sh. I see no
way, but a slice of the farm must go, and a pretty large slice too; and
that will be very hard. How much is the whole farm worth?"

"It ought to fetch six thousand, five hundred," said Fabens. "Six
thousand I've been offered for it, time and again."

"I cannot bear to part with an inch of the farm--it is so dear to us,"
said Mrs. Fabens.

"How can we part with a rood or a tree," asked Fanny, with a sigh.
"Every tree seems one of the family, and every rood has transferred a
picture of its beauty to our hearts."

"But something must be done to wipe off the thousand dollars. The
hundred on hand will help; and where shall I raise the rest? They may
sue me, and sacrifice double the amount, if they have to wait too
long," said Fabens.

"O well, we shall have enough left after paying the thousand," said
Mrs. Fabens. "Any one will loan you nine hundred, and take a mortgage.
Then we should not have to sell a single rood. We could all turn to,
and raise it off from the farm in three or four years."

"I cannot bear to mortgage the farm," said Fabens. "I should then feel
in debt. I hate debts as I do sin and Satan. Hadn't we better sell
off a little strip joining Nimblet's, and stand free and clear once
more? It is handsome land, I know; my heart leans to it warmly, for I
have labored along there a good many pleasant days. But hadn't we
better let the pretty piece go? He has been at me these three years to
sell it; and he can pay for it all down. Wouldn't the farm be large
enough without that strip?"

"That may be best," said Mrs. Fabens. "I dislike debts and mortgages
as much as you. But the farm is so handsome with that green border,
and its lovely shade-trees!"

"That is the most beautiful fringe of fields on the farm," said Fanny.
"The trees are the finest;--think of those charming chestnuts, and how
their white blossoms sweeten the air in July! And the handsomest
walnuts and maples wave along there. And there is my lovely linden,
and mother's balm of Gilead. And how level the ground is; and how the
bluebirds and robins love to sing there!--But perhaps it may be best to
let it go, and be out of debt. We shall all feel so much better. You
cannot sell the loveliness of those fields, and he could no more buy it
than buy the songs of the birds, or the light of the blue skies. The
handsome prospect, the verdure, light, and song, are the property of
all who have eyes to see and hearts to e