rt to me the knowledge I most required, and as
I was very anxious to learn, I made considerable progress. My spare
time was spent almost entirely in the company of little Emily. I was
never tired of attending on her. As was then the custom, she wore a
little red mantle as a walking dress. One day we were out in the
fields, when she ran off in chase of a butterfly. At the further end of
the field a bull was grazing, having been turned out to indulge his
sulky humour by himself. The sight of the red cloak fluttering over the
green meadow suddenly excited his rage, and with a loud roar he came
rushing up towards it. I saw the little girl's danger, and quick as
lightning darted towards her. The cloak was fortunately secured by a
very slight string. I tore it off and told her to run on; while,
seizing the cloak, which I at once guessed was the cause of the bull's
rage, I darted off in a different direction. The animal followed, as I
had expected. On he came, however, at a speed which was likely soon to
bring him up to me. It was some distance to the nearest hedge. Towards
that, however, I made my way, as the best means of escape. The bull was
not five yards from me. The hedge was thick and high. Into it or over
it I must go, or run the certainty of a toss. I sprang towards the
hedge. Just at the spot I reached was the stem of a small tree; one
branch alone had escaped the pruner's hatchet. Throwing the cloak
against the hedge, I seized the bough and sprang to the top--not a
pleasant position, considering the brambles of which it was composed.
The bull, with a loud roar, dashed into the hedge below me, into which
he fixed his head, tearing up the ground, and making the bushes shake
all round. I looked out and saw that Emily had reached the gate in
safety; but how to descend was now the difficulty, for if I jumped back
into the field out of which I came the bull would probably again attack
me, whereas, on the other side, I could not descend without the risk of
tearing my clothes and scratching myself with the brambles.

"Thou be a brave lad; I seed it all!" exclaimed a voice near me, and
looking down I saw a person who appeared to be a farmer, standing on the
further side of the hedge.

"Jump into my arms, I'll catch thee, lad," he added, seeing the
predicament in which I was placed. I willingly did as he bid me, and,
caught by his arms, reached the ground in safety. "We must have the
little maiden's clo