st came forth victorious. With the consciousness of
heroism, he helped Emmerence up from where she had fallen, and walked
triumphantly by her side, armed as he was. Nat had told him stories of
knights rescuing poor, helpless damsels from giants and dragons: he now
felt as if he was something like one of these knights himself.

4.
BRINDLE AND THE GOSLINGS.

The purchase of a horse or a cow is an event of absorbing interest in
the family of every farmer; but, when it is remembered that in the
Black Forest the dwelling-house, the stable, and the barn, are all
parts of one and the same building, it is clear that the importance of
such an occurrence is doubly great, for it makes a change, if not in
the family itself, at least in the household.

An event of this kind took place one day when Valentine came home from
the fair in the upper village with a fine heifer. Before it was taken
into the house it was examined and praised by all the neighbors and
passers-by. Ivo and his mother, and Nat, received the stranger at the
door. A wooden horse fell to Ivo's share as his "fairing," and
Valentine placed the end of the tether into Nat's hands, looked round
with an air of triumph, and then dismissed the "cattle" into the stable
with a good-humored stroke on the hocks. It was indeed a fine beast,
just what farmers like to call a smart, strutty sort of cow.

Ivo, with his wooden horse on his bosom, hastened to help Nat prepare
the stranger's supper. "Short feed" was heaped in the trough; but she
would not open her mouth except to growl gloomily. Ivo passed his hand
gently over her sleek hide: she turned her head and looked fixedly at
the boy for a long time.

Ivo then played with his wooden horse, which showed no reluctance to
make his acquaintance, but seemed at home everywhere and always carried
its head high.

At night Ivo was waked out of his sleep by a wailing note which shook
his soul. The poor heifer seemed to pour out her very bowels with
lamentation.

Ivo lay awake a long time listening to the sounds which went forth so
mournfully into the stillness. Whenever they ceased he held his breath,
hoping that they would come no more; but the poor cow always began
again.

At last Ivo waked his father.

"What's the matter?"

"The new heifer's crying."

"Let her cry, and go to sleep, you foolish boy: the heifer's homesick,
and it can't be helped."

Ivo shut h