he most plaintive groans, he never interrupted the operation, but
exhibited every token of submission to the surgeon, till his cure was
effected.

Still more curious is the following:--A young elephant which had
accompanied its mother to the battle-field received a severe wound in
the head. Nothing could induce it to allow the injury to be attended
to. At length, by certain signs and words, the keeper explained to the
mother what was wanted. The sagacious animal immediately seized the
young one with her trunk, and, though it groaned with agony, held it to
the ground, while the surgeon was thus enabled to dress the wound. Day
after day she continued to act in the same way, till the wound was
perfectly healed.

CHAPTER SIX.

OXEN.

The virtues of cows are more active than passive. I may sum them up by
saying that they are very affectionate mothers, and will sometimes, like
horses and dogs, find their way across the country to the spot where
they have been bred.

THE PROUD COW.

Mrs F--told me the following anecdote:--Her father had four cows, which
every evening, at milking-time, were driven from the field into their
byre. On their way they had to pass through the farmyard, when they
would endeavour to snatch as many mouthfuls of hay as they had time to
secure from the hay-stacks. One especially, who was accustomed to take
the lead of the other cows, was more particularly addicted to this
trick. She was thus sometimes the last to be driven into the byre.
When, however, she found that her three companions had entered before
her, nothing would induce her to follow them. She would stand with her
fore-legs just over the threshold, stretch forth her neck, and moo
angrily; but further than this, neither coaxing, blows, nor the barking
of the dog at her heels, would induce her to go. The contest always
ended in the rest of the cows being driven out; when she would at once
take the lead, and walk quietly into her stall without the least
persuasion. The dairy-maid called her the Proud Cow.

Another Irish cow has been known to act in a similar manner.

So her pride brought Mistress Cow many a whack on the back. Depend on
it, if you stand on your dignity, you may often suffer, as she did.

THE COW AND HER TORMENTOR.

In my younger days, I had a companion who used to catch our tutor's cow
by the tail, and make her drag him at full speed round and round the
field. One day, when he was quietly walking alon