The story
“A wealthy, childless old couple, living on a fine country estate, envy Farmer Selden, their neighbor and his big family. As the farmer is poor, they do not doubt but that they can induce him to let them have one of their children in return for money and land. ‘It isn’t as though we were asking the Seldens to give up their favorite child,’ said Mrs. Kenniston, ‘any one of the seven will do.’ So Mr. Kenniston writes to his neighbor, stating the case and making him a handsome offer. Poverty is pressing hard upon the farmer and his family. He and his wife sadly agree that perhaps the best thing they can do is to let the rich Kennistons take one of the children. That night they tip-toe upstairs to the children’s bedsides, to decide which one of the seven they will let go. Of course, they cannot give up Baby Lillian, and to separate their twin girls is out of the question. Jamie, next to Lillian in age, is still too young to be sent to strangers. Donald, crippled since babyhood, they cannot think of sparing. Strangers could never understand how uncomplainingly he bore pain. Dick is a little terror, always in hot water. ‘Only a mother’s heart could be patient enough for such as he,’ whispers Martha Selden, and they move on to the side of their eldest son. But John least of all can they do without. ‘He is so like his father,’ weeps his mother. The rich, old couple are very much surprised when they receive the farmer’s courteous answer to their note. For Farmer Selden tells them that he cannot give away even one child. What queer ideas poor people have, to be sure!”
Summary from Reel Life · 19 June 1915
