I could have all the fellows in and we could use it for a club-house and, when company came, for overnight, Ruth and I could sleep out here."

"I'll tell you what," exclaimed Ruth. "Only last night Father was saying that the house was really too small now that Paul and I are getting so big. And Mother said she thought we'd have to build an extension. Now," here Ruth's eyes grew very big and round and excited-"why, why, instead of building an addition onto the house, shouldn't we build a darling little play-house right here back of the grownup house?"

"It wouldn't cost so very much more, would it?" asked Paul, who, in spite of being two years younger than Ruth, always thought more than she did about the money side of things.

"No," said Uncle George, slowly. "I don't see why it should, especially if I help you with it. I've built lots of grown-up' houses, and I think, for a change, it would be great fun to build a play-house."

"Oh, do help us to beg Father and Mother to let us!" cried both children.

"All right," agreed their uncle. "No time like the present. We must have a house that is warm and dry, which this lovely tree-house is not."

"And it must be sunny and have plenty of air, which the cave hasn't," said Paul.

"And it must 'stay put,' which the tent doesn't, said Ruth.

"And it mustn't be full of a lot of other people, but must be your very own house, where you can be

alone if you wish and can invite your company when you feel like it," finished Uncle George.

"Oh, goody! Goody!" shrieked Ruth, as they all scrambled down to the ground. "It's going to be the loveliest, blessedest house that ever was!"

"That depends on the people who live in it, Ruth," said Uncle George, turning serious. "Abraham Lincoln lived in a wretched log cabin, but his mother's

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brave, sunny nature made it beautiful, and Lincoln's life has made it sacred. I hope your cottage, if we build it, will be beautiful with happy thoughts and bright with fun and kindness. Now let's see who can get to the house first."

Off they all three ran and sank in a heap on the door-step just as Father came to the gate.

THINGS TO REMEMBER

Houses were first built for shelter from the weather and protection from enemies. Let us recall different

kinds. Tree-houses were built of branches in the tops of trees in jungles. They were a refuge from wild animals. They could be used in very warm climates only. Uncivilized people, in colder climates, once built huts of woven branches. They sheltered the people from bad weather and wild animals. They were uncomfortable, not strong, and could not be heated or ventilated well. Peoples who wandered from place to place learned to make tent houses, which were easily put up and taken down. Some Indians made their tents of animal skins. Some Arabs made tents of woven cloth. There were still other peoplesIndians of the Southwest, who learned to make bricks. With these they built houses against the cliffs in their country-one house above the other. They used ladders to get from story to story. All the Indians in a tribe lived together for protection against their enemies. Our ancestors in Europe also had to fear many enemies besides the wild animals. They built great halls, or castles, often with walls around them. A warrior, with his family and followers, lived together within the walls to protect each other. These castles were dark, cheerless and often cold in winter.

The first colonists in America had to fear Indians and wild animals. They made their homes of logs. Either there was a fort nearby or the houses were close together and a stockade of logs was built around the houses. Nowadays we have neither savage enemies nor wild beasts to fear. Sickness and bad weather are the enemies our houses must keep away. So we can have our houses far apart, with many large windows and of any material we desire. We can have them well heated and well ventilated, with many comforts of which our ancestors did not even dream. A modern house is more wonderful than any fairy palace when we begin to think about the things that are in it.

TO THINK ABOUT

Why do people need houses? For what do animals use their houses?

Where to-day do people live in tree-houses? What are the advantages of such houses?

What are the habits of people who make tent-homes? What peoples do you know of who live in tents? What kinds of climates do they have?

What kinds of homes do Indians of the Southwest build to protect themselves from their enemies?

Can you find out anything about the homes of other Indians through reading or visits to museums?

Why did our European ancestors build stone castles and walled towns with thick walls and narrow windows? Read about these in a history to find out how they were lighted, heated, ventilated and kept clean. Then decide if you would like to live in a castle like that.

In what ways are good modern homes better than these other homes?

CHAPTER II

THE PLAN OF THE HOUSE

THERE is nothing else quite so hard in life as waiting. That was what Paul and Ruth thought all during supper time. They were so full of their playhouse scheme that they could scarcely eat, but as soon as Father saw Uncle George, he had said, "You are just the one I want to see about that investment." Then he and Uncle George had begun to talk about stocks and securities and other incomprehensible things, until Ruth began to fear that Uncle George had forgotten all about the play-house.

But as they rose from the table, Uncle George said, "And now, John, there is something else that we must talk about-something very important, isn't it, Paul?"

"Oh, yes, lots more important than any old stocks and bonds," cried Paul.

"It's a perfectly gorgeous idea for giving us more room. You know you said we really needed more room," said Ruth.

"Yes, and it really won't cost any more than it would to build a wing onto the house," added Paul.

"And it will help to keep the house all nice and tidy, because we'll be playing out there all the time," exclaimed Ruth.

"Well, well, do put me out of my suspense and let's hear all about this marvelous idea," said Father.