been. There were signs that these buildings had burned down many years before and another barn had been built on the site of the present buildings. This had also burned down before the present buildings were erected. The present barn was relatively new, but it was poorly designed especially in the stable area. It looked like it had been built by a bunch of carpenters who knew nothing about farm work or the needs of farm animals. The stalls in the cow stable were much too big with the mangers also too wide and high. The floor was not paved and the whole stable was too dark with not enough windows. But it was cheap and we were young and enthusiastic.