TO ESQUIMAUX POINT 



of a certain famous ox and of a traveller by 

 this same cascade. He told the story briefly in 

 English, but noticing the interested and puzzled 

 looks of our friend the good priest of Esquimaux 

 Point, he retold it in French, enlarging skil- 

 fully on the details, and embellishing the whole 

 with gestures and facial expressions that added 

 much to the realism of the account in a way 

 that only a French version could give. 



It seemed that a certain ox of the village of 

 Magpie was in the habit of wandering along 

 the little road that leads to the river for the 

 sake of the good pasturage there, and, being 

 of a social disposition, and having no friends 

 of his own race with whom to associate, 

 for it was the only ox that the village boasted, 

 and much petted and familiarly conversed 

 with, he was wont to welcome all human be- 

 ings passing along the road. If they stopped, 

 he would nose up against them in the most 

 friendly manner; if they walked, he would 

 sedately walk beside them; if they ran, indeed 

 he would run too, and he could run well, very 

 well for a great ox, but then he was very fond of 

 human companionship, and that accounted for 

 it all, and indeed all the villagers understood 



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