 Dramatis Personae of Black Beauty by Anna Sewell. This is a LibriVox recording. All LibriVox recordings are in the public domain. For more information or to volunteer, please visit LibriVox.org. Black Beauty, read by Ariel Lipschott. Squire Gordon, Old Roadmender, The Butcher, The Ferrier, read by Larry Wilson. James Howard, shy. Colonial Blanter, Second Young Man, read by Nolan Foutt. John Manley, The Captain, Porter, Robert, read by Oxenhandler. Jeremiah Barker, Thomas Green, Tollgate Owner, Ned, Dick Towler, read by Todd. Farmer Gray, Mr. York. Hossler, Jones. Farmer Therragut, Second Gentleman, read by Nick Bulka. Lord W., The First Cabbie, Jakes, Second Driver, Third Young Man, read by Zames Curran. Joe Green, Turf Cutter, Second Cabbie, Boy, Max, read by Lydia. Mr. Berry, Captain Langley, Mr. Bushby, Gentleman, First Driver, Big Man, Mr. Clay, First Gentleman, read by Ricky of Kokiri. Larry, read by Frequency. CD Sam, Coachman, Farmer, Governor, Sawyer, Truman, Landlord, read by Adrian Strowett. Justice, Nicholas Skinner, Alfred Smirk, Carter, First Young Man, Footman, read by Joseph Tabler. Ruben Smith, Mr. Briggs, Policeman, Salesman, and Undergroom, read by Marianne. Sir Oliver, Oldest Horse, Grant, Dr. White, and Gentleman Farmer, read by Twinkle. Ginger, Miss Bloomfield, Dog, read by Beth Thomas. Mary Legs, Bill Bushby, Harry Baca, Willie, read by Dalda Pinurelle. Duchess, Old Lady, Miss Ellen, read by Elizabeth Travers. Polly's Mistress, Servant, Mrs. Bushby, Seller, Susan, read by Maggie Travers. Dorothy Barker, Oldest Colt. Man, Admirer, read by Rachel. Mrs. Gordon, Peggy, Lady Ann, First Young Woman, read by Esteban Simonides. Polly Barker, Lady W, Grace, read by Christine G. End of Dramatas Personae. Black Beauty, read by Ariel Lipshaw. Chapter 1 of Black Beauty. This is a LibriVox recording. All LibriVox recordings are in the public domain. For more information or to volunteer, please visit LibriVox.org. Black Beauty by Anna Sewell. Chapter 1, My Early Home. The first place that I can well remember was a large pleasant meadow with a pond of clear water in it. Some shady trees leaned over it, and rushes and waterlilies grew at the deep end. Over the hedge on one side we looked into a plowed field, and on the other we looked over a gate at our master's house, which stood by the roadside. At the top of the meadow was a grove of fir trees, and at the bottom a running brook overhung by a steep bank. While I was young I lived upon my mother's milk, as I could not eat grass. In the daytime I ran by her side, and at night I lay down close by her. When it was hot we used to stand by the pond in the shade of the trees, and when it was cold we had a nice warm shed near the grove. As soon as I was old enough to eat grass, my mother used to go out to work in the daytime and come back in the evening. There were six young colts in the meadow besides me. They were older than I was. Some were nearly as large as grown-up horses. I used to run with them, and had great fun. We used to gallop altogether round and round the field as hard as we could go. Sometimes we had rather rough play, for they would frequently bite and kick as well as gallop. One day, when there was a good deal of kicking, my mother whinnied to me to come to her, and then she said, I wish you to pay attention to what I am going to say to you. The colts who live here are very good colts, but they are cart horse colts, and of course they have not learned manners. You have been well bred and well born. Your father has a great name in these parts, and your grandfather won the cup two years at the new market races. Your grandmother had the sweetest temper of any horse I ever knew, and I think you have never seen me kick or bite. I hope you will grow up gentle and good and never learn bad ways. Do your work with a good will, lift your feet up well when you trot, and never bite or kick, even in clay. I have never forgotten my mother's advice. I knew she was a wise old horse, and our master thought a great deal of her. Her name was Duchess, but he often called her pet. Our master was a good, kind man. He gave us good food, good lodging, and kind words. He spoke as kindly to us as he did to his little children. We were all fond of him, and my mother loved him very much. When she saw him at the gate she would neigh with joy and trot up to him. He would pat and stroke her and say, Well old pet, how was your little Darkie? I was a dull black, so he called me Darkie. Then he would give me a piece of bread, which was very good, and sometimes he brought a carrot for my mother. All the horses would come to him, but I think we were his favourites. My mother always took him to the town on a market day in a light gig. There was a plow-boy, Dick, who sometimes came into our field to pluck blackberries from the hedge. When he had eaten all he wanted he would have what he called fun with the colts, throwing stones and sticks at them to make them gallop. We did not much mind him, for we could gallop off, but sometimes a stone would hit and hurt us. One day he was at this game, and did not know that the master was in the next field, but he was there watching what was going on. Over the hedge he jumped in a snap, and catching Dick by the arm he gave him such a box on the ear as made him roar with the pain in surprise. As soon as we saw the master we trotted up nearer to see what went on. Bad boy! he said. Bad boy to chase the colts! This is not the first time, nor the second, but it shall be the last. There, take your money and go home. I shall not want you on my farm again. So we never saw Dick any more. Old Daniel, the man who looked after the horses, was just as gentle as our master, so we were well off. End of Chapter 1 Chapter 2 of Black Beauty This is a LibriVox recording. All LibriVox recordings are in the public domain. For more information or to volunteer, please visit LibriVox.org. Black Beauty by Anna Sewell Chapter 2 The Hunt Before I was two years old a circumstance happened which I have never forgotten. It was early in the spring. There had been a little frost in the night, and a light mist still hung over the woods in meadows. I and the other colts were feeding at the lower part of the field when we heard, quite in the distance, what sounded like the cry of dogs. The oldest of the colts raised his head, pricked his ears, and said, There are the hens. And immediately cantored off, followed by the rest of us to the upper part of the field where we could look over the hedge and see several fields beyond. My mother and an old riding-horse of our masters were also standing near and seemed to know all about it. They have found a hare. Said my mother. And if they come this way we shall see the hut. And soon the dogs were all tearing down the field of young wheat next to ours. I never heard such a noise as they made. They did not bark, nor howl, nor whine, but kept on a Yo, yo, yo, yo, yo, ho, ho. At the top of their voices. After them came a number of men on horseback, some of them in green coats, all galloping as fast as they could. The old horse snorted and looked eagerly after them, and we young colts wanted to be galloping with them, but they were soon away into the fields lower down. Here it seemed as if they had come to a stand. The dogs left off barking and ran about every way with their noses to the ground. They have lost the scent, said the old horse. Perhaps the hare will get off. What hare, I said. Oh, I don't know what hare. Likely enough it may be one of our own hares out of the woods. Any hare they can ride will do for the dogs and men to run after. And before long the dogs began there. Yo, yo, yo, yo, ho. Again, and back they came all together at full speed, making straight for our meadow at the part where the high bank and hedge overhang the brook. Now we shall see the hare. Said my mother, and just then a hare wild with fright rushed by and made for the woods. On came the dogs, they burst over the bank, leaped to the stream, and came dashing across the field followed by the huntsmen. Six or eight men leaped their horses clean over close upon the dogs. The hare tried to get through the fence. It was too thick, and she turned sharp round to make for the road, but it was too late. The dogs were upon her with their wild cries. We heard one shriek, and that was the end of her. One of the huntsmen rode up and whipped off the dogs, who would soon have torn her to pieces. He held her up by the leg, torn and bleeding, and all the gentlemen seemed well pleased. As for me, I was so astonished that I did not at first see what was going on by the brook, but when I did look there was a sad sight. Two fine horses were down. One was struggling in the stream, and the other was groaning on the grass. One of the riders was getting out of the water covered with mud. The other lay quite still. His neck is brook, said my mother, and serve him right too, said one of the colts. I thought the same, but my mother did not join with us. Well, no, she said, you must not say that. But though I am an old horse and have seen and heard a great deal, I never yet could make out why men are so fond of this sport. They often hurt themselves, often spoil good horses and tear up the fields and all for a hair or a fox or a stag. They could get more easily some other way. But we are only horses and don't know. While my mother was saying this we stood and looked on. Many of the riders had gone to the young man, but my master, who had been watching what was going on, was the first to raise him. His head fell back and his arms hung down and everyone looked very serious. There was no noise now. Even the dogs were quiet and seemed to know that something was wrong. They carried him to our master's house. I heard afterward that it was young George Gordon, the squire's only son, a fine, tall young man, and the pride of his family. There was now riding off in all directions to the doctors, to the ferriers, and no doubt to squire Gordon's to let him know about his son. When Mr. Bond, the ferrier, came to look at the black horse that lay groaning on the grass, he felt him all over and shook his head. One of his legs was broken. Then someone ran to our master's house and came back with a gun. Presently there was a loud bang and a dreadful shriek, and then all was still. The black horse moved no more. My mother seemed much troubled. She said she had known that horse for years and that his name was Rob Roy. He was a good horse, and there was no vice in him. She never would go to that part of the field afterward. Not many days after we heard the church bell tolling for a long time, and looking over the gate we saw a long, strange black coach that was covered with black cloth and was drawn by black horses. After that came another and another and another, and all were black, while the bell kept tolling, tolling. They were carrying young Gordon to the churchyard to bury him. He would never ride again. What they did with Rob Roy I never knew, but was all for one little hair. I was now beginning to grow handsome. My coat had grown fine and soft, and was bright black. I had one white foot and a pretty white star on my forehead. I was thought very handsome. My master would not sell me till I was four years old. He said lads ought not to work like men, and colts ought not to work like horses till they were quite grown up. When I was four years old Squire Gordon came to look at me. He examined my eyes, my mouth, and my legs. He felt them all down, and then I had to walk and trot and gallop before him. He seemed to like me, and said, When he has been well broken in, he will do very well. My master said he would break me in himself, as he should not like me to be frightened or hurt, and he lost no time about it, for the next day he began. Everyone may not know what breaking in is, therefore I will describe it. It means to teach a horse to wear a saddle and bridle, and to carry on his back a man, woman, or child, to go just the way they wish, and to go quietly. Besides this he has to learn to wear a collar, a crepper, and a breaching, and to stand still while they are put on, then to have a cart or a shez fixed behind, so that he cannot walk or trot without dragging it after him, and he must go fast or slow, just as his driver wishes. He must never start at what he sees, nor speak to other horses, nor bite, nor kick, nor have any will of his own, but always do his master's will, even though he may be very tired or hungry, but the worst of all is, when his harness is once on, he may neither jump for joy nor lie down for weariness, so you see this breaking in is a great thing. I had of course long been used to a halter and a headstall, and to be let about in the fields and lanes quietly, but now I was to have a bit and bridle. My master gave me some oats as usual, and after a good deal of coaxing he got the bit into my mouth and the bridle fixed, but it was a nasty thing. Those who have never had a bit in their mouths cannot think how bad it feels. A great piece of cold hard steel is thick as a man's finger to be pushed into one's mouth, between one's teeth and over one's tongue, with the ends coming out at the corner of your mouth, and held fast there by straps over your head, under your throat, round your nose and under your chin, so that no way in the world can you get rid of the nasty hard thing. It is very bad, yes very bad, at least I thought so, but I knew my mother always wore one when she went out, and all horses did when they were grown up, and so what with the nice oats and what with my master's pats, kind words and gentle ways, I got to wear my bit and bridle. Next came the saddle, but that was not half so bad. My master put it on my back very gently while old Daniel held my head. He then made the girths fast under my body, patting and talking to me all the time. Then I had a few oats, then a little leading about, and this he did every day till I began to look for the oats in the saddle. At length, one morning, my master got on my back and rode me round the meadow on the soft grass. It certainly did feel queer, but I must say I felt rather proud to carry my master, and as he continued to ride me a little every day, I soon became accustomed to it. The next unpleasant business was putting on the iron shoes, that too was very hard at first. My master went with me to the Smith's Forge to see that I was not hurt or got any fright. The blacksmith took my feet in his hand, one after the other, and cut away some of the hoof. It did not pain me, so I stood still on three legs till he had done them all. Then he took a piece of iron the shape of my foot and clapped it on and drove some nails through the shoe quite into my hoof so that the shoe was firmly on. My feet felt very stiff and heavy, but in time I got used to it. And now, having got so far, my master went on to break me to harness. There were more new things to wear. First a stiff heavy collar just on my neck, and a bridle with great side pieces against my eyes called blinkers, and blinkers indeed they were, for I could not see on either side but only straight in front of me. Next there was a small saddle with a nasty stiff strap that went right under my tail. That was the cupper. I hated the cupper. To have my long tail doubled up and poked through that strap was almost as bad as the bit. I never felt more like kicking, but of course I could not kick such a good master, and so in time I got used to everything and could do my work as well as my mother. I must not forget to mention one part of my training, which I have always considered a very great advantage. My master sent me for a fortnight to a neighbouring farmers who had a meadow which was skirted on one side by the railway. Here were some sheep and cows, and I was turned in among them. I shall never forget the first train that ran by. I was feeding quietly near the pails which separated the meadow from the railway when I heard a strange sound at a distance, and before I knew whence it came with a rush and a clatter and a puffing out of smoke a long black train of something flew by and was gone almost before I could draw my breath. I turned and galloped to the further side of the meadow as fast as I could go and there I stood snorting with astonishment and fear. In the course of the day many other trains went by, some more slowly. These drew up at the station close by and sometimes made an awful shriek and groan before they stopped. I thought it very dreadful, but the cows went on eating very quietly and hardly raised their heads as the black frightful thing came puffing and grinding past. For the first few days I could not feed in peace, but as I found that this terrible creature never came into the field or did me any harm I began to disregard it and very soon I cared as little about the passing of a train as the cows and sheep did. Since then I have seen many horses much alarmed and restive at the sight or sound of a steam engine but thanks to my good master's care I am as fearless at railway stations as in my own stable. Now if anyone wants to break in a young horse well, that is the way. My master often drove me in double harness with my mother because she was steady and could teach me how to go better than a strange horse. She told me the better I behaved the better I should be treated and that it was wisest always to do my best to please my master. But, said she, there are great many kinds of men. There are good thoughtful men like our master that any horse may be proud to serve and there are bad, cruel men who never ought to have a horse or dog to call their own. Besides there are great many foolish men, vain, ignorant and careless, who never trouble themselves to think. These spoil more horses than all just for want of sense. They don't mean it, but they do it for all that. I hope you will fall into good hands, but a horse never knows who may buy him or who may drive him. It is all a chance for us, but still I say do your best wherever it is and keep up your good name. Black Beauty by Anna Sewell Chapter 4 Burtwick Park At this time I used to stand in the stable and my coat was brushed every day till it shone like a rook's wing. It was early in May when there came a man from Squire Gordon's who took me away to the hall. My master said, Good-bye, Darkie. Be a good horse and always do your best. I could not say good-bye, so I put my nose into his hand. He patted me kindly and I left my first home. As I lived some years with Squire Gordon, I may as well tell something about the place. Squire Gordon's park skirted the village of Burtwick. It was entered by a large iron gate at which stood the first lodge and then you trotted along on a smooth road between clumps of large old trees, then another lodge and another gate which brought you to the house in the gardens. Beyond this lay the home paddock, the old orchard and the stables. There was accommodation for many horses and carriages, but I need only describe the stable into which I was taken. This was very roomy with four good stalls. A large swinging window opened into the yard which made it pleasant and airy. The first stall was a large square one, shut in behind with a wooden gate. The others were common stalls, good stalls, but not nearly so large. It had a low rack for hay and a low manger for corn. It was called a loose box because the horse that was put into it was not tied up, but left loose to do as he liked. It is a great thing to have a loose box. Into this fine box the groom put me. It was clean, sweet and airy. I never was in a better box than that and the sides were not so high but that I could see all that went on through the iron rails that were at the top. He gave me some very nice oats, he patted me, spoke kindly and then went away. When I had eaten my corn I looked round. In the stall next to mine stood a little fat grey pony with a thick mane and tail, a very pretty head and a pert little nose. I put my head up to the iron rails at the top of my box and said, How do you do? What is your name? He turned round as far as his halter would allow, held up his head and said, My name is Mary Legs. I am very handsome. I carry the young ladies on my back and sometimes I take our mistress out in the low chair. They think a great deal of me and so does James. Are you going to live next door to me in the box? I said yes. Well then, he said, I hope you are good tempered. I do not like anyone next door who bites. Just then a horse's head looked over from the stall beyond. The ears were laid back and the eye looked rather ill tempered. This was a tall chestnut mare with a long, handsome neck. She looked across to me and said, So it is you who have turned me out of my box. It is a very strange thing for a cult like you to come and turn a lady out of her own home. I beg your pardon, I said. I have turned no one out. The man who brought me put me here and I had nothing to do with it. And as to my being a cult, I am turned four years old and am a grown-up horse. I never had words yet with horse or mare and it is my wish to live at peace. Well, she said, We shall see. Of course, I do not want to have words with a young thing like you. I said no more. In the afternoon, when she went out, Mary Legs told me all about it. The thing is this, said Mary Legs, Ginger has a bad habit of biting and snapping. That is why they call her Ginger. And when she was in the loose box she used to snap very much. One day she bit James in the arm and made a bleed. And so Miss Flora and Miss Jessie, who are very fond of me, were afraid to come into the stable. They used to bring me nice things to eat, an apple or a carrot or a piece of bread. But after Ginger stood