"The news of her son's good fortune soon reached the widow. At first she refused to believe a word of it, for she could not think it possible that George, who never followed the hunt, who never used lances, or bows and arrows, and who never even killed a little bird; who was even a boy still, not even a young man, could kill so terrible a brute. "'Surely,' she said, 'this story is a pure invention. Sorry am I to find that I am so treated; it almost brings the tears into my eyes.' "The more she thought about it, the more incredible the tale appeared. Her grief for her loss was stirred up afresh; but at last adown the village street came George himself, driving the sleekest, handsomest cow you ever saw, and one of the castle's servants with him; and from his own lips she learned the story of his bravery. The widow was greatly amazed, and falling on the neck of her son, wept bitterly; but not with grief—they were tears of joy that she was shedding, and her widowed heart began to sing for joy. [Illustration] "George took his mother by the hand and led her outside the door. "'Come out and see the cow which our good friend Knight Ulrich has sent to you; I am sure you will be pleased with the present.' "Pleased! Ay, that she was, dear heart, and kissed her son again and again, as the servant retold the story of his courage. "'This cow,' said the man, as he patted its sleek hide, 'is the best in the stall; I am very sorry to lose her, but I know that she is falling into good hands; I recollect what good care you took of your old cow: she was the best cow in these parts, except the one I bring you.' "Margaret overwhelmed the man with thanks. "'Yes,' said she, 'it is a beautiful cow; look at its shiny hide, look at its well-formed horns, look at its soft, loving eyes—surely there never was such a cow before or since. O, I cannot thank the knight enough for this kind present. How can I show my gratitude?' "'Nay,' the man answered, 'this is but a part of the reward which your son is to receive. He has done the country good service, and well deserves all that he gets.' "Margaret offered the servant money, but the honest man replied that his master had strictly forbidden him to accept any gratuity. "'My good lady,' he said, 'has already given me for this very journey more money than I could think of accepting from you. Farewell. God's blessing be on you.'" "What a fortunate thing it was," said Henry, "that the goat should have been tied to the door of the old ruin; how lucky it was for George." "Dear child," said grandpa, "fortune and luck had nothing to do with it." "Nothing to do with it, grandpa? Why was it not luck, and good luck too, that it all turned out so well; I am sure it must have been." "There was no luck in it, child; it was something far different from that." "What was it then, grandpa?" asked Henry seriously. "It was God's providence." "That was what I meant, grandpa," said Henry.