|Once there was a little boy named Charley, who was not afraid of
anything. He would pick up frogs or bugs, or walk up to a dog or goat
and pat him just as if he was an old friend. But he was a good boy, and
never hurt any creature.
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He drove the cows home every evening. Charley loved the cows that gave
him such good milk, and he used to talk to them as he drove them along.
One day Charley thought he would cut across a lot that was fenced in.
He had only walked a little way when he saw a big bull trotting towards
him. Do you think Charley was frightened? Not a bit. He knew it was of
no use to run. As quick as he could, he pulled up a handful of grass and
held it out to the bull.
The bull was feeling very ugly, for the men who put him in the field had
beaten him, and choked him with the rope around his neck. But when he
saw Charley standing there so bravely, he knew the little boy did not
want to hurt him. He stopped, looked at Charley a moment, and then
quietly ate the grass, from his hand.
Charley pulled some more grass and gave him, and then some more, and
more, until the bull had enough. Charley walked away, with the bull
following him to the fence.
The next evening he pulled some turnips and carried them to the bull.
He liked them very much. Every day after that Charley carried something
good to his big friend.
But one day Charley's father passed by the field. He was terribly
frightened to see his little boy on the bull's back, riding around the
lot. He shouted to him, but turned pale when he saw Charley take hold of
the horns and let himself down over the bull's head. He expected to see
the animal toss the little fellow in the air; but he only rubbed his
black nose against Charley and let him run to his papa.
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The next day the bull was taken away, for Charley's papa did not want
him to have such a dangerous friend.
I do not believe the bull would ever have hurt the kind little boy; do
you?