in that box they did not come and I miss them very much. I hope they will not come again if you do not bite or snap. I told him I never bit anything but grass, hay, and corn and could not think what pleasure Ginger found it. Well, I don't think she does find pleasure, says Mary Legs. It is just a bad habit. She says no one was ever kind to her and why should she not bite? Of course it is a very bad habit but I am sure if all she says is to be true she must have been very ill used before she came here. John does all he can to place her and James does all he can and our master never uses a whip if a horse acts right. So I think she might be good tempered here. You see. He said with a wise look. I am twelve years old. I know a good deal and I can tell you there is not a better place for a horse all around the country than this. John is the best groom that ever was. He has been here fourteen years and you never saw such a kind boy as James is. So that it is all Ginger's own fault she did not stay in that box. End of Chapter 4 Chapter 5 of Black Beauty This is a LibriVox recording. All LibriVox recordings are in the public domain. For more information or to volunteer please visit LibriVox.org Black Beauty by Anna Sewell Chapter 5 of Fair Start The name of the coachman was John Manley. He had a wife and one little child and they lived in the coachman's cottage very near the stables. The next morning he took me into the yard and gave me a good grooming and just as I was going into my box with my coat soft and bright the squire came in to look at me and seemed pleased. John, he said, I meant to have tried the new horse this morning, but I have other business. You may as well take him around after breakfast. Go by the common and the high wood and back by the water mill and the river. That will show his paces. I will, sir, said John. After breakfast he came and fitted me with a bridle. He was very particular in letting out and taking in the straps to fit my head comfortably. Then he brought a saddle, but it was not broad enough for my back. He sawed in a minute and went for another, which fitted nicely. He rode me first slowly, then a trot, then a canter, and when we were on the common he gave me a light touch with his whip and we had a splendid gallop. Ho-ho, my boy! He said as he pulled me up. You would like to follow the hounds, I think. As we came back through the park we met the squire and Mrs. Gordon walking. They stopped and John jumped off. Well, John, how does he go? First rate, sir. Answered John. He is as fleet as a deer and has a fine spirit too, but the lightest touch of the rain will guide him. Down at the end of the common we met one of those travelling carts, hung all over with baskets, rugs, and such like, you know. Sir, many horses will not pass those carts quietly. He just took a good look at it and then went on as quiet and pleasant as could be. They were shooting rabbits near the high wood and a gun went off, close by. He pulled up a little and looked, but did not stir a step to right or left. I just held the rain steady and did not hurry him and it's my opinion he has not been frightened or ill-used while he was young. That's well, said the squire. I will try here myself tomorrow. The next day I was brought up for my master. I remembered my mother's counsel and my good old masters and I tried to do exactly what he wanted me to do. I found he was a very good rider and thoughtful for his horse too. When he came home the lady was at the hall door as he rode up. Well, my dear, she said, how do you like him? He is exactly what John said. He replied, a pleasanter creature I never wished to mount. What shall we call him? Would you like Ebony? said she. He is as black as Ebony. No, not Ebony. Will you call him Blackbird like your uncle's old horse? No. He is far handsomer than old Blackbird ever was. Yes, she said. He has really quite a beauty and has such a sweet, good-tempered face and such a fine intelligent eye. What do you say to calling him Black Beauty? Black Beauty. Why, yes, I think that is a very good name. If you like it shall be his name. And so it was. When John went into the stable he told James that master and mistress had chosen a good sensible English name for me that meant something, not like Marengo or Pegasus or Abdallah. They both laughed, and James said, If it was not for bringing back the past I should have named him Rob Roy, for I never saw two horses more alike. That's no wonder, said John. Didn't you know that Farmer Grey's old Duchess was the mother of them both? I had never heard that before, and so poor Rob Roy who was killed at that hunt was my brother. I did not wonder that my mother was so troubled. It seems that horses have no relations, at least they never know each other after they are sold. John seemed very proud of me. He used to make my mane and tail almost as smooth as a lady's hair, and he would talk to me a great deal. Of course, I did not understand all he said, but I learned more and more to know what he meant and what he wanted me to do. I grew very fond of him. He was so gentle and kind. He seemed to know just how a horse feels, and when he cleaned me he knew the tender places in the ticklish places. When he brushed my head he went as carefully over my eyes as if they were his own, and never stirred up any ill temper. James Howard, the stable boy, was just as gentle and pleasant in his way, so I thought myself well off. There was another man who helped in the yard, but he had very little to do with ginger in me. A few days after this I had to go out with ginger in the carriage. I wondered how we should get on together, but except laying her ears back when I was led up to her, she saved very well. She did her work honestly and did her full share, and I never wished to have a better partner in double harness. When we came to a hill, instead of slackening her pace, she would throw her weight right into the collar and pull away straight up. We had both the same sort of courage at our work, and John had oftener to hold us in than to urge us forward. He never had to use the whip with either of us. Then our paces were much the same, and I found it very easy to keep step with her when trotting, but it wasn't pleasant, and Master always liked it when we kept step well, and so did John. After we had been out two or three times together, we grew quite friendly and sociable, which made me feel very much at home. As for Marylegs, he and I soon became great friends. He was such a cheerful, plucky, good-tempered little fellow that he was a favourite with everyone, and especially with Miss Jessie and Flora, who used to ride him about in the orchard and have fine games with him and their little dog Frisky. Our Master had two other horses that stood in another stable. One was Justice, a Rhone Cobb, used for riding or for the luggage cart. The other was an old brown hunter named Sir Oliver. He was past work now, but was a great favourite with the Master, who gave him the run of the park. He sometimes did a little light carting on the estate, or carried one of the young ladies when they rode out with their father, for he was very gentle and could be trusted with a child as well as Marylegs. The Cobb was a strong, well-made, good-tempered horse, and we sometimes had a little chat in the paddock, but of course I could not be so intimate with him as with Ginger, who stood in the same stable. End of Chapter 5 Chapter 6 of Black Beauty This is a LibriVox recording. All LibriVox recordings are in the public domain. For more information or to volunteer, please visit LibriVox.org. Black Beauty by Anna Sewell Chapter 6 Liberty I was quite happy in my new place, and if there was one thing that I missed, it must not be thought I was discontented. All who had to do with me were good, and I had a light, airy stable and the best of food. What more could I want? Why, Liberty? For three years and a half of my life I had had all the liberty I could wish for, but now, week after week, month after month, and no doubt year after year, I must stand up in a stable night and day except when I am wanted, and then I must be just as steady and quiet as any old horse who has worked twenty years. Straps here and straps there, a bit in my mouth and blinkers over my eyes. Now, I am not complaining, for I know it must be so. I only mean to say that for a young horse full of strength and spirits, who has been used to some large field or plane where he can fling up his head and toss up his tail and gallop away at full speed, then round and back again with a snort to his companions, I say it is hard never to have a bit more liberty to do as you like. Sometimes, when I have had less exercise than usual, I have felt so full of life in spring that when John has taken me out to exercise I really could not keep quiet. Do what I would it seemed as if I must jump or dance or prance, and many a good shake I know I must have given him, especially at the first, but he was always good and patient. Steady, steady, my boy. He would say, Wait a bit and we will have a good swing, and soon get the tickle out of your feet. Then as soon as we were out of the village he would give me a few miles at a spanking trot and then bring me back as fresh as before, only clear of the fidgets as he called them. Spirited horses, when not enough exercised, are often called skittish when it is only play and some grooms will punish them, but our John did not, he knew it was only high spirits. Still he had his own ways of making me understand by the tone of his voice or the touch of the rain. If he was very serious and quite determined I always knew it by his voice and that had more power with me than anything else for I was very fond of him. I ought to say that sometimes we had our liberty for a few hours. This used to be on fine Sundays in the summer time. The carriage never went out on Sundays because the church was not far off. It was a great treat to us to be turned out into the home paddock or the old orchard. The grass was so cool and soft to our feet, the air so sweet, and the freedom to do as we liked was so pleasant, to gallop, to lie down and roll over on our backs or to nibble the sweet grass. Then it was a very good time for talking as we stood together under the shade of the large chestnut tree. End of Chapter 6 Chapter 7 of Black Beauty This is a LibriVox recording. All LibriVox recordings are in the public domain. For more information or to volunteer, please visit LibriVox.org. Black Beauty by Anna Sewell. Chapter 7. Ginger One day when Ginger and I were standing alone in the shade, we had a great deal of talk. She wanted to know all about my bringing up and breaking in, and I told her. Well, said she. If I had had your bringing up, I might have had as good a temper as you. But now I don't believe I ever shall. Why not, I said. Because it has all been so different with me. She replied. I never had anyone horse or man that was kind to me or that I cared to please. For in the first place I was taken from my mother as soon as I was weaned and put with a lot of other young colts. None of them cared for me and I cared for none of them. There was no kind master like yours to look after me and talk to me and bring me nice things to eat. The man that had the care of us never gave me a kind word in my life. I do not mean that he ill used me, but he did not care for us one bit further than to see we had plenty to eat and shelter in the winter. A footpath ran through our field, and very often the great boys passing through would fling stones at us to make us gallop. I was never hit, but one fine young colt was badly cut in the face, and I should think it would be a scar for life. We did not care for them, but of course it made us more wild and we settled it in our minds that boys were our enemies. We had very good fun in the free meadows, galloping up and down and chasing each other round and round the field, then standing still under the shade of the trees. But when it came to breaking in, that was a bad time for me. Several men came to catch me, and when at last they closed me in at one corner of the field, one caught me by the forelock, another caught me by the nose and held it so tight I could hardly draw my breath. Then another took my under jaw in his hard hand and wrenched my mouth open, and so by force they got on the halter and the bar into my mouth. Then one dragged me along by the halter, another flogging behind, and this was the first experience I had of men's kindness. It was all force. They did not give me a chance to know what they wanted. I was highbred and had a great deal of spirit and was very wild, no doubt, and gave them, I dare say, plenty of trouble. But then it was dreadful to be shut up in a stall day after day instead of having my liberty, and I fretted and pined and wanted to get loose. You know yourself it's bad enough when you have a kind master and plenty of coaxing, but there was nothing of that sort for me. There was one, the old master, Mr. Ryder, who I think could soon have brought me round and could have done anything with me, but he had given up all the hard part of the trade to his son and to another experienced man, and he only came at times to oversee. His son was a strong, tall, bold man, they called him Samson, and he used to boast that he had never found a horse that could throw him. There was no gentleness in him as there was in his father, but only hardness, a hard voice, a hard eye, a hard hand. And I felt from the first that what he wanted was to wear all the spirit out of me and just make me into a quiet, humble, obedient piece of horse flesh. Horse flesh, yes, that is all he thought about. And Ginger stamped her foot as if the very thought of him made her angry, then she went on. If I did not do exactly what he wanted he would get put out and make me run round with that long reign in the training field till he had tired me out. I think he drank a good deal, and I'm quite sure that the oftener he drank the worse it was for me. One day he had worked me hard in every way he could, and when I laid down I was tired and miserable and angry. It all seemed so hard. The next morning he came for me early and ran me round again for a long time. I had scarcely an hour's rest when he came again for me with a saddle and a bridle and a new kind of bit. I could never quite tell how it came about. He had only just mounted me on the training ground and the thing I did put him out of temper and he chucked me hard with that reign. The new bit was very painful and I reared up suddenly which angered him still more and he began to flog me. I felt my whole spirit set against him and I began to kick and plunge and rear as I had never done before and we had a regular fight. For a long time he stuck to the saddle and punished me cruelly with his whip and spurs but my blood was thoroughly up and I cared for nothing he could do if only I could get him off. At last after a terrible struggle I threw him off backward. I heard him fall heavily on the turf and without looking behind me I galloped off to the other end of the field. There I turned round and saw my persecutor slowly rising from the ground and going into the stable. I stood under an oak tree and watched but no one came to catch me. The time went on and the sun was very hot and the flies swarmed round me and settled on my bleeding flanks with a spur to dug in. I felt hungry for I had not eaten since the early morning but there was not enough grass in that meadow for a goose to live on. I wanted to lie down and rest but with the saddle strapped tightly on there was no comfort and there was not a drop of water to drink. The afternoon wore on and the sun got low. I saw the other colts let in I knew they were having a good feed. At last just as the sun went down I saw the old master come out with a sieve in his hand. He was a very fine old gentleman with quite white hair but his voice was what I should know him by among a thousand. It was not high nor yet low but full and clear and kind. And when he gave orders it was so steady and decided that everyone knew both horses and men that he expected to be obeyed. He came quietly along now and then shaking the oats about that he had in the sieve and speaking cheerfully and gently to me come along lassie, come along lassie, come along, come along. I stood still and let him come up. He held the oats to me and I began to eat without fear. His voice took all my fear away. He stood by patting and stroking me while I was eating and seeing the clots of blood on my side he seemed very vexed. Poor lassie it was a bad business, bad business. Then he quietly took the rain and led me to the stable. Just at the door stood Samson. I laid my ears back and snapped at him. Stand back said the master and keep out of her way. You've done a bad day's work for this filly. He growled out something about a vicious brute. Hark ye said the father. A bad tempered man will never make a good tempered horse. You've not learned your trade yet Samson. Then he led me into my box, took off the saddle and bridle with his own hands and tied me up. Then he called for a pail of warm water and a sponge, took off his coat and while the stable man held the pail he sponged my sides a good while so tenderly that I was sure he knew how sore and bruised they were. Oh my pretty one. He said, stand still, stand still. His very voice did me good and the bathing was very comfortable. The skin was so broken at the corners of my mouth that I could not eat the hay, the stalks hurt me. He looked closely at it, shook his head and told the man to fetch a good brand mash and put some meal into it. How good that mash was and so soft and healing to my mouth. He stood by all the time I was eating, stroking me and talking to the man. If a high-metalled creature like this, said he, can't be broken by fair means she will never be good for anything. After that he often came to see me and when my mouth was healed the other breaker, Job they called him, went on training me. He was steady and thoughtful and I soon learned what he wanted. End of chapter 7 Chapter 8 of Black Beauty This is a LibriVox recording. All LibriVox recordings are in the public domain. For more information or to volunteer, please visit LibriVox.org. Black Beauty by Anna Sewell Chapter 8 Ginger's Story Continued The next time that Ginger and I were together in the paddock, she told me about her first place. After my breaking in, she said, I was bought by a dealer to match another chestnut horse. For some weeks he drove us together and then we were sold to a fashionable gentleman and were sent up to London. I had been driven with a checkrain by the dealer and I hated it worse than anything else. But in this place we were reigned far tighter. The coachman and his master thinking we looked more stylish so. We were often driven about in the park and other fashionable places. You who never had a checkrain on don't know what it is, but I can tell you it is dreadful. I like to toss my head about and hold it as high as any horse. But fancy now yourself, if you tossed your head up high and were obliged to hold it there and that for hours together not able to move it at all except with a jerk still higher your neck aching till you did not know how to bear it. Beside that, to have two bits instead of one and mine was a sharp one. It hurt my tongue and my jaw and the blood from my tongue coloured the froth that kept flying from my lips as I chafed and fretted at the bits and rain. It was worst when we had to stand by the hour waiting for our mistress at some grand party or entertainment and if I fretted or stamped with impatience the whip was laid on. It was enough to drive one mad. Did not your master take any thought for you, I said. No, said she. He only cared to have a stylish turnout, as they call it. I think he knew very little about horses. He left that to the coachman, and I had an irritable temper that I had not been well broken to the check-rain but I should soon get used to it. But he was not the man to do it, for when I was in the stable, miserable and angry instead of being smoothed and quieted by kindness I only got a surly word or a blow. If he had been civil I would have tried to bear it. I was willing to work and ready to work hard too but to be tormented for nothing but their fancies angered me. What right had they to make me suffer like that? Besides the soreness in my mouth and the pain in my neck it always made my windpipe feel bad and if I had stopped there long I know it would have spoiled my breathing. But I grew more and more restless and irritable I could not help it and I began to snap and kick when anyone came to harness me. For this the groom beat me and one day as they had buckled us into the carriage and restraining my head up with that rain I began to plunge and kick with all my might. I soon broke a lot of the harness and kicked myself clear so that was an end of that place. After this I was sent to Tattersles to be sold of course I could not be warranted free from vice so nothing was said about that. My handsome appearance and good paces soon brought a gentleman to bid for me and I was bought by another dealer. He tried me in all kinds of ways and with different bids and he soon found out what I could not bear. At last he drove me quite without a check rain and then sold me as a perfectly quiet horse to a gentleman in the country. He was a good master and I was getting on very well but his old groom left him and a new one came. This man was as hard tempered and hard handed as Samson. He always spoken a rough impatient voice and if I did not move in the stall the moment he wanted me he would hit me