And such a home, my boy, as you shall see, You cannot well conceive what it may be, For I intend to exercise my skill, Its precincts with inventions new to fill, And have things so arranged that work and time Shall reap rich harvests in their course sublime. Time passed; my contract done, I hastened home, Unwilling longer from its joys to roam, When Harry, hearing that I had returned, To have me by him with impatience burned; So, to his pressing lines that I should pay A visit to his country home next day, I cordially assented, for I, too, Was anxious our prized friendship to renew. Descending at the station I espied The dear old boy, with dog-cart at his side, Waiting to welcome me with heart and hand, To all we prize most in our native land; For howsoe'er or wheresoe'er we roam, We find no joys like those of home, sweet home! We bowled along the pleasant country lanes, By wooded heights and blossom-covered plains. See! said he, there's my house among the trees, Sheltered, yet open to the southern breeze. In that beyond, with other two, you see, Whose grounds close round my own so pleasantly, Live valued friends of whom I never tire; With each abode a telegraphic wire Communicates, so, when we feel inclined For whist or billiards, after we have dined We telegraph to fix the time and place, And oft arrange a meet for hunt and chase, Which is convenient, as you soon will see, And makes us like one social family. Just then arriving at the gate hard by, I will descend and open it, said I; Sit still, said Harry, when without a word, The gate seemed opened of its own accord. Hallo, that's "open, Sesame," I said, How is it done? to which Hal answer made: Why, don't you see; I've placed across the path A narrow gutter like a shallow bath, And when we stop the wheels press on it, so It slightly sinks, and forces cranks to go, These then force back the gate until we've passed, Whilst others set it free and close it fast. Well, now that is convenient, I cried,