138 BIRDS AND POETS 



my lost milcher), I saw the rump of a cow, over a 

 grassy knoll, that looked familiar. Coming nearer, 

 the beast lifted np her head; and, hehold! it was 

 she ! only a few squares from home, where doubtless 

 she had been most of the time. I had overshot the 

 mark in my search. I had ransacked the far-off, 

 and had neglected the near-at-hand, as we are so 

 apt to do. But she was ruined as a milcher, and 

 her history thenceforward was brief and touching! 