above the hocks with his stable broom or the fork whatever he might have in his hand. Everything he did was rough and I began to hate him he wanted to make me afraid of him but I was too high a metal for that and one day when he had aggravated me more than usual I bit him which of course put him in a great rage and he began to hit me about the head with a riding whip. After that he never dared to come into my stall again either my heels or my teeth were ready for him and he knew it. I was quite quiet with my master but of course he listened to what the man said and so I was sold again. The same dealer heard of me and said he thought he knew one place where I should do well. It was a pity he said that such a fine horse should go to the bad for want of a real good chance and the end of it was that I came here not long before you did but I had then made up my mind that men were my natural enemies and that I must defend myself of course it is very different here but who knows how long it will last I wish I could think about things as you do but I can't after all that I've gone through Well I said I think it would be a real shame if you were to bite or kick John or James I don't mean to she said Well they're good to me I did bite James once pretty sharp but John said try her with kindness and instead of punishing me as I expected James came to me with his arm bound up and brought me a brand mash and stroked me and I've never snapped at him since and I won't either I was sorry for Ginger but of course I knew very little then and I thought most likely she made the worst of it however I found that as the weeks went on she grew much more gentle and cheerful and had lost the watchful defiant look that she used to turn on any strange person who came near her and one day James said Did you believe that Mary's getting fond of me she quite winnied after me this morning when I had been rubbing her forehead Aye aye Jim, it is the Bertwick Balls said John She'll be as good as black beauty by and by kindness is all the physics she wants poor thing Master noticed the change too and one day when he got out of the carriage and came to speak to us as he often did he stroked her beautiful neck Well my pity one well, how do things go with you now you are a good bit happier than when you came to us I think She put her nose up to him in a friendly, trustful way while he rubbed it gently We shall make a cure of her John He said Yes sir, she's wonderfully improved she's not the same creature that she was It's the Bertwick Balls sir said John laughing this was a little joke of John's he used to say that a regular course of the Bertwick horse balls would cure almost any vicious horse these balls he said were made up of patience and gentleness firmness and petting one pound of each to be mixed up with half a pint of common sense and given to the horse every day End of Chapter 8 Chapter 9 of Black Beauty This is a LibriVox recording All LibriVox recordings are in the public domain For more information or to volunteer please visit LibriVox.org Black Beauty by Anna Sewell Chapter 9 Mary Legs Mr. Bloomfield, the vicar had a large family of boys and girls sometimes they used to come and play with Miss Jessie in Flora One of the girls was as old as Miss Jessie two of the boys were older and there were several little ones When they came there was plenty of work for Mary Legs for nothing pleased them so much as getting on him by turns and riding him all about the orchard in the home paddock and this they would do by the hour together One afternoon he had been out with them a long time and when James brought him in and put on his halter he said There you rogue mind how you behave yourself or we shall get in trouble What have you been doing Mary Legs? I asked Oh! said he tossing his little head I have only been giving those young people a lesson they did not know when they had had enough or when I had had enough so I just pitched them off backwards that was the only thing they could understand What? said I You threw the children off I thought you did know better than that Did you throw Miss Jessie or Miss Flora? He looked very much offended and said Of course not I would not do such a thing for the best oats that ever came into the stable why I am as careful of our young ladies as the master could be and as for the little ones it is I who teach them to ride when they seem frightened or a little unsteady on my back I go as smooth and as quiet as old pussy when she is after a bird and when they are all right I go on again faster you see just to use them to it so don't you trouble yourself preaching to me I am the best friend and the best riding master those children have it is not them it is the boys Boys said he shaking his mane are quite different they must be broken in as we were broken in when we were colds and just be taught what's what the other children had ridden me for about nearly two hours and then the boys thought it was their turn and so it was and I was quite agreeable they rode me by turns and I galloped them about up and down the fields and all about the orchard for a good hour they had each cut a great hazel steak for a riding whip and laid it on a little too hard but I took it in good part till at last I thought we had had enough so I stopped two or three times away of a hint boys you see think a horse or pony is like a steam engine or thrashing machine and can go on just as long as fast as they please they never think that a pony could get tired or have any feelings so as the one who was whipping me could not understand I just rose up on my hind legs and let them slip off behind that was all he mounted me again and I did the same then the other boy got up and as soon as he began to use a stick I laid him on the grass and so on till they were able to understand that was all they are not bad boys they used to be cruel I like them very well but you see I had to give them a lesson when they brought me to James and told him I think he was very angry to see such big sticks he said they were only fit for drovers and gypsies and not for young gentlemen if I had been you said ginger I would have given those boys a good kick and that would have given them a lesson no doubt you would said merry legs but then I am not quite such a fool begging your pardon as to anger our master or make James ashamed of me besides those children are under my charge when they are writing I tell you they are entrusted to me why only the other day I heard our master say to Mrs. Blomfield my dear madam you need not be anxious about the children my old merry legs will take as much care of them as you or I could I assure you I would not sell that pony for any money he is so perfectly good tempered and trustworthy and do you think I am such an ungrateful brute as to forget all the kind treatment I have had here for five years and all the trust they place in me and turn vicious because a couple of ignorant boys use me badly no no you never had a good place where they were kind to you and so you don't know and I am sorry for you but I can tell you good places make good horses I wouldn't vex our people for anything I love them I do said merry legs and he gave a low ho ho ho through his nose as he used to do in the morning when he heard James' footstep at the door besides he went on if I took to kicking where should I be why sold off in a jiffy and no character and I might find myself slaved about under a butcher's boy or worked to death at some seaside place where no one cared for me except to find out how fast I could go or be flogged along in some cart with three or four great men in it going out for a Sunday spree as I have often seen in the place I lived in before I came here no said he shaking his head I hope I shall never come to that End of Chapter 9 Chapter 10 of Black Beauty This is a LibriVox recording all LibriVox recordings are in the public domain for more information or to volunteer please visit LibriVox.org Black Beauty by Anna Sewell Chapter 10 A Talk in the Orchard Ginger and I were not of the regular tall carriage horse breed we had more of the racing blood in us we stood about fifteen and a half hands high we were therefore just as good for riding as we were for driving and our master used to say that he disliked either horse or man that could do but one thing and as he did not want to show off in London parks he preferred a more active and useful kind of horse as for us our greatest pleasure was when we were saddled for a riding party the master on ginger, the mistress on me and the young ladies on Sir Oliver and Mary Legs it was so cheerful to be trotting and cantering altogether that it always put us in high spirits I had the best of it for I always carried the mistress her weight was little, her voice was sweet and her hand was so light on the rain that I was guided almost without feeling it oh if people knew what a comfort to horses a light hand is and how it keeps a good mouth and a good temper they surely would not chuck and drag and pull it the rain as they often do our mouths are so tender that where they have not been spoiled or hardened with bad or ignorant treatment they feel the slightest movement of the driver's hand and we know in an instant what is required of us my mouth has never been spoiled and I believe that was why the mistress preferred me to ginger although her paces were certainly quite as good she used often to envy me and said it was all the fault of breaking in and the gag bit in London that her mouth was not so perfect as mine and then old Sir Oliver would say there there don't fix yourself you have the greatest honour a mare that can carry a tall man of our master's weight with all your spring and spridely action does not need to hold her head down because she does not carry the lady we horses must take things as they come and always be contented and willing so long as we are kindly used I had often wondered how it was that Sir Oliver had such a very short tail it really was only six or seven inches long a castle of hair hanging from it and on one of our holidays in the orchard I ventured to ask him by what accident it was that he had lost his tail accident he snorted with a fierce look it was no accident it was a cruel, shameful, cold, blunted act when I was young I was taken to a place where these cruel things were done I was tied up and made fast so that I could not stir and then they came and cut off my long and beautiful tail through the flesh and through the bone and took it away how dreadful I exclaimed dreadful ah it was dreadful but it was not only the pain though that was terrible and lasting a long time it was not only the indignity of having my best ornament taken from me though that was bad but it was this how could I ever brush the flies off my sides and my high legs anymore you have tails just whisk the flies off without thinking about it and you can't tell what an ornament it is to have them settle upon you and sting and sting and have nothing in the world to lash them off I tell you it is a life long rung and a life long loss but thank heaven they don't do it now what did they do it for then said ginger for fashion said the old horse with a stamp of his foot for fashion if you know what that means there is not a well-brand young horse in my time that had not his tail docked in that shameful way just as if the good god that made us did not know what we wanted and what looked best I suppose it is fashion that makes them strap our heads up with those horrid bits that I was tortured with in London said ginger of course it is said he to my mind fashion is one of the wickedest things in the world now look for instance at the way they serve dogs cutting their tails to make them look plucky and shearing out their pretty little ears to a point to make them both look sharp or sooth I had a dear friend once a brown carrier sky they called her she was so fond of me she never would sleep out of my stall she made her bed under the manger and there she had a litter of five as pretty little puppies as need be none were drowned for they were a valuable kind and how pleased she was with them and when they got their eyes open and crawled about it was a pretty sight but one day the man came and took them all away I thought he might be afraid I should tread upon them but it was not so in the evening poor sky brought them back one by one in her mouth not the happy little things that they were but bleeding and crying pitifully they had all had a piece of their tails cut off and the soft flap of their pretty little ears was quite cut off how their mother licked them and how troubled she was poor thing I never forgot it they healed in time and they forgot the pain but the nice soft flap that of course was intended to protect the delicate part of their ears from dust and injury was gone forever why don't they cut their own children's ears into pricks to make them look sharp why don't they cut the end of their noses to make them look plucky one would be just as sensible as the other what right have they to torment and disfigure God's creatures Sir Oliver though he was so gentle was a fiery old fellow and what he said was also new to me and so dreadful that I found a bitter feeling toward men rise up in my mind that I never had before of course Ginger was very much excited she flung up her head with flashing eyes and distended nostrils declaring that men were both brutes and blockheads who talks about blockheads said Mary Legs who just came up from the old apple tree where he had been rubbing himself against the low branch who talks about blockheads I believe that is a bad word bad words were made for bad things said Ginger and she told him what Sir Oliver had said it is all true said Mary Legs sadly and I've seen that about the dogs over and over again where I lived first but we won't talk about it here you know that Master and John and James are always good to us and talking against men in such a place as this doesn't seem fair or grateful and you know there are good Masters and good grooms besides ours though of course ours is the best this wise speech of good little Mary Legs which we knew was quite true cooled us all down especially Sir Oliver who was dearly fond of his Master and to turn the subject I said can anyone tell me the use of blinkers? no said Sir Oliver shortly because they are no use they are supposed said Justice the Roan Cobb in his calm way to prevent horses from shying and starting and getting so frightened as to cause accidents then what is the reason they do not put them on riding horses especially on ladies horses said I there is no reason at all said he quietly except the fashion they say that a horse would be frightened to see the wheels of his own cart or carriage coming behind him that he would be sure to run away although of course when he is ridden he sees them all about him if the streets are crowded I admit they do sometimes come too close to be pleasant but we don't run away we are used to it and understand it and if we never had blinkers put on we should never want them we should see what was there know what was what and be less frightened than by only seeing bits of things that we can't understand of course there may be some nervous horses who have been hurt or frightened when they were young who may be the better for them but as I never was nervous I can't judge I consider said Sir Oliver that blinkers are dangerous things in the night we horses can see much better in the dark than men can and many an accident would never have happened if horses might have had the full use in their eyes some years ago I remember there was a hearse with two horses returning one dark night and just by Farmer Sparrow's house where the pond is close to the road and the wheels went too near the edge and the hearse was overturned into the water both the horses were drowned and the driver hardly escaped of course after this accident a stout white rail was put up that might be easily seen but if those horses had not been partly blinded they would have themselves and get through them from the edge and no accident would have happened when our master's carriage was overturned before you came here it was said that if the lamp on the left side had not gone out Don would have seen the great hold of the road makers had left and so he might but if Old Collins had not had blinkers on he would have seen it lamp or no lamp for he was too far knowing an old horse to run into danger as it was he was very much hurt the carriage was broken and how Don escaped nobody knew I should say said Ginger curling her nostril that these men who are so wise had better give orders that in future all foals should be born with their eyes set just in the middle of their foreheads instead of on the side they always think they can improve upon nature and mend what God has made things were getting rather sore again when Mary Legs held up his knowing little face and said I'll tell you a secret I believe John does not approve of blinkers he thought about it one day the master said that if horses had been used to them it might be dangerous in some cases to leave them off and John said he thought it would be a good thing if all colts were broken in without blinkers as was the case in some foreign countries so let us cheer up and have a run to the other end of the orchard I believe the wind has blown down some apples and we might just as well eat them as the slugs Mary Legs could not be resisted so we broke off our long conversation and got up our spirits by munching we ate apples which lay scattered on the grass End of Chapter 10 Chapter 11 of Black Beauty This is a LibriVox recording all LibriVox recordings are in the public domain for more information or to volunteer please visit LibriVox.org Black Beauty by Anna Sewell Chapter 11 Plain Speaking The longer I lived at Birtwick the more proud and happy I felt at having such a place our master and mistress were respected and beloved by all who knew them they were good and kind to everybody and everything not only men and women but horses and donkeys, dogs and cats cattle and birds there was no oppressed or ill-used creature that had not a friend in them and their servants took the same tone if any of the village children were known to treat any creature cruelly they soon heard about it from the hall the squire and farmer Grey had worked together as they said for more than twenty years to get check-rains on the cart-horses done away with and in our parts you seldom saw them and sometimes if mistress met a heavily laden horse with his head strained up she would stop the carriage and get out and reason with the driver in her sweet serious voice and try to show him how foolish and cruel it was I don't think any man could withstand our mistress I wish all ladies were like her our master too used to come down very heavy sometimes I remember he was riding me toward home one morning when we saw a powerful man driving toward us in a light pony shez with a beautiful little bay pony with slender legs and a high-bred sensitive head and face just as he came to the park gates the little thing turned toward them the man, without word or warning wrenched the creature's head round with such a force and suddenness that he nearly threw it on its haunches recovering itself it was going on when he began to lash it furiously the pony plunged forward but the strong heavy hand held the pretty creature back with force almost enough to break its jaw while the whip still cut into him it was a dreadful sight to me for I knew what fearful pain it gave that delicate little mouth but master gave me the word and we were up with him in a second he cried in a stern voice is that pony made of flesh and blood? flesh and blood and temper he said he's too fond of his own will and that won't suit me he spoke as if he was in a strong passion he was a builder who had often been to the park on business and do you think said master sternly that treatment like this will make him fond of your will he had no business to make that turn his road was straight on man roughly you have often driven that pony up to my place said master it only shows the creature's memory and intelligence how did he know that you were not going there again but that has little to do with it I must say Mr. Sawyer that a more unmanly brutal treatment of a little pony it was never my painful lot to witness and by giving way to such passion you injure your own character as much nay more than you injure your horse and remember we shall all have to be judged according to our works whether they be toward man or toward beast master rode me home slowly and I could tell by his voice how the thing had grieved him he was just as free to speak to gentlemen of his own rank as to those below him for another day when we were out we met a captain Langley he was driving a splendid pair of graze in a kind of break after a little conversation the captain said what do you think of my new team Mr. Douglas you know you are the judge of horses in these parts and I should like your opinion the master backed me a little so as to get a good view of them they are an uncommonly handsome pair he said and if they are as good as they look I am sure you need not wish for anything better but I see you still hold that pet scheme of yours for raring your horses and lessening their power what do you mean? said the other the check reins oh ah I know that's a hobby of yours well the fact is I like to see my horses hold their heads up so do I said master as well as any man but I don't like to see them held up that takes all the shine out of it now you are a military man Langley I no doubt like to see your regiment look well