The Jasper weekly courier. [volume] (Jasper, Ind.) 1858-1922, 1890-07-25

80 gave tno animal another hug, and
then jumped down and ran away lest
ms courage should fail him. Instead Of
returning 10 the house, no took n wind.
ing path through the woods, and soon
disappeared from siyht.
Tho thought had occurred to Alfonso
That the village doctor might take HE
pct bull In payment for services 10 his
grandfather. So ho started OF 70 per
form his mission.
~ was . hard blow TO the boy to let
Bella go. When only q little TOT OF a
youngster he had made the acouaint-
ance 81 the bull in q strange way. Ono
day no wandered of into a neirhbor's
Held 70 pick flowers. Suddenly 4 fierce
bull saw the child. and rushed Al him
with head down and tail In the air.
The child, unconscious Of any danger.
laughed and clappcd his hands at the
sight OF the maddcncd bull. and when
the animal came close TO him ne picked
up a handful Of grass. and said inno-
Gently:
"Nice COW; nice COW. Alfonso give
him some hay"
The animal was evidently non-plussed
at the prattle and fearlcssncss OF tho lit
tic boy, and after believing and throw
ing up the dirt with his horns. he
stopped and gazed az the little fellow.
Alfonso continued to prattlo away. and
even approached tho savage animal and
parted him on the leg, IIa offered the
dumfonndcd creature some grass. which
the bull mechanically ate, and Their he
put his arm around the creatures nose
and patted him. The savage nature OF
the bull was tanned, and he allowed the
boy to do what he pleased with him.
Ever afterwards Alfonso and Bella re-
NAMED great friends. The bull was
given to the boy and the two grew up
together. While fierce and savage to
every ono else, Bella was as meek and
playful as a kitten 70 little Alfonso.
There was no wonder. then. that the
boy hated 10 part with his pet, but II
was a question of choice with him-be-
tween his pet and his grandfather. lie
loved Bella, but lac loved his GRANDPA
thcr more.
The village doctor came to the hut
thai night and prescribed for the sick
man. Three days later Alfonso led the
bull away 70 the village and took an af-
fcetlonate farewell Of his pet.
We'll meet again. Bella he said.
with tears in his eyes; "when GRANDPA
Their gets we'll we'll work and save
monty enough to buy you back"
Int fate was against the little Span
ISL boy. Ills grandfather, even under
the careful nursing Of the doctor, did
not grow any better. lie gradually
failed and one day he breathed his last.
Little Alfonso was then left alone in
the world. His grandfather and his pet
bull we're both gone.
After the funeral the boy sought work
in the village. but. not getting any, he
wandered on to the city ~ Cordova. lie
entered hat place with no money and
with butlittlc courage left. But his per-
severance soon helped him out Of his
difficulty.
lie fell in with kind strangers, OBJ
taincd work and became a respectable
citizen once more lie was q quick and
active boy, and he pleased his master so
that he was gradually advanced. The
boy saved up his surplus wages until he
had enough. he thought, 70 buy back
his pet bull.
One day he obtained a leave Of abb
sence and returned to his native village.
He sought out the doctor and inquired
after Bella
s.Oh. the bull / took from you in pay
mcnt for my services?' said the doctor.
swell. | don't know where he is. /
kept him some timc so that you might
redeem him. But ! got hard up for
money and | sold the old brute. He
became very ugly and fierce after you
left. There Is no telling where be Is
now"
Alfonso heard this with a heavy heart
and he returned to Cordova . disap-
pointed boy. lie took up his work with
as light a heart As possible, but there
was q heavy lump somewhere that OPP
pressed him. lie wanted TO sec Bella
once more. lie was the only thing that
reminded him Of his early life in the
forest Of Cordova-
"
1t was a holiday in the city. and i1ags
Haunted from every shop window and
pu blic building. The citizens were
gayly attircd in their best suits and
music resounded from every square.
Cordoya was to have a b~ull-irht-the