Familiar Animals

“My name is Molly. This is the name my mistress gave me, and now every one calls me by it.

“Four years ago I was a little calf. At first I was as helpless as a babe, and had to be fed with my mother’s milk.

“At that time I was of no use to my master; but the children were very fond of me, and they often came into the field to play with me.

“Sometimes they tied ribbons round my neck, and called me pet names, and we all had a good romp together in the meadow.

“Now I am a grown-up cow, and I give milk to all the little children who live at the farm.

“I do not play with them now as I did when I was a calf; but when they offer me a bunch of nice clover, I am always glad to eat it.

“There comes Nancy, the milk-maid, with the milk-pail. She is coming to milk me, and I am glad I have plenty to give her.

“My master is very kind to me. In winter, when the cold weather comes, I have a nice home to live in, with plenty of clean straw to lie on.