The animal gazed at him suspiciously and moved off when
he spoke to her.
Tad coaxed without avail, until finally with a handful of green
leaves, that he had pulled from a branch above his head, he managed to
excite the animal's interest. While she was nibbling at his offering,
Tad patted her and after a time managed to quiet her sufficiently to
enable him to get around to one side.
He had milked cows, but this was his first experience at milking a
goat. As a result the lad went about his task rather awkwardly.
Holding his cup with the left hand and using the right, he soon filled
the cup, gulping down the contents greedily.
"Gracious, that tastes good!" gasped the boy. "I never knew goat's
milk was anything like that. I suppose I can take all I want."
He helped himself to another and still another cupful, until he felt
that he could hold no more.
"Thank you, Mrs. Goat," he soothed, patting the animal, while she in
turn rubbed her nose against his sleeve as much as to say, "You're
welcome. Help yourself if you wish any more."
"No, thank you, I think I have plenty, but you shall have some more
green leaves."
Tad pulled down branch after branch which he piled up in front of the
goat, and which she attacked with vigorous nibbles and tugs.
Very much refreshed, the boy ran back to the miners' shack.
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