THE COW.

 My name is Molly. This is the name my mistress¹ gave me, and now every one calls me by it.

 

“Four years ago I was a little calf². 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 romp³ together in the meadow⁴.

 

“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.

 

“In summer I am out in the green fields all the day long. I have plenty to eat, and nothing to do.

 

“I do not work like the horse. So the least I can do is to supply my master with plenty of milk; indeed it is for my milk that he keeps me. Perhaps you do not know how useful milk is. Cream, butter, and cheese are all made from it.

 

“And now little boys and girls, after this long talk I must go down to the river side and cool myself.”

 

The good cow marched away down to the river. She was soon standing⁵ in the water, and using her long tail to whisk away the flies that were buzzing⁶ about her.

 

1 mistress   

n.（文学用语）使男子为之倾倒的女人，女主人

参考例句：

• Does his wife know he has a mistress?他的妻子知道他有一个情妇吗？
• Is your mistress at home?你家女主人在家吗？

2 calf   

n.小牛，犊，幼仔，小牛皮

参考例句：

• The cow slinked its calf.那头母牛早产了一头小牛犊。
• The calf blared for its mother.牛犊哞哞地高声叫喊找妈妈。

3 romp   

n.欢闹；v.嬉闹玩笑

参考例句：

• The child went for a romp in the forest.那个孩子去森林快活一把。
• Dogs and little children romped happily in the garden.狗和小孩子们在花园里嬉戏。

4 meadow   

n.草地，牧草地

参考例句：

• The children ran free across the meadow.孩子们在草地里自由地奔跑。
• The meadow is peopled with wild flowers.草地长满了野花。

5 standing   

n.持续，地位；adj.永久的，不动的，直立的，不流动的

参考例句：

• After the earthquake only a few houses were left standing.地震过后只有几幢房屋还立着。
• They're standing out against any change in the law.他们坚决反对对法律做任何修改。

6 buzzing   

adj.嗡嗡响的v.发出嗡嗡声( buzz的现在分词 )；（发出）充满兴奋的谈话声[闲话，谣言]；忙乱，急行；用蜂鸣器（发信号）

参考例句：

• The computer made a buzzing noise that she found off-putting. 计算机发出的嗡嗡声让她心烦。 来自《简明英汉词典》
• Bees are humming [buzzing] around from flower to flower. 蜜蜂在花丛中嗡嗡地飞来飞去。 来自《现代汉英综合大词典》