92 WINTER STORIES AND POEMS 



STORY OF THE PEACOCK 



JUPITER dearly loved beautiful lo. 



She lived all alone on the bank of a river. 



Often she bathed in its cool waters. 



When she plunged in, the little waves and 

 ripples played about her as if they loved her. 



Then, as she combed and braided her long 

 hair, she used the smooth waters for a mirror. 



They showed her her own sweet face and 

 seemed to say " Pretty lo," " Pretty lo." 



Juno was as cruel to lo as she had been 

 to Latona. 



She came down to the bank of the river 

 where lo lived, meaning to do her some harm. 



But instead of a pretty young girl, she saw 

 only a gentle white cow grazing. 



Juno could not understand it ! 



There it was, slowly munching the sweet 

 grass, and hunting with its pink nostrils for the 

 purple clover. 



Its hide was white and glossy. 



Its long horns were curved like the crescent 

 of the moon. 



It looked at Juno with eyes as soft as her own. 



