A self-made man,--as they are styled,--he had developed fine business ability, and had also managed to acquire a familiarity with the best in literature.

Patty was continually astonished by his ready references and his quotations from the works of the best authors.
Indeed, the room he took the deepest interest in furnishing in their new home was the library.
For the purpose he selected the largest room in the house.

It had been designed as a drawing-room or ballroom; but Farnsworth said that its location and outlook made it an ideal library.

He had an enormous window cut, that filled almost the whole of one side of the room, and which looked out upon a beautiful view, especially at sunset.
Then the furnishings were chosen for comfort and ease as well as preserving the dignified effect that should belong to a library.

The book cases were filled with the books already owned by the two and new ones were chosen and bought by degrees as they were desired or needed.
The reference portion was complete and the cases devoted to poetry and essays well filled.