“Though we have not bought her, yet she is ours! I’ll tell you all—but you’ll never believe me.—Yesterday at dawn, I was aware of something that rubbed against the cabin wall, and thought it might be some hog driven out to the pasture-lands, that was cleaning its sides from caked mire. So I lay down anew, but was not yet asleep, when I heard a faint sound of lowing. I went out; and behold, there stood by the door a cow, tethered, with a bundle of clover in front of her, her udders full, and her face turned up to me. I rubbed mine eyes, thinking this to be some dream of the night. But no: ’twas a live cow, lowing and licking my fingers. Then I felt sure she had strayed from some herd; and Simon too said they would be coming for her in a trice. Only there was one thing:—she was tied up. Could a cow tie herself up in any wise?—But noon came, and no one to take her away, and the milk was oozing from her udders by then: so I eased the poor beast. I asked through the village; no one knew anything of a cow lost. Old Klemba said it might well be some thieves’ trick, and I had better take her to the _gendarmie_. I was sorry, but what else was I to do?—Then, when noon came next day, Roch came too, and said: “‘You are honest and you are needy; therefore hath the Lord Jesus blessed you with a cow!’ “‘A cow falling from the sky! Not even an idiot can believe that.’ “Roch laughed, and, preparing to depart, said: “‘The cow’s your own: have no fear! None shall take her from you.’ “Then I thought she was his gift, and fell at his knees to thank him; but he shrank back. “‘And if you should meet Mr. Yacek,’ he continued with a smile, ‘beware of thanking him: he’s a man to lay about him with a stick, for he loves not to be thanked.’” “Then ’twas Mr. Yacek who gave you the cow!” “Is there another man in the world so kind to poor folk?” “True, it was he gave Staho the timber for his hut, and helped him in so many other ways.” “A holy man he is, no doubt, and daily I will pray for him.” “But take heed lest any should steal her from you!” “What, steal my cow? I would go over all the world to seek her, and tear the thief’s eyes out! Our Lord would never permit such a wrong!—While Simon is building the shed, I’ll have her in to sleep with us every night. And Yasyek’s dog, Kruchek, will take care of her.—O my dear one, O my darling!” she cried, taking her round the neck and kissing her pink muzzle; while the animal uttered a faint gurgling sound, the dog barked with joy, the fowls cackled for fear, and Simon whistled louder than all.