on parade heads up and all that but you would not take much credit for your drill if all your men had their heads tied to a backboard it might not be much harm on parade except to worry and fatigue them but how would it be in obeying that charge against the enemy not the free use of every muscle and all their strength thrown forward I would not give much for their chance of victory and it is just the same with horses you fret and worry their tempers and decrease their power you will not let them throw their weight against their work and so they have to do too much with their joints and muscles and of course it wears them up faster you may depend upon it horses were intended to have their heads free as free as men's are and if we could act a little more according to common sense and a good deal less according to fashion we should find many things work easier besides you know as well as I that if a horse makes a false step he has much less chance of recovering himself if his head and neck are fastened back and now said the master laughing I have given my father a good trot out can't you make up your mind to mount him too captain your example would go a long way I believe you are right in theory said the other and that's rather a hard hit about the soldiers but well I'll think about it and so they parted End of Chapter 11 Chapter 12 of Black Beauty This is a LibriVox recording all LibriVox recordings are in the public domain for more information or to volunteer please visit LibriVox.org Black Beauty by Anna Sewell Chapter 12 A Stormy Day One day late in the autumn my master had a long journey to go on business I was put into the dog cart and John went with his master I always liked to go in the dog cart it was so light and the high wheels ran along so pleasantly there had been a great deal of rain and now the wind was very high and blew the dry leaves across the road in a shower we went along merrily till we came to the toll bar and the low wooden bridge the river banks were rather high and the bridge, instead of rising went across just level so that in the middle, if the river was full the water would be nearly up to the woodwork in planks but as there were good substantial rails on each side people did not mind it the man at the gate said the river was rising fast and he feared it would be a bad night many of the meadows were under water and in one low part of the road the water was half way up to my knees the bottom was good and master drove gently so it was no matter when we got to the town of course I had a good bait but as the master's business engaged him a long time we did not stop for home till rather late in the afternoon the wind was then much higher and I heard the master say to John he was not in such a storm and so I thought as we went along the skirts of a wood where the great branches were swaying about like twigs and the rushing sound was terrible I wish we were well out of this wood said my master yes sir said John it would be awkward if one of these branches came down upon us the words were scarcely out of his mouth when there was a groan and a crack and a splitting sound and tearing crashing down among the other trees came an oak torn up by the roots and it fell right across the road just before us I will never say I was not frightened for I was I stopped still and I believe I trembled of course I did not turn round or run away I was not brought up to that John jumped out and was in a moment at my head that was a very near touch said my master what's to be done now well sir we can't drive over that tree nor yet get around it there will be nothing for it but to go back to the four crossways and that will be a good six miles before we get round to the wooden bridge again it will make us late but the horse is fresh so back we went and round by the crossroads but by the time we got to the bridge it was very nearly dark we could just see that the water was over the middle of it but as that happened sometimes when the floods were out master did not stop we were going along in a good pace when we reached the first part of the bridge I felt sure there was something wrong I dare not go forward and I made a dead stop go on beauty said my master and he gave me a touch with the whip but I dare not stir he gave me a sharp cut I jumped but I dare not go forward there's something wrong sir said John and he sprang out of the dog cart and came to my head and looked all about he tried to lead me forward come on beauty what's the matter but I knew very well that the bridge was not safe just then the man at the toll gate on the other side ran out of the house tossing a torch about like one mad oy oy oy hello stop he cried what's the matter shouted my master the bridge is broken in the middle and part of it is carried away if you come on you'll be into the river thank god said my master and took the bridle and gently turned me round to the right hand road by the riverside the sun had set some time the wind seemed to have lulled off after that furious blast which tore up the tree it grew darker and darker stiller and stiller I trotted quietly along the wheels hardly making a sound on the soft road for a good while neither master nor John spoke and then master began in a serious voice I could not understand much of what they said I found they thought if I had gone on as the master wanted me most likely the bridge would have given way under us and horse, shez, master and man would have fallen into the river and as the current was flowing very strongly and there was no light and no help at hand it was more than likely we should all have been drowned master said god had given men reason by which they could find out things for themselves but he had given animals knowledge which did not depend on reason and which was much more prompt and perfect way and by which they had often saved the lives of men John had many stories to tell of dogs and horses and the wonderful things they had done he thought people did not value their animals half enough nor make friends of them as they ought to do I am sure he makes friends of them if ever a man did at last we came to the park gates and found the gardener looking out for us he said that mistress had been in a dreadful way ever since dark fearing some accident had happened and that she had sent James off on justice the Roan Cob toward the wooden bridge to make inquiry after us we saw a light at the hall door and at the upper windows and as we came up mistress ran out saying are you really safe my dear oh I've been so anxious fancying all sorts of things have you had no accident no my dear but if your black beauty had not been wiser than we were we should all have been carried down the river at the wooden bridge I heard no more as they went into the house and John took me to the stable oh what a good supper he gave me that night a good brand mash and some crushed beans with my oats and such a thick bed of straw and I was glad of it for I was tired End of Chapter 12 Chapter 13 of Black Beauty This is a LibriVox recording All LibriVox recordings are in the public domain For more information or to volunteer please visit LibriVox.org Black Beauty by Anna Sewell Chapter 13 The Devil's Trademark One day when John and I had been out on some business of our masters and were returning gently on a long straight road at some distance we saw a boy trying to leap a pony over a gate the pony would not take the leap and the boy cut him with the whip but he only turned off on one side he whipped him again he turned off on the other side then the boy got off and gave him a hard thrashing and knocked him about the head then he got up again and tried to make him leap the gate kicking him all the time shamefully but still the pony refused when we were nearly at the spot the pony put down his head and threw up his heels and sent the boy neatly over into a broad quickset hedge and with the rain dangling from his head he set off home at a full gallop John laughed out quite loud ha ha served him right he said oh oh oh cried the boy as he struggled about among the thorns I say come and help me out thank ye I think you are quite in the right place and maybe a little scratching will teach you not to leap a pony over a gate that is too high for him and so with that John rode off it may be said he to himself this fellow is a liar as well as a cruel one we'll just go home by Farmer Bushby's beauty and then if anybody wants to know you and I can tell him yes see so we turned off to the right and soon came up to the stackyard and with inside of the house the farmer was hurrying out into the road and his wife was standing at the gate looking very frightened have you seen my boy said Mr. Bushby as we came up he went out an hour ago on my black pony and the creature has just come back without a rider I should think sir said John he had better be without a rider unless he can be ridden properly what do you mean? said the farmer well sir I saw your son whipping and kicking and knocking that good little pony about shamefully because he would not leap a gate that was too high for him the pony behaved well sir and showed no vice but at last he just threw up his heels and tipped the young gentleman into the thorn hedge he wanted me to help him out but I hope you will excuse me sir I did not feel inclined to do so there's no bones broken sir he'll only get a few scratches I love horses and it riles me to see them badly used it is a bad plan to aggravate an animal till he uses his heels the first time is not always the last during this time the mother began to cry oh my poor Bill I must go and meet him he must be hurt you had better go into the house wife said the farmer Bill wants a lesson about this and I must see that he gets it this is not the first time nor the second that he has ill used that pony and I shall stop it I am much obliged to you manly good evening so we went on John chuckling all the way home then he told James about it he laughed and said serve him right I knew that boy at school he took great airs on himself because he was a farmer's son he used to swagger about and bully the little boys of course we older ones would not have any of that nonsense and let him know that in school in the playground farmer's sons and laborer's sons were all alike I well remember one day just before afternoon school I found him at the large window catching flies and pulling off their wings and gave him a box on the ears that laid him sprawling on the floor well, angry as I was I was almost frightened he roared and bellied in such a style the boys rushed in from the playground and the master ran in from the road to see who was being murdered of course I said fair and square at once what I had done and why then I showed the master the flies and some crushed and some crawling about helpless and I showed him the wings on the window sill I never saw him so angry before but as Bill was still hailing and whining like the coward that he was did not give him any more punishment of that kind but set him up on a stool for the rest of the afternoon and said that he should not go out to play for that week then he talked to all the boys very seriously about cruelty and said how hard heartedly and cowardly it was to hurt the weak and the helpless but what stuck in my mind was this he said that cruelty was the devil's own trademark and if we saw anyone who took pleasure in cruelty we might know who he belonged to for the devil was a murderer from the beginning and a tormentor to the end on the other hand where we saw people who loved their neighbors and were kind to man and beast we might know that was God's mark your master never taught you a truer thing said John there is no religion without love and people may talk as much as they like there is no religion but if it does not teach them to be good and kind to man and beast it is all a sham all a sham James and it won't stand when things come to be turned inside out Chapter 14 James Howard Early one morning in December John had just led me into my box after my daily exercise and was strapping my cloth on and James was coming in from the corn chamber with some oats when the master came into the stable he looked rather serious and held an open letter in his hand John fastened the door of my box touched his cap and waited for orders Good morning John Master I want to know if you have any complaint to make of James Complaint sir? No sir Is he industrious at his work and respectful to you? Yes sir always You never find he slights his work when your back is turned Never sir That's well but I must put another question Have you no reason to suspect when he goes out with the horses to advise them or take a message that he stops about talking to his acquaintances or goes into houses where he has no business leaving the horses outside? No sir certainly not and if anybody has been saying that about James I don't believe it and I don't mean to believe it unless I have it fairly proved before witnesses It's not for me to say who has been trying to take away James's character but I will say this sir that a steadier pleasanter honester, smarter young fellow I never had in this stable I can trust his word and I can trust his work He is gentle and clever with the horses and I would rather have them in charge with him than with half the young fellows I know of in lace tats and liveries and whoever wants a character of James Howard said John with a decided jerk of his head can come to John manly The master stood all this time grave and attentive but as John finished his speech a broad smile spread over his face and looking kindly across at James who all this time had stood still at the door he said James my lad sit down the oats and come here I am very glad to find that John's opinion of your character agrees so exactly with my own John is a cautious man he said with a droll smile and it is not always easy to get his opinion about people so I thought if I beat the bush on this side the birds would fly out and I should learn what I wanted to know quickly so now we will come to business I have a letter from my brother-in-law Sir Clifford Williams of Clifford Hall he wants me to find him a trustworthy young groom about 20 or 21 who knows his business his old coachman who has lived with him 30 years is getting feeble and he wants a man to work with him and get into his ways who would be able when the old man was pinching off to step into his place he would have 18 shillings a week at first a stable suit, a driving suit a bedroom over the coach house and a boy under him Sir Clifford is a good master and if you could get the place it would be a good start for you I don't want to part with you and if you left us I know John would lose his right hand that I should sir but I would not stand in his light for the world how old are you James said master 19 next May sir that's young what do you think John well sir it is young but he is as steady as a man and as strong and well grown and though he has not had much experience in driving he has a light firm hand and a quick eye and he is very careful and I am quite sure no horse of his will be ruined for want of having his feet and shoes looked after your word will go the furthest John said the master for sir Clifford adds in a post script if I could find a man trained by your John I should like him better than any other so James Ladd think it over talk to your mother at dinner time and then let me know what you wish in a few days after this conversation it was fully settled that James should go to Clifford Hall in a month or six weeks as it suited his master and in the meantime he was to get all the practice in driving that could be given to him I never knew the carriage to go out so often before when the mistress did not go out the master drove himself in the two wheeled shez but now whether it was master or the young ladies or only an errand ginger and I were put in the carriage and James drove us at the first John rode with him on the box telling him this and that and after that James drove alone then it was wonderful what a number of places the master would go to in the city on Saturday and what queer streets we were driven through he was sure to go to the railway station just as the train was coming in and cabs and carriages carts and omnibuses were all trying to get over the bridge together that bridge wanted good horses and good drivers when the railway bell was ringing for it was narrow and there was a very sharp turn up to the station where it would not have been at all difficult for people to run into each other if they did not look sharp and keep their wits about them End of Chapter 14 Chapter 15 of Black Beauty this is a LibriVox recording all LibriVox recordings are in the public domain for more information or to volunteer please visit LibriVox.org Black Beauty by Anna Sewell Chapter 15 The Old Hostler after this it was decided by my master and mistress to pay a visit to some friends who lived about 46 miles from our home and James was to drive them the first day we traveled 32 miles there were some long heavy hills but James drove so carefully and thoughtfully that we were not at all harassed he never forgot to put on the brake as we went downhill nor to take it off to the right place he kept our feet on the smoothest part of the road and if the uphill was very long he set the carriage wheels a little across the road so as not to run back and gave us a breathing all these little things help a horse very much particularly if he gets kind words into the bargain we stopped once or twice on the road and just as the sun was going down we reached the town where we were to spend the night we stopped at the principal hotel which was in the marketplace it was a very large one we drove under an archway into a long yard at the further end of which were the stables and coach houses two hustlers came to take us out the head hustler was a pleasant active little man with a crooked leg and a yellow striped waistcoat I never saw a man unbuckle harnesses so quickly as he did and with a pat and a good word he led me to a long stable with six or eight stalls in it horses the other man brought ginger James stood by while we were rubbed down and cleaned I never was cleaned so lightly and quickly as by that little old man when he had done James stepped up and felt me over as if he thought I could not be thoroughly done but he found my coat as clean and smooth as silk well he said I thought I was pretty quick and our John quicker still but you do be it all ever so for being quick and thorough at the same time practice makes perfect said the crooked little hustler ain't you be pity if it didn't 40 years practice and not perfect haha that would be a pity that has to be in quick why bless you that is only a matter of habit if you get into the habit of being quick it is just as easy as being slow easier I should say in fact it don't agree with my health to be hulking about over a job twice as long as it need take bless you I couldn't whistle if I crawled over my work as some folks do you see I have been about horses ever since I was 12 years old and hunting stables and racing stables and being small you see I was jockey for several years but at the Goodwood you see the turf was very slippery and my poor Locksburg got a fall and I broke my knee and so of course I was no more use there but I could not live without horses of course I couldn't so I took to the hotels and I can tell you it is a downright pleasure to handle an animal like this well bred well mattered well cared for bless you I can tell how a horse is treated give me the handling of a horse for 20 minutes and I'll tell you what sort of a groom he has had look at this one pleasant quiet turns about just as you want him holds up his feet to be cleaned out or anything else you please to wish then you'll find another fidgety Freddy won't move the right way or starts across the stall tosses up his head as soon as you come near him lays his ears and seems afraid of you or else squares about at you with his heels poor things I know what sort of treatment they have had if they are tended it makes them start or shy if they are high well it makes them vicious or dangerous their temper is mostly made when they are a elf bless you they are like children train them up in the way they should go as a good book says and when they are old they will not depart from it if they have a chance I like to hear you talk said James that's the way we lay it down at home and at our masters who is your master young man if it be a proper question he is a good one from what I see he is Squire Gordon of Burtwick Park the other side of Beacon Hills said James ah so so I have heard tell him fine judge of horses ain't he the best writer in the county I believe he is said James but he rides very little now since the poor young master was killed ah poor gentleman I read all about it in the paper at the time a fine horse killed too wasn't there yes said James he was a splendid creature brother to this one and just like him pity pity said the old man it was a bad place to leap if I remember a thin fence at top a steep bank down to the stream wasn't it no chance for a horse to see where he is going now I am for bold riding as much as any man but still there are some leaps that only a very knowing old huntsman has any right to take a man's life and a horse's life are worth more than a fox's tale at least I should say they ought to be during this time the other man had finished ginger and had brought our corn and James and the old man left the stable together End of Chapter 15 Chapter 16 of Black Beauty this is a LibriVox recording all LibriVox recordings are in the