Not the General’s Cow.

New Zealand Graphic, Volume XLIV, Issue 4, 26 January 1910, Page 44

Not the General’s Cow.

In a seaport town long ago a general and an admiral were neighbours. The general’s house was fronted by a grass plot, on which he claimed the right to pasture a cow. One day his wife complained that the supply of milk was falling. The sentinel accounted for deficiency by raying that the grass had lately been much trodden down by the public. The martial despot immediately gave order* that no animal, human or other, except the cow, should be allowed on the grassflat; and he added—men were not particular in those days—that if this rule weie infringed the’ sentii el should be flogged. Soon afterward the admiral's wife, having a pressing engagement, took a short cut over the grass in disregard of the sentinel’s repeated order to halt. ’’Sir,” said the offended lady, “don’t you know who I am?” "All I know is that you’re not the general’s cow.”