292 CITIZEN BIRD 



The Doctor laughed and looked at the cows that 

 were pasturing in the roadside fields, for they were 

 passing a farming village. 



" I don't see any Cowbirds this afternoon," said Nat, 

 thinking the Doctor was looking for them. 



" This time I am looking at the cows themselves ! 

 Those over there are beautiful creatures, and there is 

 a clear spring of water in the corner of the pasture. 

 When we come to the farmhouse Avhere they belong, 

 we will stop to buy some milk, and Miss Dodo shall 

 have supper ; for even Mammy's buns, when they have 

 been travelling about all day in a basket, would be 

 rather dry Avithout milk/' 



"But wouldn't the milk be good if the cows were 

 not pretty, and there was no spring in the pasture ? " 

 asked Nat, who must have a reason for everything. 



" It is not a question of pretty cows ; it is whether 

 they are clean and healthy or not, that makes the milk 

 good or bad. And good pure water to drink, from a 

 spring that is not near any barnyard or outbuilding, is 

 one of the best things for keeping cows in good health." 



Meanwhile they had driven up to a farmhouse, almost 

 as large as their own, and the mistress, who was 

 arranging her pans for tlie evening milking, said they 

 might have cold milk then, or fresh warm milk if they 

 would wait a little while until the cows came home. 



Under the back porch was a cage with a little Owl 

 in it, and the woman said it belonged to her boy. Joe, 

 for that was his name, was about Rap's age, and soon 

 made friends with them. They told him where they 

 had been spending the day, and about their uncle's 

 wonder room, and the birds at Orchard Farm. 



