hard by the farmhouse was a vast barn , that might have served for a church ; every window and crevice of which seemed bursting forth with the treasures of the farm ; the flail was busily resounding within it from morning to night ; swallows and martins skimmed twittering about the eaves ; and rows of pigeons , some with one eye turned up , as if watching the weather , some with their heads under their wings or buried in their bosoms , and others swelling , and cooing , and bowing about their dames , were enjoying the sunshine on the roof .