As the building progressed it became quite an object of attraction. Every morning and evening, numbers would come to see how their building was going on. Not the least interested was Mr. Jasper, for he seemed to be always there, watching and anxious with pleasure. He greatly admired the plans, and gave many valuable suggestions. He had great taste and pleasure in gardening, and one day proposed to lay out and prepare the grounds. I suggested that he keep an account of the expense, to be deducted from his subscription. “No,” said he, “you go on with your work; do not mind me. This is my affair entirely.” I did not object, as I was not willing to deprive him of the pleasure this would afford him. It was not long before the building was finished. It was a work of art, and would have been the pride of any station or city. It was as substantial as lime, brick, stone and iron could make it, with the finest of wood work and marble floors. The grounds were very ample, and by the time the building was completed they had been, through Mr. Jasper’s efficient supervision, converted into a park, with flower gardens. In the meantime we had a number of meetings of all the subscribers at my house, and various suggestions received as to the furnishing. The upper apartments were left entirely to the women, with my wife in lead. There sprang up a great rivalry between the sexes as to which should have the best furnished rooms, and various were the questions asked of us men about our plans. My wife put on her sweetest smiles when interrogating me, but I was dumb except to say that we would not interfere with their arrangements, and she would reply, “If you think you will get ahead of us you are very much mistaken.” And I knew we would be. I had frequently observed our non-subscribing Eurasian fellows driving by on the road and looking at our work with a good deal of interest. One morning the one of French descent came to me where I was superintending some work, and greeting with a good morning, said, “After all, Mr. Japhet, I don’t know but what I ought to help you in this.” I cut him short by replying, “Thank you very much, but we have now got all the money we need, and so do not care for any more subscriptions.” He seemed quite taken back by the reply, and began praising the building, but as I was very busy he soon left. I took a perhaps wicked pleasure in giving him this rebuff, more so, that he had received me with such haughtiness on my going to him.