and the cow both they will get along all right."

"I don't want them to know who gives it," said Judy. "I hate that way
of giving. I don't want to go and stare at them and talk to them about
their poverty. I think it would be nice to tie a note to Sweetheart's
horns and just leave her there."

The next day about noon, a mysterious party, with a strange and unusual
looking cow in their midst, crept to the back of the McSwiggins barn.
Sweetheart lowed softly, as she recognized the familiar surroundings.

"Gracious, I hope they won't hear," said little Anne, "that would spoil
it all."

Perkins set a heavy basket down and wiped his forehead.

"You go and look, Mr. Launcelot," he said, "and if there ain't any one
around you tie her to the hitching-post, and then bring the ends of
those pink ribbons back with you."

When that was accomplished, the Mysterious Four hid themselves in some
bushes by the side of the road to await developments.

Presently Johnny McSwiggins, trailing listlessly towards the barn, gave
one look and rushed back into the house.

"They's somethin' out thar," he said, with his eyes bulging.

Mary McSwiggins, the oldest girl, looked at him hopelessly. "I don'
care ef they is. We alls too po' fer anythin' to hurt."

"But hit looks lak Sweetheart's ghos'," declared Johnny, "an' hit's got
pink ribbin on. I declar' hit look lak Sweetheart's ghos', Sistuh
Ma'y."

At that beloved name, Mary rushed out, while the family trailed behind,
Mrs. McSwiggins bringing up the rear with the wan baby in her arms.

Tied to the post was Sweetheart, but such a cow had never been seen
before in the history of Fairfax, for Judy was nothing if not original,
and with the help of Anne and Launcelot she had decked the little cow
gorgeously.

Around her neck was a huge wreath of roses, pink ribbons were tied to
her horns, and two long pink streamers like reins went over her back
and across the path and around the barn, where the ends were hidden.

"Gee," said Johnny McSwiggins, but the rest of them were silent, gazing
at this transformed and glorified Sweetheart, while Mary laid her head
against the sleek neck and murmured love names to her dear little cow.

"They's somethin' at the end of them ribbins," said Mrs. McSwiggins,
after awhile, "you all go an' look."

And when they looked they found two huge baskets, one filled with
wonderful things all ready to eat (Perkins had packed that), and the
other filled