Eddie and Smallpox

Little Eddie lived with his family on a small farm in England, near a town called Bristol. His father was a respected doctor and often travelled overseas for work. Eddie would stay at home with his mother. Even when he was very little, he liked to help on the farm. He collected eggs in the chicken coop, and fed the pigs, sheep and cows.

Of all of the animals, he liked cows best. He learned how to milk them and clean their bedding, and sometimes he even spent the whole afternoon with them. He named his favourite cow Dot because she had three small brown spots above her left eye. Eddie was never bored with Dot: he took care of her, they played together, and when Eddie was sad, he cried into the soft fur around her neck.

One morning, however, Eddie came to the cowshed and noticed that Dot didn't welcome him as usual. All of the cows stood sadly at the water troughs. Something was wrong. Just as he was about to milk them, he noticed that their udders were red and there were a lot of blisters on them. As soon as Eddie touched them, the cows cried out in discomfort.

“Mommy! The cows are sick!” Eddie yelled as he rushed to the house. He was very scared.

As soon as he told her what he'd seen, his mother took out a little container with grease from the pantry. She explained to Eddie that when cows get this rash, he has to smear their udders every day with the grease and keep them clean.

Eddie took good care of the sick cows, although he became tired and he felt a little cold and weak. But it was clear that they were getting…