public domain for more information or to volunteer please visit LibriVox.org Black Beauty by Anna Sewell Chapter 16 The Fire Later on in the evening a traveller's horse was brought in by the second hustler and while he was cleaning him a young man with a pipe in his mouth lounged into the stable to gossip I say tell her said the hustler just run up the ladder into the loft and put some hay down into this horse's rack will ya or lay down your pipe all right said the other and went up through the trap door and I heard him step across the floor overhead and put down the hay James came in to look at us the last thing and then the door was locked I cannot say how long I had slept nor what time in the night it was but I woke up very uncomfortable though I hardly knew why I got up the air seemed all thick and choking I heard ginger coughing and one of the other horses seemed very restless it was quite dark and I could see nothing but the stable seemed full of smoke and I hardly knew how to breathe the trap door had been left open and I thought that was the place it came through I listened and heard a soft rushing sort of noise and a low crackling and snapping I did not know what it was but there was something in the sound so strange that it made me tremble all over the other horses were all awake some were pulling at their halters others stamping at last I heard steps outside and the hustler who had put up the traveller's horse burst into the stable with a lantern and began to untie the horses and try to leave them out but he seemed in such a hurry and so frightened himself that he frightened me still more the first horse would not go with him he tried the second and third and they too would not stir he came to me next and tried to drag me out of the stall by force but that was no use he tried us all by turns and then left the stable no doubt we were very foolish but danger seemed to be all round and there was nobody we knew to trust in and all was strange and uncertain the fresh air that had come in through the open door made it easier to breathe but the rushing sound overhead grew louder and as I looked upward through the bars of my empty rack I saw a red light flickering on the wall then I heard a cry of FIRE he filled hostler quietly and quickly came in he got one horse out and went to another but the flames were playing round the trap door and the roaring overhead was dreadful the next thing I heard was James' voice quiet and cheery as it always was come along my beauties it's time for us to be off so wake up and come along I stood near us the door so he came to me first patting me as he came in come beauty on with your bridle my boy we'll soon be out of this smother it was on in no time then he took the scarf off his neck and tied it lightly over my eyes and patting and coaxing he led me out of the stable safe in the yard he slipped the scarf off my eyes and shouted here somebody take this horse while I go back for the other a tall broad man stepped forward and took me and James darted back into the stable I set up a shrill Winnie as I saw him go Ginger told me afterward that Winnie was the best thing I could have done for her for had she not heard me outside she would never have had courage to come out there was much confusion in the yard the horses being got out of other stables and the carriages and gigs being pulled out of houses and sheds lest the flame should spread further on the other side the yard windows were thrown up and people were shouting all sorts of things but I kept my eye fixed on the stable door where the smoke poured out thicker than ever and I could see flashes of red light presently I heard above all the stir and din a loud clear voice which I knew was Masters James Howard James Howard are you there there was no answer but I heard a crash of something falling in the stable and the next moment I gave a loud joyful nay for I saw James coming through the smoke leading Ginger with him she was coughing violently and he was not able to speak oh my brave lad said master laying his hand on his shoulder James shook his head for he could not yet speak I said the big man who held me he is a brave lad as no mistake I know said master when you have got your breath James we'll get out of this place as quickly as we can and we were moving toward the entry when from the marketplace there came a sound of galloping feet and loud rumbling wheels tis the fire engine the fire engine shouted two or three voices stand back make way and clattering and thundering over the stones two horses dashed into the yard with a heavy engine behind them the firemen leaped to the ground there was no need to ask where the fire was it was rolling up in a great blaze from the roof we got out as fast as we could into the broad quiet marketplace the stars were shining and except the noise behind us all was still master led the way to a large hotel on the other side and as soon as the hustler came he said James I must now hasten to your mistress I trust the horses entirely to you order whatever you think is needed and with that he was gone the master did not run but I never saw mortal man walk so fast as he did that night there was a dreadful sound before we got into our stalls the shrieks of those poor horses that were left burning to death in the stable it was very terrible and made both ginger and me feel very bad we however were taken in and well done by the next morning the master came to see how we were and to speak to James I did not hear much for the hustler was rubbing me down but I could see that James looked very happy and I thought the master was proud of him our mistress had been so much alarmed in the night that the journey was put off till the afternoon so James had the morning on hand and went first to the inn to see about our harness in the carriage and to hear more about the fire when he came back we heard him tell the hustler about it at first no one could guess how the fire had been caused but at last a man said he saw Dick Towler go into the stable with a pipe in his mouth and when he came out he had not one and went to the tap for another then the under-hustler said he had asked Dick to go up the ladder to put down some hay but told him to lay down his pipe first Dick denied taking the pipe with him but no one believed him I remember our John Manley's rule never to allow a pipe in the stable and thought it ought to be the rule everywhere James said the roof and floor had all fallen in and that only the black walls were standing the two poor horses that could not be got out were buried under the burnt rafters and tiles End of Chapter 16 Chapter 17 of Black Beauty This is a LibriVox recording All LibriVox recordings are in the public domain For more information or to volunteer, please visit LibriVox.org Black Beauty by Anna Sewell Chapter 17 John Manley's Talk The rest of our journey was very easy and the little after sunset we reached the house of my master's friend we were taken into a clean, snug stable there was a kind coachman who made us very comfortable and who seemed to think a good deal of James when he heard about the fire There's one thing quite clear young man he said your horses know who they can trust it's one of the hardest things in the world to get horses out of a stable when there is either fire or flood I don't know why they won't come out but they won't not one and twenty We stopped two or three days at this place and then returned home all went well on the journey we were glad to be in our own stable again and John was equally glad to see us Before he and James left us for the night James said I wonder who is coming in my place Little Joe Green at the lodge said John Little Joe Green why he's a child he is fourteen and a half said John he is such a little chap yes he is small but he is quick and willing and conhearted too and then he wishes very much to come and his father would like it and I know the master would like to give him the chance he said if I thought he would not do he would look out for a bigger boy but I said I was quite agreeable to try him for six weeks six weeks said James well it'll be six months before he can be of much use it'll make you a deal of work John well said John with a laugh work and I are very good friends I never was afraid of work yet you are a very good man said James I wish I may never be like you I don't often speak of myself said John but as you are going away from us out into the world to shift for yourself I'll just tell you how I look on these things I was just as old as Joseph when my father and mother died of the fever within ten days of each other and left me and my crippled sister Nellie alone in the world without a relation that we could look for help I was a farmer's boy not earning enough to keep myself much less both of us and she must have gone to the work house but for our mistress Nellie calls her her angel and she has a good right to do so she went and hired a room for her with old widow mallet and she gave her knitting and needle work when she was able to do it and when she was ill she sent her dinners and many nice comfortable things and was like a mother to her then the master took me into the stable under old Norman the coachman that was then I had my food at the house and my bed in the loft and a suit of clothes and three shillings a week so that I could help Nellie then there was Norman he might have turned around and said at his age he could not be troubled with a raw boy from the plow tale but he was like a father to me and took no end of pains with me when the old man died some years later I stepped into his place and now of course I have top wages and can lay by for a rainy day or a sunny day as it may happen and Nellie is as happy as a bird so you see James I am not the man that should turn up his nose at a little boy and vex a good kind master no no I shall miss you very much James but we shall pull through and there's nothing like doing a kindness when tis put in your way and I am glad I can do it then said James you don't hold with that saying everybody looks after himself and take care of number one no indeed where should I and Nellie have been if master and mistress and old Norman had only taken care of number one by she in the workhouse and I hoeing turnips where would black beauty and ginger have been if you had only thought of number one why roast it to death no Jim no that is a selfish heath in his saying whoever uses it and any man who thinks he has nothing to do but take care of number one why it's a pity but what he had been drowned like a puppy or a kitten he got his eyes open that's what I think said John with a very decided jerk of his head James laughed at this but there was a thickness in his voice when he said you've been my best friend except my mother I hope you won't forget me no lad no and if ever I can do you a good turn I hope you won't forget me the next day Joe came to the stables to learn all he could before James left he learned to sweep the stable he began to clean the harness and help to wash the carriage as he was quite too short to do anything in the way of grooming ginger and me James taught him upon Marylegs for he was to have full charge of him under John he was a nice little bright fellow and always came whistling to his work Marylegs was a good deal put out at being mauled about as he said but toward the end of the second week he told me confidentially that he thought the boy would turn out well at last the day came when James had to leave us cheerful as he always was he looked quite downhearted that morning you see he said to John I'm leaving a great deal behind my mother and Betsy and you and a good master and mistress and then the horses and my old Marylegs at the new place there will be not a soul I shall know if it were not I shall get a higher place and be able to help my mother better I don't think I should be able to make my mind up at all it is a real pinch John aye James lad so it is but I should not think much of you if you could leave your home for the first time and not feel it cheer up you'll make friends there and if you get on well as I am sure you will it will be a fine thing for your mother and she will be proud enough that you have gotten to such a good place as that so John cheered him up but everyone was sorry to lose James as for Marylegs he pined after him for several days and went quite off his appetite so John took him out several mornings with the leading reign when he exercised me and trotting and galloping by my side got up the little fellow's spirits again and he was soon all right Joe's father would often come in and give a little help as he understood the work and Joe took a great deal of pains to learn and John was quite encouraged about him End of Chapter 17 Chapter 18 of Black Beauty This is a LibriVox recording All LibriVox recordings are in the public domain For more information or to volunteer please visit LibriVox.org Black Beauty by Anna Sewell Chapter 18 Going for the Doctor One night a few days after James had left I had eaten my hay and was lying down in my straw fast asleep when I was suddenly roused by the stable bell ringing very loud I heard the door of John's house open and his feet running up to the hall he was back again in no time he unlocked the stable door and came in calling out Wake up beauty you must go well now if ever you did and almost before I could think he had got the saddle on my back and the bridle on my head he just ran round for his coat then took me at a quick trot up to the hall door there with a lamp in his hand Now John he said Right for your life that is for your mistress's life there's not a moment to lose give this note to Dr. White give your horse a rest at the inn and be back as soon as you can John said Yes sir and was on my back in a minute the gardener who lived at the lodge had heard the bell ring and was ready with the gate open and away we went through the park and through the village and down the hill we entered the toll gate John called very loud and thumped upon the door the man was soon out and flung open the gate Now said John Do you keep the gate open for the doctor here's the money and off he went again there was before us a long piece of level road by the riverside John said to me Now beauty do your best and so I did I wanted no whip nor spur and for two miles I galloped as fast as I could lay my feet to the ground I don't believe that my old grandfather who won the race at Newmarket could have gone faster when we came to the bridge John pulled me up a little and patted my neck Well done beauty good old fellow he said he would have let me go slower but my spirit was up and I was off again as fast as before the air was frosty the moon was bright it was very pleasant we came through a village then through a dark wood then uphill then downhill till after eight miles run we came to the town through the streets and into the marketplace it was all quite still except the clatter of my feet on the stones everybody was asleep the church clock struck three as we drew up at Dr. White's door John rang the bell twice and then knocked at the door like thunder a window was thrown up and Dr. White in his nightcap put his head out and said What do you want? Mrs. Gordon is very ill sir Master wants you to go at once he thinks she will die if you cannot get there here is a note wait he said I will come he shut the window and was soon at the door the worst of it is he said that my horse has been out all day and it's quite done up my son has just been sent for and he has taken the other what is to be done? can I have your horse? he has come at a gallop nearly all the way sir and I was to give him a rest here but I think my master would not be against it if you think fits sir all right he said I will soon be ready John stood by me and stroked my neck I was very hot the doctor came out with his riding whip you need not take that sir said John black beauty will go till he drops take care of him sir if you can I should not like any harm to come to him no no John said the doctor I hope not and in a minute we had left John far behind I will not tell about our way back the doctor was a heavier man than John and not so good a rider however I did my very best the man at the toll gate had it open when we came to the hill the doctor drew me up now my good fellow he said take some breath I was glad he did for I was nearly spent but that breathing helped me on and soon we were in the park Joe was at the lodge gate my master was at the hall door for he had heard us coming he spoke not a word the doctor went into the house with him and Joe led me to the stable I was glad to get home my legs shook under me and I could only stand and pant I had not a dry hair on my body the water ran down my legs and I steamed all over Joe used to say like a pot on the fire poor Joe he was young and small and as yet he knew very little and his father who would have helped him had been sent to the next village but I am sure he did the very best he knew he rubbed my legs and my chest but he did not put my warm cloth on me he thought I was so hot I should not like it then he gave me a pailful of water to drink it was cold and very good and I drank it all then he gave me some hay and some corn and thinking he had done right he went away soon I began to shake and tremble and turned deadly cold my legs ached my loins ached and my chest ached and I felt sore all over oh how I wished for my warm thick cloth as I stood and trembled I wished for John but he had eight miles to walk so I lay down in my straw and tried to go to sleep after a long while I heard John at the door I gave a low moan for I was in great pain he was at my side in a moment stooping down by me I could not tell him how I felt but he seemed to know it all he stirred me up with two or three warm cloths and then ran to the house for some hot water he made me some warm gruel which I drank and then I think I went to sleep John seemed to be very much put out I heard him say to himself over and over again stupid boy, stupid boy no cloth put on and I daresay the water was cold too boys are no good but Joe was a good boy after all I was now very ill a strong inflammation had attacked my lungs and I could not draw my breath without pain John nursed me night and day he would get up two or three times in the night to come to me my master too often came to see me my poor beauty he said one day my good horse you saved your mistress's life beauty yes, you saved her life I was very glad to hear that for it seems the doctor had said if we had been a little longer it would have been too late John told my master he never saw a horse go so fast in his life it seemed as if the horse knew what was the matter of course I did though John thought not at least I knew as much as this that John and I must go at the top of our speed and that it was for the sake of the mistress End of Chapter 18 Chapter 19 of Black Beauty this is a LibriVox recording all LibriVox recordings are in the public domain for more information to volunteer please visit LibriVox.org Black Beauty by Anna Sewell Chapter 19 Only Ignorance I do not know how long I was ill Mr. Bond the horse doctor came every day one day he bled me John held a pale for the blood I felt very faint after it and thought I should die and I believe they all thought so too Ginger and Mary Legs had been moved into the other stable that I might be quiet for the fever made me very quick of hearing any little noise seemed quite loud and I could tell everyone's footstep going to and from the house I knew all that was going on one night John had to give me a draft Thomas Green came in to help him after I had taken it and John had made me as comfortable as he could he said he should stay half an hour to see how the medicine settled Thomas said he would stay with him so they went and sat down on a bench with Mary Legs stall and put down the lantern at their feet that I might not be disturbed with the light for a while both men sat silent and then Tom Green said in a low voice I wish John you'd say a bit of a kind word to Joe the boy is quite broken hearted he can't eat his meals and he can't smile he says he knows it was all his fault though he is sure he did the best he knew and he says if beauty dies no one will ever speak to him again it goes to my heart to hear him I think you might give him just a word he is not a bad boy after a short pause John said slowly you must not be too hard upon me Tom I know he meant no harm I never said he did I know he is not a bad boy but you see I am sore myself that horses the pride of my heart to say nothing of his being such a favorite with the master and mistress and to think that his life may be flung away in this manner is more than I can bear but if you think I am hard on the boy I will try to give him a good word tomorrow that is I mean if beauty is better well John thank you I knew you did not wish to be too hard and I am glad you see it was only ignorance John's voice almost startled me as he answered only ignorance how can you talk about only ignorance don't you know that it is the worst thing in the world next to wickedness and which does the most mischief heaven only knows if people can say oh I did not know I did not mean any harm right I suppose Martha Mollwash did not mean to kill that baby when she dosed it with Dolby and soothing syrups and she did kill it and was tried for manslaughter and serve her right too said Tom a woman should not undertake to nurse a tender little child without knowing what is good and what is bad for it Bill Starkey continued John did not mean to frighten his brother into fits he was a ghost and ran after him in