"Well, Master Tommy," said she, "have you got over your fright of the turkey-cock? I think," added she, "that you are apt to be afraid when there is no danger, and not when there is; for you are standing now close by the hind legs of my cow, and if she gave you a kick, she would hurt you much more than any turkey-cock could ever do." Tommy jumped away in an instant, and placed himself close beside the dairy-maid, as if for protection. She then went on milking and filled two jugs, the milk frothing up above the brim; and nurse said, the boys had better drink it there, while it was warm from the cow, than take it home across the farmyard to the nursery; and she gave them each a thick slice of bread and butter to eat with the milk. They sat down on two low milking stools, and ate their breakfasts with great appetite; but just as Tommy held the jug up to his mouth, while his nose dipped into the froth, a donkey who was in one of the stalls began to bray. He had never heard an ass bray in his life, and certainly it is as ugly and disagreeable a noise as can be made by any animal, so it is no wonder that he was frightened. Down fell the jug on the ground, the milk was all spilt, but luckily the mug was not broken. Tommy was going to run away, but the nurse, and the dairy-maid, and Willy, all laughed so much at him, that he stood still, as pale as a sheet, and trembling with fear. "Why, what is it? and where is it? or who is it? Won't it hurt us?" "You goose," said Willy, "it is nothing but the donkey, the nice little donkey that you are to ride upon after breakfast." "Oh no, no," cried Tommy, "I will not ride upon it, indeed I will not." Nurse then took the boys indoors. They each learnt their lessons very well, and then two donkeys were brought to the door for them to ride; but Tommy would not go near them. Willy was much vexed at this, and tried all he could to persuade him to mount one of the donkeys. "See how quiet and gentle they look," said he, "and then the boy who goes with us can lead yours, if you like it." But Tommy could not be persuaded, saying, that if it began braying again he should be so much frightened that he was sure he should fall off. "Then you must go alone, Willy," said his grandmamma; so Willy jumped up, and trotted away. "See what a pleasure you lose," said his mother to Tommy, "from being such a coward."