I’m going home to an old country farmhouse, once green…
““I’m going home to an old country farmhouse, once green, rather faded now, set among leafless apple orchards. There is a brook below and a December fir wood beyond, where I’ve heard harps swept by the fingers of rain and wind. There is a pond nearby that will be gray and brooding now. There will be two oldish ladies in the house, one tall and thin, one short and fat; and there will be two twins, one a perfect model, the other what Mrs. Lynde calls a ‘holy terror.’ There will be a little room upstairs over the porch, where old dreams hang thick, and a big, fat, glorious feather bed which will almost seem the height of luxury after a boardinghouse mattress. How do you like my picture, Phil?" "It seems a very dull one," said Phil, with a grimace. "Oh, but I’ve left out the transforming thing," said Anne softly. "There’ll be love there, Phil—faithful, tender love, such as I’ll never find anywhere else in the world—love that’s waiting for me. That makes my picture a masterpiece, doesn’t it, even if the colors are not very brilliant?" Phil silently got up, tossed her box of chocolates away, went up to Anne, and put her arms about her. "Anne, I wish I was like you," she said soberly.””
About This Quote
This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation.
A young woman imagines an idealized home and love, then realizes true fulfillment comes from genuine connection rather than perfect scenery.
In simple terms: Dreams of perfect place and love are secondary to real affection.
Key Takeaway
Seek authentic relationships over imagined perfection.
Themes
love
home
idealism
reality
self‑acceptance
Mood
hopeful
nostalgic
reflective
Type
literary
romantic
conversational
When to use this quote
- courtship
- family life
- personal growth
- overcoming loneliness
Key Concepts
Romantic idealism
self‑discovery
narrative contrast
Questions to Reflect On
- What does “perfect love” mean to you?
- How can imagined ideals affect real choices?
A Different Perspective
The vision of a flawless setting may overlook practical challenges and emotional complexities.