the moonlight but he did and that bright handsome little fellow that might have been the pride of any mother's heart is just no better than an idiot and never will be if he lives to be 80 years old you were a good deal cut up yourself Tom two weeks ago when those young ladies left your hot house door open with a frosty east wind blowing right in you said it killed a good many of your plants a good many said Tom there was not one of the tender cuttings that was not nipped off I shall have to strike all over again and the worst of it is that I don't know where to go to get fresh ones I was nearly mad when I came in and saw what was done and yet I am sure the young ladies did not mean it it was only ignorance I heard no more of this conversation for the medicine did well and sent me to sleep and in the morning I felt much better but I often thought of John's words when I came to know more of the world End of Chapter 19 Chapter 20 of Black Beauty this is a LibriVox recording all LibriVox recordings are in the public domain for more information or to volunteer please visit LibriVox.org Black Beauty by Anna Sewell Chapter 20 Joe Green went on very well he learned quickly and was so attentive and careful that John began to trust him in many things but as I have said he was small of his age and it was seldom that he was allowed to exercise either ginger or me but it so happened one morning that John was out with justice in the luggage cart and the master wanted a note to be taken immediately to a gentleman's house about three miles distant and sent his orders for Joe to saddle me and take it adding the caution was to ride steadily the note was delivered and we were quietly returning when we came to the brick field here we saw a cart heavily laden with bricks the wheels had stuck fast and the stiff mud of some deep ruts and the carter was shouting and flogging the two horses unmercifully Joe pulled up it was a sad sight there were the two horses straining and struggling with all their might to drag the cart out their legs and flanks their sides heaved and every muscle was strained while the man fiercely pulling at the head of the four horse swore and lashed most brutally hold hard don't go on flogging the horses like that the wheels are so stuck that they cannot move the cart the man took no heed but went on lashing stop pray stop I'll help you to lighten the cart they can't move it now I'm your own business the man was in a towering passion and the worst for drink and laid on the whip again Joe turned my head and the next moment we were going at a round gallop toward the house of the master brickmaker I cannot say if John would have approved of our pace but Joe and I were both of one mind and so angry that we could not have gone slower the house stood close by the roadside Joe knocked at the door and shouted hello is Mr. Clay at home the door was opened and Mr. Clay himself came out hello young man you seem in a hurry any orders from the squire this morning no Mr. Clay but there's a fellow in your brickyard flogging two horses to death I told him to stop and he wouldn't I said I'd help him to lighten the cart and he wouldn't so I've come to tell you praise or go Joe's voice shook with excitement thank ye, my lad said the man running in for his hat if I should bring the fellow up before a magistrate that I will said Joe and glad too the man was gone and we were on our way home at a smart trot why what's the matter with you Joe you look angry all over said John as the boy flung himself from the saddle I'm angry all over I can tell you said the boy and then in hurried excited words he told all that had happened Joe was usually such a quiet gentle little fellow that it was wonderful to see him he was very enraged right Joe you did right my boy whether the fellow gets a summons or not many folks would have written by and said it was not their business to interfere now I say that with cruelty and depression it is everybody's business to interfere when they see it you did right my boy Joe was quite calm by this time and proud that John approved of him and cleaned out my feet and rubbed me down with a firmer hand than usual they were just going home to dinner when the footman came down to the stable to say that Joe was wanted directly in master's private room there was a man brought up for ill-using horses and Joe's evidence was wanted the boy flushed up to his forehead and his eyes sparkled facial habit said he said John Joe gave a pull at his necktie and a twitch at his jacket and was off in a moment our master being one of the county magistrates were often brought to him to settle or say what should be done in the stable we heard no more for some time as it was the men's dinner hour but when Joe came next into the stable I saw he was in high spirits he gave me a good-natured slap and said we won't see such things done will we old fellow we heard afterward that he had given his evidence so clearly and the horses were in such an exhausted state bearing marks of such brutal usage that the Carter was committed to take his trial and might possibly be sentenced to two or three months in prison it was wonderful what a change had come over Joe John laughed and said he had grown an inch taller in that week and I believe he had he was just as kind and gentle as before but there was more purpose and determination in all that he did as if he had jumped at once from a boy into a man End of Chapter 20 Chapter 21 of Black Beauty This is a LibriVox recording All LibriVox recordings are in the public domain For more information or to volunteer please visit LibriVox.org Black Beauty by Anna Sewell Chapter 21 The Parting Now I had lived in this happy place three years but sad changes were about to come over us we heard from time to time that our mistress was ill the doctor was often at the house and the master looked grave and anxious then we heard that she must leave her home at once and go to a warm country for two or three years the news fell upon the household like the tolling of a death bell everybody was sorry but the master began directly to make arrangements for breaking up his establishment and leaving England we used to hear it talked about in our stable indeed nothing else was talked about John went about his work silent and sad and Joe scarcely whistled a great deal of coming and going Ginger and I had full work the first of the party who went were Miss Jessie and Flora with their governess they came to bid us good-bye they hugged poor Marylegs like an old friend and so indeed he was then we heard what had been arranged for us Master had sold Ginger and me to his old friend, the Earl of W for he thought we should have a good place there Marylegs he had given to the vicar who was wanting a pony for Mrs. Bloomfield but it was on the condition that he should never be sold and that when he was past work he should be shot and buried Joe was engaged to take care of him and to help in the house so I thought that Marylegs was well off John had the offer of several good places but he said he should wait a little and look round the evening before they left the master came into the stable to give some directions and to give his horses the last pat he seemed very low-spirited I knew that by his voice I believe we horses can tell more by the voice than many men can have you decided what to do John he said I find you have not accepted either of those offers no sir, I have made up my mind that if I could get a situation with some first-rate colt breaker and horse trainer it would be the right thing for me many young animals are frightened and spoiled by wrong treatment which need not be if the right man took them in hand I always get on well with horses and if I could help some of them to a fair start I should feel as if I was doing some good what do you think of it sir I don't know a man anywhere said master that I should think so suitable for it as yourself you understand horses and somehow they understand you and in time you might set up for yourself I think you could not do better if in any way I can help you right to me I shall speak to my agent in London and leave your character with him master gave John the name and address and then he thanked him for his long and faithful service but that was too much for John pray don't sir I can't bear it you and my dear mistress have done so much for me that I could never repay it but we shall never forget you sir and please God we may someday see mistress back again like herself we must keep up hope sir master gave John his hand but he did not speak and they both left the stable the last sad day had come the footmen in the heavy luggage had gone off the day before and there were only master and mistress and her maid ginger and I brought the carriage up to the hall door for the last time the servants brought out cushions and rugs and many other things and when all were arranged there was no place in his arms I was on the side next to the house and could see all that went on he placed her carefully in the carriage while the house servants stood round crying goodbye again we shall not forget any of you and he got in drive on John Joe jumped up and we trotted slowly through the park and through the village where the people were standing at their doors to have a last look and to say God bless them I heard her say in her own sweet voice goodbye John God bless you I felt the rain twitch but John made no answer perhaps he could not speak as soon as Joe had taken the things out of the carriage John called him to stand by the horses while he went on the platform poor Joe he stood close up to our heads to hide his tears very soon the train came puffing up into the station then two or three minutes when the doors were slammed too the guard whistled and the train glided away leaving behind it only clouds of white smoke and some very heavy hearts when it was quite out of sight John came back we shall never see her again he said never he took the reins, mounted the box and with Joe drove slowly home but it was not our home now End of Chapter 21 Chapter 22 of Black Beauty This is a LibriVox recording all LibriVox recordings are in the public domain for more information or to volunteer please visit LibriVox.org Black Beauty by Anna Sewell Chapter 22 Earl's Hall The next morning after breakfast Joe put Mary Legs into the mistresses' loches to take him to the vicarage he came first and said goodbye to us and Mary Legs nade to us from the yard then John put the saddle on ginger and the leading rain on me and rode us across the country about 15 miles to Earl's Hall Park where the Earl of W lived there was a very fine house and a great deal of stabling we went into the yard through a stone gateway and John asked for Mr. York it was some time before he came he was a fine looking middle aged man and his voice said at once that he expected to be obeyed he was very friendly and polite to John in a light look he called a groom to take us to our boxes and invited John to take some refreshment we were taken to a light airy stable and placed in boxes adjoining each other where we were rubbed down and fed in about half an hour John and Mr. York who was to be our new coachman came in to see us well Mr. Manley he said after carefully looking at us both I can see no fault in these horses but we all know that horses have their peculiarities as well as men and that sometimes they need different treatment I should like to know if there is anything particular in either of them that you would like to mention well said John I don't believe there is a better pair of horses in the country and right grieved I am to part with them but they are not alike the black one is the most perfect temper I ever knew I suppose he has never known a hard word or a blow since he was foed and all his pleasures seem to be to do what you wish but the chestnut I fancy must have had bad treatment we heard as much from the dealer she came to us snappish and suspicious but when she found what sort of place ours was it all went off by degrees for three years I have never seen the smallest sign of temper and if she is well treated there is not a better more willing animal than she is but she is naturally a more irritable constitution than the black horse flies tees her more anything wrong in the harness frets her more and if she were ill used or unfairly treated she would not be unlikely to give tit for tat you know that many high metal horses will do so of course said York I quite understand but you know it is not easy in stables like these to have all the grooms just what they should be I do my best I must leave it I'll remember what you have said about the mare they were going out of the stable when John stopped and said I had better mention that we have never used the check rain with either of them the black horse never had one on and the dealer said it was the gag bit that spoiled the other's temper well said York if they come here they must wear the check rain I prefer a loose rain myself and his lordship is always very reasonable about horses but my lady that's another thing she will have style and if her carriage horses are not rained up tight she wouldn't look at them I always stand out against the gag bit and shall do so but it must be tight when my lady rides I'm sorry for it very sorry said John but I must go now or I shall lose the train he came round to each of us to pat and speak to us for the last time his voice sounded very sad I held my face close to him that was all I could do to say goodbye and then he was gone and I have never seen him since the next day lord W came to look at us he seemed pleased with our appearance I have great confidence in these horses he said from the character my friend Mr. Gordon has given me of them of course not a match in color but my idea is that they will do very well for the carriage while we are in the country before we go to London I must try to match Baron the black horse I believe is perfect for riding York then told him what John had said about us well said he you must keep an eye to the mare and put the check rain easy I dare say they will do very well with a little humoring at first I'll mention it to your lady I've been a harness and put in the carriage and as the stable clock struck three we were led round to the front of the house it was all very grand and three or four times as large as the old house at Birtwick but not half so pleasant if a horse may have an opinion two footmen were standing ready dressed in drab livery with scarlet breeches and white stockings presently we heard the rustling sound of silk as my lady came down the flight of stone steps she stepped round to look at us she was a tall, proud looking woman and did not seem pleased about something but she said nothing and got into the carriage this was the first time of wearing a check rain and I must say though it certainly was a nuisance not to be able to get my head down now and then it did not pull my head higher than I was accustomed to carry it I felt anxious about ginger but she seemed to be quiet and content the next day at three o'clock we were again at the door and the footmen as before we heard the silk dress rustle and the lady came down the steps and in an imperious voice she said York, you must put those horses' heads higher they are not fit to be seen York got down and said very respectfully I beg your pardon my lady but these horses have not been rained up for three years and my lord said it would be safer to bring them to it by degrees but if your lady pleases I can take them up a little more do so she said York came round to our heads and shortened the rain himself as a whole I think every little makes a difference be it for better or worse and that day we had a steep hill to go up then I began to understand what I had heard of of course I wanted to put my head forward and take the carriage up with a will as we had been used to do but no I had to pull with my head up now and that took all the spirit out of me and the strain came on my back and legs when we came in ginger said now you see what it is like but this is not bad it's worse than this I shall say nothing about it for we are very well treated here but if they strain me up tight why let them look out I can't bear it and I won't day by day whole by whole our bearing rains were shortened and instead of looking forward with pleasure to having my harness put on as I used to do I began to dread it ginger too seemed restless though she said very little at last I thought the worst was over for several days there was no more shortening to make the best of it and do my duty though it was now a constant harass instead of a pleasure but the worst was not come End of Chapter 22 Chapter 23 of Black Beauty this is a LibriVox recording all LibriVox recordings are in the public domain for more information or to volunteer please visit LibriVox.org Black Beauty by Anna Sewell Chapter 23 A Strike for Liberty One day my lady came down later than usual and the silk rustled more than ever Drive to the Duchess of Bees She said and then after a pause Are you never going to get those horses heads up York? Race them at once and let us have no more of this humoring and nonsense York came to me first while the groom stood at Ginger's head he drew my head back and fixed the rain so tight that it was almost intolerable then he went to Ginger who was impatiently jerking her head and down against the bit as was her way now she had a good idea of what was coming and the moment York took the rain off the tarot in order to shorten it she took her opportunity and reared up so suddenly that York had his nose roughly hit and his hat knocked off the groom was nearly thrown off his legs at once they both flew to her head but she was a match for them and went on plunging, rearing and kicking in a most desperate manner at last she kicked right over the carriage pole and fell down after giving me a severe blow on my near quarter there is no knowing what further mischief she might have done had not York promptly sat himself down flat on her head to prevent her struggling at the same time calling out Unbuckle the black horse run for the winch and unscrew the carriage pole cut the trace here somebody if you can unhitch it one of the footmen ran for the winch and another brought a knife from the house the groom soon set me free from Ginger in the carriage and led me to my box he just turned me in as I was and ran back to York I was much excited by what had happened and if I had ever been used to kick or rear I am sure I should have done it then but I never had and there I stood angry, sore in my leg my head still strained up to the turret on the saddle and no power to get it down I was very miserable and felt much inclined to kick the first person who came near me before long however Ginger was led in by two grooms a good deal knocked about and bruised York came with her and gave his orders and then came to look at me in a moment he let down my head cut found these check reins he said to himself I thought we should have some mischief soon master will be sorely vexed but there if a woman's husband can't ruler of course a servant can't so I washed my hands of it and if she can't get to the Duchess's garden party I can't help it York did not say this before the men he always spoke respectfully when they were by now he felt me all over and soon found the place above my hawk where I had been kicked it was swelled and painful he ordered it to be sponged with hot water and then some lotion was put on Lord W. was much put out when he learned what had happened he blamed York for giving way to his mistress to which he replied that in future he would much prefer to receive his orders but I think nothing came of it for things went on the same as before I thought York might have stood up better for his horses but perhaps I am no judge Ginger was never put into the carriage again but when she was well of her bruises one of the Lord W's younger son said he should like to have her he was sure she would make a good hunter as for me I was obliged still to go in the carriage and had a fresh partner called Max he had always been used to the tight rain I asked him how it was he bore it well he said I bear it because I must but it is shortening my life and it will shorten yours too if you have to stick to it do you think I said that our masters know how bad it is for us I can't say he replied but the dealers and the horse doctors know it very well I was at a dealer's once who was training me and another horse to go as a pair he was getting our heads up as he said a little higher and a little higher every day the gentleman who was there asked him why he did so because said he people won't buy them unless we do the London people always want their horses to carry their heads high and to step high of course it is very bad for the horses but then it is good for trade the horses soon wear up or get diseased and they come for another pair that said Max is what he said in my hearing and you can judge for yourself what I suffered with that rain for four long months in my lady's carriage it would be hard to describe I'm quite sure that had it lasted much longer either my health or my temper would have given way before that I never knew what it was to foam at the mouth but now the action of the sharp bit on my tongue and jaw and the constrained position of my head and throat always caused me to froth at the mouth more or less some people think it very fine to see this and say what fine spirited creatures but it is just as unnatural for horses as for men to foam at the mouth and is a sure sign of some discomfort and should be attended to besides