HAPPY HOLLOW FARM 147 



ground, we haven't intended to keep any beast 

 around the place that doesn't contribute some- 

 thing through increase. When I haven't any- 

 thing else in particular to do, though, I trem- 

 ble to think of the fix we'd have been in if our 

 goat herd had been multiplying on our hands 

 through these years. 



Around the rim of the farm on three sides 

 lies a border of higher land, just like the rim 

 of a basin, sloping inward. For the most part 

 this slope is too abrupt to permit of cultiva- 

 tion ; the soil would wash too badly. That part 

 has never been in use ; its unkempt appearance 

 has made it always an eyesore. We wanted 

 nothing of that sort inside our fence lines ; yet 

 to keep up that twelve or fifteen acres for looks' 

 sake only was a luxury we couldn't afford. 

 We had natural leaning that way ; but we had 

 to keep drawing the reins sharply upon our 

 inclinations in such matters. The house 

 grounds really gave us indulgence enough; as 

 for the rest of the land, we were agreed that 

 we must make every possible acre count for 

 something. That encircling slope was quite 

 worthless when we got the farm. For years 

 the tenants had cut their firewood there; true 

 to their habits they had taken the lazy way, 



