XXXI.

for-got-ten un-der-stand be-long-ed me-mo-ry

pro-mis-ed an-swer-ed

heath-er

THE EAGLE'S NEST.—Part I.

neigh-bour

1. "Father, father, it is going to be a splendid day," cried Donald Mac Ian, as he opened the door of his little cottage home, high among the mountains.

2. The first rays of the sun were just touching the top of Ben More, the great mountain above the little house, and made the purple heather brighten. There was not a cloud to be seen in all the sky.

3. "That is well, Donald," answered his father, "for I have a long way to go to-day, to visit my cousin, and the walk seems twice as short on a fine day. Come, Donald, let the goats out, and look after Brown Kate, the cow. We will milk her quickly, and breakfast before I start."

4. "Oh! Brown Kate is quite close," said Donald. I just saw her come past neighbour Morse's house, along the valley. She is as clever as a woman, and knows well that we want our breakfast. But what is going to happen now?

I do declare neighbour Morse is driving Brown Kate into his cow-house!

5. "Neighbour, neighbour!" cried Donald,

putting his hands to his mouth as a trumpet, "that is our cow. Do you hear? That is

Brown Kate."

F

6. "Oh! I hear," answered a rough voice from below. "But I have a fancy for this cow, and I mean to keep her. You can tell your father that if he wants her he may come and fetch her."

7. Father!" shouted Donald, who was still standing in the doorway, "neighbour Morse says he is going to keep Brown Kate. Do come out and stop him."

8. Duncan Mac Ian came out quickly, and saw that, as Donald had said, his neighbour was driving the cow into his own cow-house.

9. "What's the meaning of this, John Morse?" he shouted. "Oh! you don't seem to understand," returned the other. "You have quite forgotten, no doubt, that you owe me forty shillings ever since last winter, and that you promised, for the tenth time, to pay me yesterday.

10. "As your memory is so short, I am just going to keep the cow to remind you. She can come on a visit to my cows until I see my forty shillings again."

11. Duncan Mac Ian frowned, and bit his lip. "You know well," he said, "that I could not pay you. My good wife's illness and death

took all my little savings. But you know, too, that I am an honest man, and you need not be so hard upon me. That is not being a good neighbour, John."

12. "Neighbour, indeed!" growled John Morse. "The cow is mine till I get my money." With these words he turned away, and went into his snug white house.

1. "Father," said Donald, in a vexed tone, when John Morse was no longer to be seen, "have you to put up with that? I would not bear it, if I were you.'

"I

Hush, my laddie!" said his father. grant you it is not nice nor kind of John Morse to be so hard upon his poorer neighbour; but he can do what he pleases, for I owe him the money. That I cannot deny.

3. "If it had been possible, I would have paid

Kate.

tience!

cousin will lend

me the forty shillings if I ask him, and then John

Morse

must

give up our

dear Brown

To-morrow we will have her back."

4. That we will, father," the boy said, firmly.

"We must and will have her back. This very day he shall give her up. Shame upon the rich man! What makes him behave in this way?"

5. "I will tell you that," replied his father. "He has coveted Brown Kate for a very long time, because she is the best cow for miles round. Last autumn he offered me a good price