this there was a pressure on my windpipe which often made my breathing very uncomfortable when I returned from my work my neck and chest were strained and painful my mouth and tongue tender and I felt worn and depressed in my old home I always knew that John and my master were my friends but here although in many ways I was well treated I had no friend York might have known and very likely did know how that rain harassed me but I suppose he took it as a matter of course that it could not be helped at any rate nothing was done to relieve me End of Chapter 23 Chapter 24 of Black Beauty This is a LibriVox recording All LibriVox recordings are in the public domain For more information or to volunteer please visit LibriVox.org Black Beauty by Anna Sewell Chapter 24 The Lady Anne Or a Runaway Horse Early in the spring Lord W and part of his family went up to London and took York with them I and Ginger and some other horses were left at home for use and the head groom was left in charge The Lady Harriet who remained at the hall was a great invalid and never went out in the carriage and the Lady Anne preferred riding on horseback with her brother or cousins She was a perfect horsewoman as gentle as she was beautiful She chose me for her horse and named me Black Oster I enjoyed these rides very much in the clear cold air sometimes with Ginger, sometimes with Lizzie This Lizzie was a bright bay mare almost thoroughbred and a great favorite with the gentleman on account of her fine action and lively spirit but Ginger, who knew more of her than I did told me she was rather nervous There was a gentleman of the name of Blantyre staying at the hall He always rode Lizzie and praised her so much that one day Lady Anne ordered the side saddle to be put on her and the other saddle on me When we came to the door the gentleman seemed very uneasy How is this? He said Are you tired of your good Black Oster? Oh no, not at all She replied But I am amiable enough to let you ride him for once and I will try your charming Lizzie The lady's horse has been my own favorite Do let me advise you not to mount her He said She is a charming creature but she is too nervous for a lady I assure you, she is not perfectly safe Let me beg you to have the saddles changed My dear cousin said Lady Anne, laughing Pretty not trouble your good, careful head about me I have been a horsewoman ever since I was a baby and I have followed the hounds a great many times though I know you do not approve of ladies hunting But still, that is the fact and I intend to try this Lizzie that you gentlemen are also fond of so please help me to mount like a good friend as you are There was no more to be said He placed her carefully on the saddle looked to the bit and curb gave the reins gently into her hand and then mounted me Just as we were moving off a footman came out with a slip of paper and a message from the lady Harriet Would they ask this question for her at Dr. Ashley's and bring the answer The village was about a mile off and the doctor's house was the last in it We went along gaily enough till we came to his gate There was a short drive up to the house between tall evergreens Blantyre lighted at the gate and was going to open it for Lady Anne But she said, I will wait for you here and you can hang Oster's reign on the gate He looked at her doubtfully I will not be five minutes He said, oh do not hurt yourself Lizzie and I shall not run away from you My reign on one of the iron spikes and was soon hidden among the trees Lizzie was standing quietly by the side of the road a few paces off with her back to me My young mistress was sitting easily with a loose reign humming a little song I listened to my rider's footsteps until they reached the house and heard him knock at the door There was a meadow on the opposite side of the road the gate of which stood open Just then some cart-horses and several young colts came trotting out in an orderly manner While a boy behind was cracking a great whip The colts were wild and frolicsome and one of them bolted across the road and blundered up against Lizzie's hind legs and whether it was the stupid colt or the loud cracking of the whip or both together I cannot say but she gave a violent kick and dashed off into a headlong gallop It was so sudden that Lady Anne was nearly unseated but she soon recovered herself in full nay for help again and again I nade pawing the ground impatiently and tossing my head to get the rain loose I had not long to wait Blantyre came running to the gate He looked anxiously about and just caught sight of the flying figure now far away on the road In an instant he sprang to the saddle I needed no whip, no spur for I was as eager as my rider He saw it and giving me a free reign and leaning a little forward after them for about a mile and a half the road ran straight and then bent to the right after which it divided into two roads long before we came to the bend she was out of sight which way had she turned a woman was standing at her garden gate shading her eyes with her hand and looking eagerly up the road scarcely drawing the rain Blantyre shouted to the right cried the woman pointing with her hand went up the right hand road then for a moment we caught sight of her another bend and she was hidden again several times we caught glimpses and then lost them we scarcely seemed to gain ground upon them at all an old road mender was standing near a heap of stones his shovel dropped and his hands raised as we came near he made a sign to speak Blantyre drew the rain a little to the common to the common sir she has turned off there she knew this common very well it was for the most part very uneven ground covered with heather and dark green furs bushes with here and there a scrubby old thorn tree there were also open spaces of fine short grass with ant hills and mole turns everywhere the worst place I ever knew for a headlong gallop we had hardly turned on the common when we caught sight again of the green habit flying on before us my lady's hat was gone and her long brown hair was streaming behind her her head and body were thrown back as if she were pulling with all her remaining strength and as if that strength were nearly exhausted it was clear that the roughness of the ground had very much lessened Lizzie's speed and there seemed a chance that we might overtake her while we were on the high road Blantyre had given me my head but now with a light hand and a practiced eye he guided me over the ground in such a masterly manner that my pace was scarcely slackened and we were decidedly gaining on them about halfway across the heath there had been a wide dike recently cut and the earth from the cutting was cast up roughly on the other side surely this would stop them but no, with scarcely a pause Lizzie took the leap stumbled among the rough clods and fell Blantyre groaned now, Oster, do your best he gave me a steady reign I gathered myself well together and with one determined leap cleared both dike and bank motionless among the heather with her face to the earth lay my poor young mistress Blantyre kneeled down and called her name there was no sound gently he turned her face upward it was ghastly white and the eyes were closed Annie dear Annie do speak but there was no answer he unbuttoned her habit loosened her collar felt her hands and wrist then started up and looked wildly round him for help at no great distance there were two men cutting turf who, seeing Lizzie running wild without a rider had left their work to catch her Blantyre's Halu soon brought them to the spot the foremost man seemed much troubled at the site and asked what he could do can you ride? well sir, I beamed much of a horseman but I'd richly neck for the lady Anne she was uncommon good to my wife in the winter then mount us horse my friend your neck will be quite safe and ride to the doctors and ask him to come instantly then on to the hall tell them all you know and bid them send me a carriage with lady Anne's maid and help I shall stay here alright sir, I'll do my best and I pray God the dear young lady may open her eyes soon then seeing the other man he called out here Joe run for some water and tell my missus to come as quick as she can to the lady Anne he then somehow scrambled into the saddle and with a G up and a clap on my sides with both his legs he started on his journey making a little circuit to avoid the dyke he had no whip which seemed to trouble him but my pace soon cured that difficulty and he found the best thing he could do was to stick to the saddle and hold me in which he did manfully I shook him as little as I could help but once or twice on the rough ground he called out steady whoa steady on the high road we were all right and at the doctors in the hall he did his errand like a good man and true they asked him in to take a drop of something no no he said I'll be back to him again by a short cut through the fields there was a great deal of hurry and excitement after the news became known I was just turned into my box the saddle and bridle were taken off and a cloth thrown over me ginger was saddled and sent off in great haste for Lord George and I soon heard the carriage roll out of the yard it seemed a long time before ginger came back and before we were left alone and then she told me all that she had seen I can't tell much we went a gallop nearly all the way and got there just as the doctor wrote up there was a woman sitting on the ground with the lady's head in her lap the doctor poured something into her mouth but all that I heard was she's not dead then I was let off by a man to a little distance after a while she was taken to the carriage and we came home together I heard my master say to a gentleman who stopped him to inquire that he hoped no bones were broken but that she had not spoken yet when Lord George took ginger for hunting York shook his head and began to train a horse for the first season and not a random rider like Lord George ginger used to like it very much but sometimes when she came back I could see that she had been very much strained and now and then she gave a short cough she had too much spirit to complain but I could not help feeling anxious about her two days after the accident Blantyre paid me a visit he padded me and praised me very much he told Lord George that he was sure the horse knew of Annie's danger as well as he did I could not have held him in if I would said he she ought never to ride any other horse I found by their conversation that my young mistress was now out of danger and would soon be able to ride again this was good news to me and I looked forward to a happy life End of Chapter 24 Chapter 25 of Black Beauty This is a LibriVox recording All LibriVox recordings are in the public domain For more information or to volunteer please visit LibriVox.org Black Beauty by Anna Sewell Chapter 25 Ruben Smith Now I must say a little about Ruben Smith who was left in charge of the stables when York went to London No one more thoroughly understood his business than he did and when he was all right there could not be a more faithful or valuable man he was gentle and very clever in his management of horses and could doctor them almost as well as a farrier for he had lived two years with a veterinary surgeon he was a first rate driver he could take a foreign hand or a tandem as easily as a pair he was a handsome man, a good scholar and had very pleasant manners I believe everybody liked him certainly the horses did the only wonder was that he should be in an under situation and not in the place of a head coachman like York but he had one great fault the love of drink he was not like some men always at it he used to keep steady for weeks or months together and then he would break out and have a bout of it as York called it and be a disgrace to himself, a terror to his wife and a nuisance to all that had to do with him he was however so useful that two or three times York had hushed the matter up and kept it from the Earl's knowledge but one night when Ruben had to drive a party home from a ball he thought that he could not hold the reins and a gentleman of the party had to mount the box and drive the ladies home of course this could not be hidden and Ruben was at once dismissed his poor wife and little children had to turn out of the pretty cottage by the park gate and go where they could old Max told me all this for it happened a good while ago but shortly before Ginger and I came Smith had been taken back again York had interceded for him with the Earl who was very kind-hearted and promised faithfully that he would never taste another drop as long as he lived there he had kept his promise so well that York thought he might be safely trusted to fill his place while he was away and he was so clever and honest that no one else seemed so well fitted for it it was now early in April and the family was expected home sometime in May the light broom was to be freshed on up and as Colonel Blantyre was obliged to return to his regiment it was arranged that Smith should drive him out of town in it and ride back for this purpose he took the saddle with him and I was chosen for the journey at the station the Colonel put some money into Smith's hand and bid him goodbye saying take care of your young mistress Ruben and don't let Black Oster be hacked about by any random young prig that wants to ride him keep him for the lady we left the carriage at the makers and Smith rode me to the White Lion and ordered the hostler to feed me well and have me ready for him at four o'clock a nail in one of my front shoes had started as I came along but the hostler did not notice it till just about four o'clock Smith did not come into the yard till five and then he said he should not leave till six as he had met with some old friends the man then told him of the nail and asked if he should have the shoe looked to no said Smith that will be all right till we get home he spoke in a very loud offhand way and I thought it very unlike him not to see about the shoe as he was generally wonderfully particular about loose nails in our shoes he did not come at six nor seven nor eight and it was nearly nine o'clock before he called for me and then it was with a loud rough voice he seemed in a very bad temper and abused the hostler though I could not tell what for the landlord stood at the door and said have a care Mr. Smith but he answered angrily with an oath and almost before he was out of the town he said the moon had not yet risen and it was very dark the roads were stony having been recently mended going over them at this pace my shoe became looser and as we neared the turnpike gate it came off if Smith had been in his right senses he would have been sensible of something wrong in my pace but he was too drunk to notice beyond the turnpike was a long piece of road on which fresh stones had just been laid large sharp stones over which no horse could be driven quickly without risk of danger over this road with one shoe gone I was forced to gallop at my utmost speed my rider meanwhile cutting into me with his whip and with wild curses urging me to go still faster of course my shoeless foot suffered dreadfully the hoof was broken and split down to the very quick and the inside was terribly cut by the sharpness of the stones this could not go on no horse could keep his footing under such circumstances the pain was too great I stumbled and fell with violence on both my knees Smith was flung off by my fall and owing to the speed I was going at he must have fallen with great force I soon recovered my feet and limped to the side of the road where it was free from stones the moon had just risen above the hedge and by its light I could see Smith lying a few yards beyond me he did not rise he made one slight effort to do so and then there was a heavy groan I could have groaned too for I was suffering intense pain both from my foot and knees but horses are used to bear their pain in silence I uttered no sound but I stood there and listened one more heavy groan from Smith but though he now lay in the full moonlight I could see no motion I could do nothing for him nor myself but oh how I listened for the sound of horse or wheels or footsteps the road was not much frequented and at this time of the night we might stay for hours before help came to us I stood watching and listening it was a calm sweet April night there were no sounds but a few low notes of a nightingale and nothing moved but the white clouds near the moon and a brown owl that flitted over the hedge it made me think of the summer nights long ago when I used to lie beside my mother in the green pleasant meadow at Farmer Gray's end of Chapter 25 Chapter 26 of Black Beauty this is a LibriVox recording all LibriVox recordings are in the public domain for more information or to volunteer please visit LibriVox.org Black Beauty by Anna Sewell Chapter 26 How It Ended it must have been nearly midnight when I heard at a great distance the sound of a horse's feet sometimes the sound died away then it grew clearer again and nearer the road to Earl's Hall led through woods that belonged to the Earl the sound came in that direction and I hoped it might be someone coming in search of us as the sound came nearer and nearer I was almost sure I could distinguish Ginger's step a little nearer still and I could tell she was in the dog cart I neighed loudly and was overjoyed to hear an answering neigh from Ginger and men's voices they came slowly over the stones and stopped at the dark figure that lay upon the ground one of the men jumped out and stooped down over it it is Ruben he said and he does not stir the other man followed and bent over him he's dead he said feel how cold his hands are they raised him up but there was no life and his hair was soaked with blood they laid him down again and came and looked at me they soon saw my cut knees why the horse has been down and thrown him who could have thought the black horse would have done that nobody thought he could fall Ruben must have been lying here for hours odd too that the horse has not moved from the place Robert then attempted to lead me forward I made a step but almost fell again hello he's bad in his foot as well as his knees look here his hoof has cut all to pieces he might well come down poor fellow I tell you what Ned I'm afraid it hasn't been all right with Ruben just think of his riding a horse over these stones without a shoe why if he had been in his right senses he would just as soon have tried to ride him over the moon I'm afraid it has been the old thing over again poor Susan she looked awfully pale when she came to my house to ask if he had not come home she made believe she was not a bit anxious and talked of a lot of things that might have kept him but for all that she begged me to go and meet him but what must we do there's the horse to get home as well as the body and that will be no easy matter then followed a conversation between them till it was agreed that Robert as the groom should lead me and that Ned must take the body it was a hard job to get it into the dog cart for there was no one to hold ginger but she knew as well as I did what was going on and stood as still as a stone I noticed that because if she had a fault it was that she was impatient in standing Ned started off very slowly with his sad load and Robert came and looked at my foot again then he took off his handkerchief and bound it closely round and so he led me home I shall never forget that night walk it was more than three miles Robert led me on very slowly and I limped and hobbled on as well as I could with great pain I am sure he was sorry for me for he often patted and encouraged me talking to me in a pleasant voice at last I reached my own box and had some corn and after Robert had wrapped up my knees in wet cloths he tied up my foot in a brand poultice to draw out the heat and cleanse it before the horse doctor saw it in the morning and I managed to get myself down on the straw and slept in spite of the pain the next day after the farrier had examined my wounds he said he hoped the joint was not injured and if so I should not be spoiled for work but I should never lose the blemish I believe they did the best to make it a good cure but it was a long and painful one proud flesh as they called it came up in my knees and was burned out with caustic and when at last it was healed they put a blistering fluid over the front of both knees to bring all the hair off they had some reason for this and I suppose it was all right as Smith's death had been so sudden and no one was there to see it the inquest held the landlord and hustler at the White Lion with several other people gave evidence that he was intoxicated when he started from the inn the keeper of the toll gate said he rode at a hard gallop through the gate and my shoe was picked up among the stones so that the cause was quite plain to them and I was cleared of all blame everybody pitied Susan she was nearly out of her mind she kept saying over and over again oh it was so good so good it was all that cursed drink why would they sell that cursed drink oh Ruben Ruben so she went on till after he was buried and then as she had no home or relations she with her six little children was obliged once more to leave the pleasant home by the tall oak trees and go into that great gloomy union house End of Chapter 26 Chapter 27 of Black Beauty This is a LibriVox recording all LibriVox recordings are in the public domain for more information or to volunteer please visit LibriVox.org Black Beauty by Anna Sewell Chapter 27 RUINED AND GOING DOWN HILL As soon as my knees were sufficiently healed I was turned into