Reading Notes: Eastern Stories and Legends B (Extra Credit)

The Bull That Proved His Gratitude

Silver Coins 

• the Bodisat  was born as a bull
• when he was a calf, he was used as payment to an old woman for lodging
• She treated him very well and loved him
• He grew up with her and roamed the village with the cattle and played with the children
• The bull decided to get a job in order to help his "mother" out of gratitude
• a caravan with five hundred bullocks came to town
• the carts were impossible to pull
• the caravan owner saw the Bull, who was grazing near by, and knew that he should be able to pull it
• The caravan owner wants to pay the Bull's owner to use him
• But the men he asks tell the caravan owner that the strong bull has no owner
• He tried to hook up the Bull, but he would not go until the owner offered him one thousand pieces for his work
• The Bull pulled five hundred carts for the caravan owner, but the owner did not pay him the promised about
• The Bull would not have this, so he blocked the caravan's path until the owner gave him the proper amount
• the children tried to see the silver that the Bull had around his neck, but he chased them off
• His "mother" was shocked by his exhausted appearance, and asked the herdsmen what happened
• When she found out, she was rebuked him for putting himself through so much trouble, then bathed him and took care of his wounds
• She lived a good life 

Source: Eastern Legends and Stories by Marie L. Shedlock