The House

The House, by Eugene Field,
Illustrated by E.

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by E. H. Garrett
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Title: The House An Episode in the Lives of Reuben Baker,
Astronomer, and of His Wife, Alice
Author: Eugene Field

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Language: English
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The Works of Eugene Field
Vol. VIII
The Writings in Prose and Verse of Eugene Field
THE HOUSE
An Episode in the Lives of Reuben Baker, Astronomer, and of His
Wife Alice

[Frontispiece: The House. Drawn by E. H. Garrett.]

Charles Scribner's Sons New York 1911
Copyright, 1896, by Julia Sutherland Field.

INTRODUCTION
The story that is told in this volume is as surely an autobiography as if
that announcement were a part of the title: and it also has the peculiar
and significant distinction of being in some sort the biography of every
man and woman who enters seriously upon the business of life.
In its pages is to be found the history of the heart's desire of all who are
disposed to take the partnership of man and woman seriously. The
instinct--the desire--call it what you will--that is herein set forth with
such gentle humor is as old as humanity, and all literature that contains

germs of permanence teems with its influence. But never before has it
had so painstaking a biographer--so deft and subtle an interpreter.
We are told, alas! that the story of Alice and Reuben Baker wanted but
one chapter to complete it when Eugene Field died. That chapter was to
have told how they reached the fulfilment of their heart's desire. But
even here the unities are preserved. The chapter that is unwritten in the
book is also unwritten in the lives of perhaps the great majority of men
and women.
The story that Mr. Field has told portrays his genius and his humor in a
new light. We have seen him scattering the germs of his wit broadcast
in the newspapers--we have seen him putting on the cap and bells, as it
were, to lead old Horace through some modern paces--we have heard
him singing his tender lullabies to children--we have wept with him
over "Little Boy Blue," and all the rest of those quaint songs--we have
listened to his wonderful stories--but only in the story of "The House"
do we find his humor so gently turned, so deftly put, and so ripe for the
purpose of literary expression. It lies deep here, and those who desire to
enjoy it as it should be enjoyed must place their ears close to the heart
of human nature. The wit and the rollicking drollery that were but the
surface indications of Mr. Field's genius have here given place to the
ripe humor that lies as close to tears as to laughter--the humor that is a
part and a large part of almost every piece of English literature that has
outlived the hand that wrote it.
JOEL CHANDLER HARRIS.

The Chapters in this Book
I WE BUY A PLACE II OURSELVES AND OUR NEIGHBORS III
WE MAKE OUR BARGAIN KNOWN IV THE FIRST PAYMENT V
WE NEGOTIATE A MORTGAGE VI I AM BESOUGHT TO BUY
THINGS VII OUR PLANS FOR IMPROVEMENTS VIII THE
VANDALS BEGIN THEIR WORK IX NEIGHBOR MACLEOD'S
THISTLE X COLONEL DOLLER'S GREAT IDEA XI I MAKE A

STAND FOR MY RIGHTS XII I AM DECEIVED IN MR. WAX XIII
EDITOR WOODSIT A TRUE FRIEND XIV THE VICTIM OF AN
ORDINANCE XV THE QUESTION OF INSURANCE XVI
NEIGHBOR ROBBINS' PLATYPUS XVII OUR DEVICES FOR
ECONOMIZING XVIII I STATE MY VIEWS ON TAXATION XIX
OTHER PEOPLE'S DOGS XX I ACQUIRE POISON AND
EXPERIENCE XXI WITH PLUMBERS AND PAINTERS XXII THE
BUTLER'S PANTRY XXIII ALICE'S NIGHT WATCHMAN XXIV
DRIVEWAYS AND WALL PAPERS XXV AT LAST WE ENTER
OUR HOUSE

THE HOUSE
I
WE BUY A PLACE
It was either Plato the Athenian, or Confucius the Chinese, or
Andromachus the Cretan--or some other philosopher whose name I
disremember--that remarked once upon a time, and the time was many
centuries ago, that no woman was happy until she got herself a home. It
really makes no difference who first uttered this truth, the truth itself is
and always has been recognized as one possessing nearly all the