snake or a quail's nest. I am sick at heart, for I cannot either carry away my eggs, or leave my nest lest they get cold."
When the mowers reached the quail's nest, one peasant swung his scythe and cut off the mother-bird's head; but he put the eggs in his pocket, and gave them to his children to play with.
XXXI
THE COW AND THE GOAT
An old woman had a Cow and a Goat. The Cow and the Goat went to pasture together. The Cow always turned around when they came after her. The old woman brought bread and salt, gave it to the Cow, and said:—
"Now stand still, little mother,[1] na, na, I will bring you some more; only stand still."
On the next evening the Goat returned from the pasture before the Cow, spread his legs, and stood before the old woman. The old woman waved her handkerchief at him, but the Goat stood without moving.
He thought that the old woman gave bread to the Cow because she stood still.
The old woman perceived that the Goat did not move away; she took her stick and beat him.
When the Goat went away, the old woman began to feed the Cow again with grain, and to coax her.
"There is no justice in men," thought the Goat; "I stood stiller than the Cow does, but she beat me."
He ran to one side, hurried back, kicked over the milk-pail, spilled the milk, and knocked over the old woman.
- ↑ Matushka.
