precious cow; for when he went to milk her he had found the barn empty, and her footprints with those of the five robbers in the moist earth had told the story, and pointed which way the company had gone.

But it was not his plan to scold or frighten the robbers. He walked up to them, for they were so surprised to see him that they stood still and trembled, forgetting even to run away.

"Good-morning, friends," said Launomar kindly. "You have brought back my cow, I see, who to-night for the first time has left her stall to wander far. I thank you, good friends, for bringing Mignon to me. For she is not only a treasure in herself, but she is my dearest friend and I should be most unhappy to lose her."

The men stood staring at Launomar in astonishment. They could hardly believe their eyes and their

ears. Where did he come from? mean?

What did he

But when they realized how kind his voice was, and that he was not accusing them nor threatening to have them punished, they were very much ashamed. They hung their heads in shame; and then all of a sudden they fell at his feet, the five of them, confessing how it had all come about and begging his pardon. "We stole the cow, Master," said the first one. "And carried her these many miles away," said the second.

"We are wicked robbers and deserve to be punished," said the third.

"But we beg you to pardon us," cried the fourth. "Let us depart, kind Father, we pray you," begged the fifth. "And be so good as to direct us on our way, for we are sorely puzzled."

"Nay, nay," answered Saint Launomar pleasantly, "the cow hath led you a long way, hath she not? You must be both tired and hungry. You cannot journey yet."

And in truth they were miserable objects to see, so that the Saint's kind heart was filled with pity, robbers though they were.

"Follow me," he said.

By this time they were too weak and weary to think of disobeying. So meekly they formed into a procession of seven, Launomar and the cow going

cheerfully at the head. For these two were very glad to be together again, and his arm was thrown lovingly about her glossy neck as they went.

But what was the amazement of the five robbers when in a short minute or two they turned a corner, and there close beside them stood the monastery itself, with the very barn from which they had stolen. Mignon the night before!

All this time the clever cow had led them in great circles roundabout and roundabout her own home. And after all this scrambling and wading through the darkness, in the morning they were no farther on their journey than they had been at the start. What a wise cow that was! And what a good breakfast of bran porridge and hay and sweet turnips Launomar gave her to pay for her hard night's work.

The five robbers had a good breakfast, too; but perhaps they did not relish it as Mignon did hers. For their consciences were heavy; besides, they sat at the monastery table, and all the monks stood by in a row, saying nothing, but pursing up their mouths and looking pious; which was trying. And when the robbers came to drink their porridge Launomar said mildly:

"That is Mignon's milk which you drink, sirs. It is the best milk in France, and you are welcome to it for your breakfast to-day, since we have such reason to be grateful to you for not putting it beyond our reach forever.

“Ah, my friends, we could ill spare so worthy a cow, so good a friend, so faithful a guide. But I trust that you will not need her services again. Perhaps by daylight you can find your way home without her if I direct you. The highroad is plain and straight for honest men. I commend it to you."

So, when they were refreshed and rested, Launomar led them forth and pointed out the way as he had promised. He and Mignon stood on the top of a little hill and watched them out of sight. Then they turned and looked at one another, the wise Saint and his wise cow.

And they both chuckled inside.

-ABBIE FARWELL BROWN.

bran porridge: a thin pudding made by boiling bran, the coarse part of ground grain, in water.—their consciences were heavy: that is, they knew they had done wrong and were ashamed.-pursing up their mouths: drawing up their mouths in wrinkles.-pious: religious.-I commend it to you: I advise you to take it.

THE POLICEMEN AND WHAT THEY

ARE FOR

A great city has thousands of policemen. They are like an army in Boston or New York or Chicago. Even the little cities and the towns have a force of policemen, or at least a few constables. All these policemen, with their captains and other officers must be paid by the people. What are they for? What

good do they do, that we should keep them in our pay?

Some one may answer: "The police are appointed to catch or arrest thieves and others who break the laws, and to bring them to court, and, later, take them to jail. They run after boys who steal apples or pears, or who throw stones on the streets."

But, if you should follow a policeman a whole day, it would often happen that he would not arrest or chase any one. He walks back and forth over his beat and no one offers to do any mischief.

"Yes," you will say, "but every one knows that the policeman is there, and bad men are afraid and keep out of his way." The rogues also know that the country is covered with policemen; so that if they committed a crime in Philadelphia or Brooklyn, and escaped to California, a telegraph message could be sent in a few moments to San Francisco to notify the police there to be on the watch and arrest them. Thus, all the policemen in the country help one another.

Yes, and if some very great wrong has been done, the police in Canada and over the ocean, in London or Paris, will also help our police at home to catch a dangerous man and keep him from doing harm to his fellows; for all the people in the world, who stand by the laws of justice, are friends and helpers to one another.

We must not think that the policemen are all the