u6 A FARMER'S YEAR 



but the ground remains soft enough to allow of one plough work- 

 ing on some light land, the rest of the horses being employed in 

 carting manure. The cow, Miss Pegotty, is still unable to find the 

 use of her hind legs, but in some extraordinary and unexplained 

 way she has dragged and rolled herself the length of the cow-house, 

 and through the open door into the hovel. Here she lies with 

 sacks over her, shivering violently from time to time, and stretch- 

 ing out her head upon the straw in rather an alarming fashion. 

 Her eyes, however, seem bright and healthy, also she can eat. 

 Mustard is being rubbed upon her loins with the object of 

 stimulating the muscles. 



It is a curious day for the end of February : very clear, cold, 

 and still, the sky heavy as though with snow, except when the sun 

 breaks out, as it does from time to time. Standing at the gate of 

 one of the new pastures behind the house, I was struck by the 

 quiet and peacefulness of the scene. On the back lawn, at some 

 distance from me, the lambs were at play, their bleats sounding 

 loud in the stillness, while the green of the pasture was dotted here 

 and there with feeding ewes, that looked extraordinarily white 

 against the grey skyline. Near to me, and in the same field, 

 grazed the two colts, till one of them, discovering my presence, 

 ceased to nibble at the short brown grass and advanced gingerly, 

 as though to inquire my business. Presently, having satisfied his 

 curiosity, he wandered off again to join his companion. 



Notwithstanding that the air was almost at freezing-point, the 

 thrushes and blackbirds were singing in the little plantations round 

 the house, though not with so full a voice as they sang a fortnight 

 since ; while from the tall hedgerow to my left came from time to 

 time the insolent crow of a cock-pheasant, rejoicing perhaps that 

 he had, and that his companions had not, escaped the guns. Pre- 

 sently a rustle caught my ear, and in the ground-ivy on the bank a 

 yard or so away I perceived two little field-mice sporting together, 

 the rustle being caused by the stir of the dead leaves and sere 

 grasses as they moved among them. While I watched, one of 

 these mice climbed up the stem of a maple bush in the fence, and 



