orgot all about it! It
was that young rascal, though, who did it," and the parson turned his
eyes upon the baby. "Do you think that you can make out alone with
him, Martha? I fear that I shall be away all day, as there are several
other calls I must make at Hazlewood."

"Oh, I shall make out all right," was the reply. "But there are
several things you might bring me from the store on your way home. I
will make out a list for you, as you would be sure to forget them."

It was almost dusk when Parson Dan returned from his long journey,
tired and hungry.

"How is the boy?" he asked as he entered the house, after having
stabled Sweepstakes.

"He's as good as gold, Daniel," Mrs. Royal replied. "But I am worried
about Brindle. She hasn't come in yet, and I cannot see her anywhere
in the pasture."

"She's with that strange cow, no doubt, Martha, and I shall go after
her at once. It will be too dark if I wait until supper is over."

Parson Dan was absent for about an hour, and it was dark when he
returned to the rectory. He looked disappointed.

"Brindle is gone," was the news he imparted to his wife. "I found
where the fence was broken down. That strange cow must have done it,
for I never knew Brindle to do such a thing. I wonder how that cow got
in there, anyway. It is a complete mystery to me. I tried to follow
the cows through the woods, but it got so dark that I was forced to
give up the search. I must be off early in the morning or there will
be no milk for the wee lad's breakfast."

"And none for our coffee, Daniel," was his wife's reminder. "Milk will
be a very poor substitute for cream, but it will be better than
nothing."

"That's quite true, Martha. It's been a long time since we've been
without milk or cream in the house. But we can stand it better than
the baby. Poor little chap, he must not starve, even if we have to
borrow some from our neighbours. I hope Rodney has not tired you too
much to-day, dear. It has been years since you had the care of a baby."

"It has been a great joy, Daniel, to have the laddie with me. He slept
several hours, and when he woke he was so good and full of fun. At
times I imagined he was Alec playing on the floor with his blocks. He
was very sweet when I put him to bed to-night. He never misses his
mother. How soon a baby forgets."

"But I venture to say that his mother hasn't forgotten him," and the
parson's face grew serious as he recalled that