One night there
passed by the humble cottage a little old lady driving along a thin and
hungry looking white cow, she craved a crust and a drink of water for
herself and shelter for the poor beast, this was readily granted by the
old couple, they gave the old lady the easy-chair by the fire, and gave
her of the best from their poor larder. She learnt from them how poor they
were, and sorrowed with them.

In the middle of the night she called to them, as she stole silently out
of the house, that for their kindness she left them all the worldly
possessions she had, namely her white cow. This they were in no wise
grateful for, because they could scarcely afford to feed it and it was too
poor to sell or to hope to draw a drop of milk from.

But in the morning what was their surprise to find not a poor three parts
starved cow, but a plump well fed animal, and with a bag full of milk, it
indeed gave more milk than any cow they had ever known or heard of, their
hay had also during the night grown to be quite a huge stack.

It was soon found that their butter was the best in all the dales, and was
sought after far and wide, so that the old people were gradually filling
their stocking with money. Added to this it was presently discovered that
all who drank of the white cow's milk were cured, almost instantly, of a
dreadful plague, which in the dales at that time was sending many young
folk to an early grave. The fame of this wonderful cow soon spread. The
old couple had given the milk to all those who fell ill of the plague, and
people came to them from far off places.

It was then that their landlord determined by wicked arts to gain
possession of this wonderful white cow, and sell the milk at a great
price. His own child, his youngest daughter, falling ill of the plague
determined him to carry out his evil design, and it was with sorrow and
tears that the old folk watched their landlord lead their cow away.

When half way over the moor he was met by an old dame, "Where drivest thou
my cow?" she demanded. Getting but a surly reply, and a threat to drive
over her, she cried, "Let me teach thee how to milk my cow." So saying she
seized hold of the cow's udder, crying out, "There's death in thee,
there's death in thee," and then ran away. The landlord on reaching home
was taking a cupful of the magic milk to his daughter, but setting it down
for a moment a cat unseen commenced to lap from the cup and died
instantly. The landl