The white-washed picket fence, scaled and patched by the weather, kept the posts in excellent countenance; and inclosed a moderate grass-plot, adorned with a couple of rather barren black cherry-trees, and as many firs, with low-spread branches.
Above the house and the road rose a rugged eminence, sparely clothed with patches of grass, brambles, and huckleberry-bushes, the gray knots of rock pushing up here and there between.

On the summit appeared against the sky the outskirts of a sturdy forest, paradise of nuts and squirrels.

The rough road ran between rude stone-fences and straggling apple-trees to the village, lying some two miles to the southeast.

About two hundred yards beyond the Parsonage--so Professor Valeyon's house was called, he, in times past, having officiated as pastor of the village--it made a sharp turn to the left around a spur of the hill, bringing into view the tall white steeple of the village meeting-house, relieved against the mountainous background beyond.
They dined in the Parsonage at two o'clock.

At about three the professor was wont to cross the entry to his study, take his pipe from its place on the high wooden mantel-piece, fill it from the brown earthen-ware tobacco-box on the table, and stepping through the window on to the balcony, takes his place in his chair.