Herald and news. [volume] (West Randolph, Vt.) 1878-1943, 1891-03-12

pet bull in payment LOT serfiDoo "
grandfather. So he started OF TO per-
form his mission.
II was a hard blow to the boy to let
Bella go When only little tot OF
youngster he had made the acqualnt-
ance of the bull in a strange way. One
day he wandered off into a neighbors
field to pick flowers. Suddenly fierce
bull saw the child. and rushed at him
with head down and tail in the air.
The child, unconscious of any danger
laughed and clapped his hands at the
sight OF the maddened bull, and when
the animal came close TO him be picked
up handful of grass, and said inno-
Gently:
Mice COW; nice cow. Alfonso give
him some hay"
The animal was evidently non-plussed
at the prattle and fearlessness OF the lit
tie boy, and after believing and throw
ing up the dirt with his horns, ne
stopped and gazed at the little fellow
Alfonso continued to prattle away, and
even approached the savage animal and
patted him on the leg He offered the
dumfounded creature some grass, which
the bull mechanically ate, and then he
nut 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 tho two grew up
together While fierce and savage TO
every ono else, Bella was as meek and
playful as a kitten to little Alfonso.
There was no wonder, then. that the
boy hated to part with his pet, but it
was question Of choice with him-be-
tween his pet and his grandfather. He
loved Bella. but he loved his GRANDPA
Their more.
The village doctor came to the hut
that night and prescribed for the sick
man. Three days later Alfonso led the
bull away to the village and took an af-
fectionate farewell of his pet.
wen meet again, Bella" he said,
with tears in his eyes; when grandpa
ther gets well we'll work and save
money enough to buy you back"
But fate was against the little Span
ish boy. His grandfather even under
the careful nursing Of the doctor, did
not grow any better. He 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 of Cordova. He
entered that place with no money and
with butlittle courage left But his psR
severance soon helped him out Of his
difficulty.
He fell in with kind strangers, OBJ
tanned work and became q respectable
citizen once more. He 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 TO buy back
his pet bull.
One day he obtained leave Of alb
sence and returned to his native village.
He sought out the doctor and inquired
after Bella.
''0hl the bull took from you in pay
mont for my services?7 said the doctor.
'Well, ] don't know where he is.
kept him some time so that you might
redeem him. But | got hard up for
money and ! sold the old brute. lie
became very ugly and fierce after you
left There is no telling where he is
now"
Alfonso heard this with heavy heart
and he returned to Cordova disap-
pointed boy. He took up his work with
as light heart as possible, but there
was heavy lump somewhere that OPP
pressed him. He wanted to see Bella |
once more. He was the only thing that
him Of his early life in the
forest OF Cordoya.
1t was holiday in the city. and flags !
fauated from every shop window and |
public building. The citizens were
yayly attired in their best suits. and |
music resounded from every square. |
Iordova was TO have a bull-ight-the /
national sport of Spain. Every body /
enjoyed bull-hght, and it was only on |
festive occasions that they could wit |
ness such fun. The big arena whore |
The fight was to take place had been
cleaned and decked with bunting and |
lags until it looked like scene in
olay.
Some of the larrast and finest of