I shouldn't ha' minded, though 'twould ha' hurt jest the same to hev Simon's son take it,--my brother Simon's son, as I allus stood by.

But it's hard to let the farm go.

I tell ye, Marm Lucy, it's terrible hard!" and he bowed his head upon his hands in a dejection which made his wife weep anew and wring her hands.
"But they will not take the farm from you, Farmer Hartley!" cried Hilda, aghast.

"They _cannot_ do that, can they?
Why, it was your father's, and your grandfather's before him." "And _his_ father's afore _him_!" said the farmer, looking up with a sad smile on his kindly face.

"But that don't make no difference, ye see, Hildy.