"I will go right over to Daniel Chick's and ask him to come here. He's a master hand at doctoring animals."
Then before Jack could offer to go in her steady Aunt Nancy started down the lane bareheaded, which showed how deeply she felt the possible loss of her pet.
In a short time Mr. Chick arrived with the little woman, and his verdict brought no relief to Aunt Nancy's heart.
"All you can do is to knock her in the head, for she'll never get up again. It's kinder tough on you, I'll admit, for that cow has been a power ful help, 'specially when the summer boarders are here; but it won't do any good to fret."
Aunt Nancy made no reply, but walked slowly to the house as if desirous of being alone.
"She feels mighty bad I allow," Mr. Chick continued, speaking to Jack. "I've said many times I didn't know how Aunt Nancy would get along if it wasn't for the cow, an' now I reckon she'll be eatin' her bread without butter."
"What will she do when the boarders come?"
"That's what I don't know"; and Mr. Chick walked away as if he had no further concern in the matter.
Jack sat down where he could watch crumple-horn and at the same time think over this disaster which had come to the little woman.
While he was trying to form some plan, the poor old cow laid her head on the sweet-scented clover, gave a few short gasps, and ceased breathing as if from sheer weariness.