The Small One (book) facts for kids
Front cover of The Small One.
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| Author | Charles Tazewell |
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| Country | USA |
| Language | English |
| Published | 1947 |
The Small One is a heartwarming Christmas story from 1947. It was written by Charles Tazewell and has pictures by Franklin Whitman. The story is about a young boy who needs to sell his beloved donkey, named Small One. Later, in 1978, this story was made into a Disney animated movie.
Contents
The Story of Small One
The story begins with a man called Padre. He is talking to a boy named Pablo. Pablo is upset because his donkey, Cupido, isn't working well. Padre tells Pablo that donkeys are not always stubborn. Then, Padre shares a special story that happened long ago. This story took place far away in the countryside near Nazareth.
A Difficult Decision
In this story, there was an old donkey named Small One. He belonged to a woodcutter. The woodcutter's son was very kind to Small One. One day, the boy's father told him that Small One was too old to work. He said the donkey had to be sold to the tanner. A tanner uses animal hides to make leather.
The boy did not want to take Small One to the tanner. He loved his donkey very much. But his father told him not to cry over a donkey. The boy knew he couldn't change his father's mind. So, he decided to go to town to sell Small One. He secretly hoped to find a different buyer.
Searching for a New Home
The boy first went to an auction. At the auction, someone was selling horses. The boy asked the auctioneer if he could sell his donkey. But the auctioneer refused. He and the crowd even made fun of Small One. This made the boy very sad. He left the auction to find someone else to buy his friend.
As the sun began to set, the boy and Small One felt very sad. They had not found a buyer. The boy thought they would have to go to the tanner after all.
A Special Meeting
Just then, the boy met a kind man. The man asked if he could buy Small One. He explained that he and his wife had a long journey ahead. His wife was not feeling well and needed a gentle ride. The boy agreed to sell Small One to this kind man. He sold him for one piece of silver.
The boy then hurried to the city gates. He wanted to get out before they closed for the night. He promised Small One that when he grew up, he would buy him back. He told Small One he would keep him forever.
The man explained to the guards at the gate that his name was Joseph. His wife's name was Mary. They were traveling to Bethlehem. Joseph and Mary then rode off into the distance with Small One.
A Christmas Miracle
In the end, the boy said his final goodbyes to his dear friend. Padre told Pablo that Small One made it all the way to Bethlehem with Joseph and Mary. There, Small One saw the birth of a king. Even though he was old and had been made fun of, Small One became part of a wonderful Christmas miracle.
The End of the Story
Back in their own time, Pablo and Padre listened quietly. They wondered if they heard the sound of a donkey's hooves. Or was it the church bells practicing for Christmas morning? Only Cupido, their own donkey, seemed to know the real answer.
Characters in the Story
- Small One - The old and tired donkey who played a part in the Christmas story.
- The Boy - Small One's kind friend who tried to protect him.
- Woodcutter - The boy's father.
- Auctioneer - A person who refused to sell Small One and made fun of him.
- Pablo - The boy who hears the story of The Small One from Padre.
- Padre - The person who tells Pablo the story of The Small One.
- Cupido - Padre and Pablo's donkey.
- Joseph - The man who buys Small One and takes him to Bethlehem.
- Mary - Joseph's wife, who rides Small One to Bethlehem.
