"Our cows give good milk," said James. "Mr. Spencer makes his cows
happy, and he finds that it pays. Only last week he sent off a boy
because he made the cows run on the way to the pasture. You know that
injures the cows and spoils the milk."
"Do they go to pasture every day?" asked Robert.
"Yes," said Mr. Spencer, who came into the barn just then. "They go
every day in summer, unless there is a heavy rain. Some cows take cold
easily, and should never be out in a long storm. In winter, when it is
not too cold, they have an hour or two in the cow-yard at noon. The barn
is warm, and they have a good bedding of straw. In a cold barn, cows
should be blanketed in freezing weather."
"Do cows eat anything but hay and grass?" asked Robert.
"Oh, yes!" said Mr. Spencer. "Cows need a variety in their food, and
plenty of water to drink. My cows eat corn-stalks, carrots, mangel-
wurzels, and sometimes bran and corn-meal mixed."
"How sleek they look!" said Robert.
"James cards and brushes them every day, to keep them in good
condition."
"They seem very friendly," Robert went on. "Clover is not at all afraid
of me."
"They have never been frightened or hurt," said Mr. Spencer, "and they
are affectionate creatures.
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