a small meadow for a month or two no other creature was there and though I enjoyed the liberty in the sweet grass I had been so long used to society that I felt very lonely Ginger and I had become fast friends and now I missed her company extremely I often nade when I heard horses' feet passing in the road but I seldom got an answer till one morning the gate was opened and who should come in but dear old Ginger the man slipped off her halter and left her there with a joyful whinny I trotted up to her we were both glad to meet but I soon found that it was not for our pleasure to be with me her story would be too long to tell but the end of it was that she had been ruined by hard riding and was now turned off to see what rest would do Lord George was young and would take no warning he was a hard rider and would hunt whenever he could get the chance quite careless of his horse soon after I left the stable there was a steeple-chase and he determined to ride though the groom told him she was a little strained and was not fit for the race and on the day of the race urged Ginger to keep up with the foremost riders with her high spirit she strained herself to the utmost she came in with the first three horses but her wind was touched besides which she was too heavy for her and her back was strained and so she said here we are ruined in the prime of our youth and strength you by a drunkard and I by a fool it is very hard we both felt in ourselves that we were not what we had been however that did not spoil the pleasure we had in each other's company we did not gallop about as we once did but we used to feed and lie down together and stand for hours under one of the shady lime trees with our heads close to each other and so we passed our time till the family returned from town one day we saw the Earl come into the meadow and York was with him seeing who it was we stood still under our lime tree and let them come up to us they examined us carefully the Earl seemed much annoyed there is 300 pounds flung away for no earthly use said he but what I care most for is that these horses of my old friend who thought they would find a good home with me are ruined the mayor shall have a 12 months run and we shall see what that will do for her but the black one he must be sold it is a great pity but I could not have knees like these in my stables no my lord, of course not said York but he might get a place where appearance is not of much consequence and still be well treated I know a man in bath the master of some livery stables who often wants a good horse at a low figure I know he looks well after his horses the inquest cleared the horse's character and your lordship's recommendation or mine would be sufficient warrant for him you had better write to him York to be more particular about the place than the money he would fetch after this they left us they'll soon take you away said ginger and I shall lose the only friend I have and most likely we shall never see each other again it is a hard world about a week after this Robert came into the field with a halter which he slipped over my head and led me away there was no leave-taking of ginger we made to each other as I was led off and she trotted anxiously along by the hedge calling to me as long as she could hear the sound of my feet through the recommendation of York I was bought by the master of the livery stables I had to go by train which was new to me and required a good deal of courage the first time but as I found the puffing rushing whistling and more than all the trembling of the horse-box in which I stood did me no real harm I soon took it quietly when I reached the end of my journey I found myself in a tolerably comfortable stable and well attended to these stables were not so airy and pleasant as those I had been used to the stalls were laid on a slope instead of being level and as my head was kept tied to the manger I was obliged always to stand on the slope which was very fatiguing men do not seem to know yet that horses can do more work if they can stand comfortably and can turn about however I was well fed and well cleaned and on the whole I think our master took as much care of us as he could he kept a good many horses and carriages of different kinds for hire sometimes his own men drove them at others the horse and shez were let to the gentlemen or ladies who drove themselves End of Chapter 27 Chapter 28 of Black Beauty this is a LibriVox recording all LibriVox recordings are in the public domain for more information or to volunteer please visit LibriVox.org Black Beauty by Anna Sewell Chapter 28 A Job Horse and His Drivers hitherto I had always been driven by people who at least knew how to drive but in this place I was to get my experience of all the different kinds of bad and ignorant driving to which we horses are subjected for I was a job horse and was let out to all sorts of people who wished to hire me and as I was good tempered and gentle I think I was often or let out to the ignorant drivers than some of the other horses because I could be depended upon it would take a long time to tell of all the different styles in which I was driven but I will mention a few of them first there were the tight rain drivers men who seemed to think that all depended on holding the reins as hard as they could never relaxing the pull on the horse's mouth or giving him the least liberty of movement they are always talking about keeping the horse well in hand holding a horse up just as if a horse was not made to hold himself up some poor broken down horses whose mouths have been made hard and insensible by just such drivers as these may perhaps find some support in it but for a horse who can depend upon his own legs and who has a tender mouth and is easily guided it is not only tormenting but it is stupid then there are the loose rain drivers who let the reins lie easily on our backs and their own hand rest lazily on their knees of course such gentlemen have no control over a horse if anything happens suddenly if a horse shies or starts or stumbles they are nowhere and cannot help the horse or themselves till the mischief is done of course for myself I had no objection to it as I was not in the habit either of starting or stumbling and had only been used to depend on my driver for guidance and encouragement still one likes to feel the rain a little going downhill and likes to know that one's driver has not gone to sleep besides a slovenly way of driving gets a horse into bad and often lazy habits and when he changes hands he has to be whipped out of them with more or less pain and trouble Squire Gordon always kept us to our best paces and our best manners he said that spoiling a horse and letting him get into bad habits was just as cruel as spoiling a child and both had to suffer for it afterward besides these drivers are often careless altogether and will attend to anything else more than their horses I went out in the Fayeton one day with one of them he had a lady and two children behind he flopped the reins about as we started and of course gave me several unmeaning cuts with the whip though I was fairly off there had been a good deal of road mending going on and even where the stones were not freshly laid down there were a great many loose ones about my driver was laughing and joking with the lady and the children talking about the country to the right and the left but he never thought it worthwhile to keep an eye on his horse or to drive on the smoothest parts of the road and so it easily happened that I got a stone in one of my four feet now if Mr. Gordon or John or in fact any good driver had been there he would have seen that something was wrong before I had gone three paces or even if it had been dark a practised hand would have felt by the rain that there was something wrong in the step and they would have got down and picked out laughing and talking while at every step the stone became more firmly wedged between my shoe and the frog of my foot the stone was sharp on the inside and round on the outside which as everyone knows is the most dangerous kind that a horse can pick up at the same time cutting his foot and making him most liable to stumble and fall whether the man was partly blind or only very careless I can't say but he drove me with that stone in my foot for a good half mile before he saw anything by that time I was going so lame with the pain that he at last saw it and called out well here's a go why they have sent us out of a lame horse what a shame he then chucked the reins and flipped about with the whip saying now then it's no use playing the old soldier with me there's the journey to go and it's no use turning lame and lazy just at this time a farmer came riding up on a brown cob he lifted his hat and pulled up you bet your partner sir he said but I think there's something to matter with your horse he goes very much as if he had a stone in his shoe if you allow me I'll look at his feet these loose scattered stones are confounded dangerous things for the horses he's a hired horse said my driver I don't know what's the matter with him but it is a great shame to send out a lame beast like this the farmer dismounted and slipping his reign over his arm at once took up my near foot bless me there's a stone lame I should think so at first he tried to dislodge it with his hand but as it was now very tightly wedged he drew a stone pick out of his pocket and very carefully and with some trouble got it out then holding it up he said there that's the stone your horse has picked up it's a wonder he did not fall down his knees into the bargain well to be sure said my driver that is a queer thing I never knew that horse has picked up stones before didn't you said the farmer rather contemptuously but they do though and the best of them will do it kind of sometimes on such roads as these if you don't want to lame your horse you must look sharp and get them out quickly this foot is very much bruised he said setting it gently down and patting me if I might advise sir you'd better drive him gently for a while the foot is a good deal hurt and the lameness will not go off directly then mounting his cob and raising his hat to the lady he trotted off when he was gone my driver began to flop the reins about and whip the harness by which I understood that I was to go on which of course I did glad that the stone was gone but still in a good deal of pain this was the sort of experience we job horses often came in for end of chapter 28 chapter 29 of black beauty this is a LibriVox recording all LibriVox recordings are in the public domain for more information or to volunteer please visit LibriVox.org black beauty by Anna Sewell chapter 29 then there is the steam engine style of driving these drivers were mostly people from towns who never had a horse of their own and generally traveled by rail they always seemed to think that a horse was something like a steam engine only smaller at any rate they think that if only they pay for it a horse is bound to go just as far and just as fast and with just as heavy a load as they please and be the roads heavy and muddy or dry and good be they stony smooth uphill or downhill it is all the same on on on one must go at the same pace with no relief and no consideration these people never think of getting out to walk up a steep hill oh no they have paid to ride and ride they will the horse oh he's used to it what were horses made for if not to drag people uphill walk a good joke indeed and so the whip is plied and the rain is chucked and often a rough holding voice cries out go along you lazy beast and then another slash of the whip when all the time we are doing our very best to get along uncomplaining and obedient though often sorely harassed and downhearted this steam engine style of driving wears us up faster than any other kind I would far rather go 20 miles with a good considerate driver than I would go 10 with some of these it would take less out of me another thing they scarcely ever put on the brake however steep the downhill may be and thus bad accidents sometimes happen or if they do put it on they often forget to take it off at the bottom of the hill and more than once I have had to pull half way up the next hill with one of the wheels held by the brake before my driver chose to think about it and that is a terrible strain on a horse then these cockneys instead of starting at an easy pace as a gentleman would do generally set off at full speed from the stable yard and when they want to stop they first whip us and then pull up so suddenly that we are nearly thrown on our haunches and our mouths jagged with the bit they call that pulling up with a dash and when they turn a corner they do it as sharply as if there were no right side or wrong side of the road I well remember one spring evening I and Rory had been out for the day Rory was the horse that mostly went with me when a pair was ordered and a good honest fellow he was our own driver and as he was always considerate and gentle with us we had a very pleasant day we were coming home at a good smart pace about twilight our road turned sharp to the left but as we were close to the hedge on our own side and there was plenty of room to pass our driver did not pull us in as we neared the corner I heard a horse and two wheels coming rapidly down the hill toward us the hedge was high and I could see nothing but the next moment we were upon each other happily for me I was on the side next to the hedge Rory was on the left side of the pole and had not even a shaft to protect him the man who was driving was making straight for the corner and when he came inside of us he had no time to pull over to his own side the whole shock came upon Rory the gig shaft ran right into the chest making him stagger back with a cry that I shall never forget the other horse was thrown upon his haunches and one shaft broken it turned out that it was a horse from our own stables with the high-wheeled gig that the young men were so fond of the driver was one of those random ignorant fellows who don't even know which is their own side of the road or if they know don't care and there was poor Rory with his flesh torn open and bleeding and the blood streaming down they said if it had been a little more to one side it would have killed him and a good thing for him poor fellow if it had as it was it was a long time before the wound healed and then he was sold for coal-carding and what that is up and down those steep hills only horses know some of the sights I saw there where a horse had to come downhill with a heavily loaded two-wheel cart behind him on which no break could be placed make me sad even now to think of after Rory was disabled I often went in the carriage with a mare named Peggy who stood in the next stall to mine she was a strong well-made animal of a bright done colour beautifully dappled and with a dark brown mane and tail there was no high breeding about her but she was very pretty and remarkably sweet-tempered and willing still there was an anxious look about her eye by which I knew that she had some trouble the first time we went out together I thought she had a very odd pace she seemed to go partly a trot partly a canter three or four paces and then a little jump forward it was very unpleasant for any horse who pulled with her and made me quite fidgety when we got home I asked her what made her go in that odd awkward way ah she said in a troubled manner I know my paces are very bad but what can I do it really is not my fault it is just because my legs are so short I stand nearly as high as you but your legs are a good three inches longer above your knee than mine and of course you can take a much longer step and go much faster you see I did not make myself I would have had long legs then all my troubles come from my short legs said Peggy in a desponding tone but how is it I said when you are so strong and good-tempered and willing why you see said she men will go so fast and if one can't keep up to other horses it is nothing but whip whip whip all the time and so I have had to keep up as I could and I've gotten to this ugly shuffling pace it was not always so when I lived with my first master I always went a good regular trot then he was not in such a hurry he was a young clergyman in the country and a good kind master he was he had two churches a good way apart and a great deal of work but he never scolded or whipped me for not going faster he was very fond of me I only wish I was with him now but he had to leave and go to a larger town and then I was sold to a farmer some farmers you know are capital masters but I think this one was a low sort of man he cared nothing about good horses or good driving he only cared for going fast I went as fast as I could but that would not do and he was always whipping so I got into this way of making a spring forward to keep up on market nights he used to stay very late at the inn and then drive home at a gallop one dark night he was galloping home as usual when all of a sudden the wheel came against some great heavy thing in the road and turned the gig over in a minute he was thrown out and his arm broken and some of his ribs I think at any rate it was the end of my living with him and I was not sorry but you see it will be the same everywhere for me if men must go so fast I wish my legs were longer poor Peggy I was very sorry for her and I could not comfort her for I knew how hard it was upon slow paced horses to be put with fast ones all the whipping comes to their share and they can't help it she was often used in the Phaeton and was very much liked by some of the ladies because she was so gentle and sometime after this she was sold to two ladies who drove themselves and wanted a safe good horse I met her several times out in the country going a good steady pace and looking as gay and contented as a horse could be I was very glad to see her for she deserved a good place after she left us another horse came in her stead he was young and had a bad name for shying and starting by which he had lost a good place I asked him what made him shy well I hardly know he said I was timid when I was young and was a good deal frightened several times and if I saw anything strange I used to turn and look at it you see with our blinkers one can't see or understand what a thing is unless one looks around and then my master always gave me a whipping which of course made me start on and did not make me any less afraid I think if he would have let me just look at things quietly and see that there was nothing to hurt me it would have been alright and I should have got used to them one day an old gentleman was riding with him and a large piece of white paper or rag just blew across on one side of me I shied and started forward my master as usual he whipped me smartly but the old man cried out you're wrong, you're wrong you should never whip a horse for shying he shies because he's frightened and you only frighten him more and make the habit worse so I suppose all men don't do so I am sure I don't want to shy for the sake of it but how should one know what is dangerous and what is not if only one is never allowed to get used to anything I am never afraid of what I know now I was brought up in a park where there were deer of course I knew them all as well as I did a sheep or a cow but they are not common and I know many sensible horses who are frightened of them and you kick up quite a shindig before they pass the paddock where there are deer I knew what my companion said was true and I wished that every young horse had as good masters as Farmer Gray and Squire Gordon of course we sometimes came in for good driving here I remember one morning the horses put into the light gig and take into a house in Pultney Street two gentlemen came out the taller of them came round to my head he looked at the bit and bridle and just shifted the collar with his hand to see if it fitted comfortably do you consider this horse what's a curb he said to the hustler well said the man I should say he would go just as well without he has an uncommon good mouth and though he has a fine spirit he has no advice so really fine people like the curb I don't like it said the gentlemen be so good as to take it off and put the rain in at the cheek an easy mouth is a great thing on a long journey is it not old fellow he said patting my neck then he took the reins and they both got up I can remember now how quietly he turned me round and then with a light feel of the rain and drawing the whip gently across my back we were off I arched my neck and set off at my best pace as someone behind me who knew how a good horse ought to be driven it seemed like old times again and made me feel quite gay this gentleman took a great liking to me and after trying me several times with the saddle he prevailed upon my master to sell me to a friend of his who wanted a safe pleasant horse for riding and so it came to pass that in the summer I was sold to Mr. Berry End of Chapter 29 Chapter 30 of Black Beauty This is a LibriVox recording all LibriVox recordings are in the public domain for more information or to volunteer please visit LibriVox.org Black Beauty by Anna Sewell Chapter 30 A Thief My new master was an unmarried man he lived at Bath and was much engaged in business his doctor advised him to take horse exercise and for this purpose he bought me he hired a stable a short distance from his lodgings and engaged a man named Filcher as Groom my master knew very little about horses but he treated me well and I should have had a good and easy place but for circumstances of which he was ignorant he ordered the best hay with plenty of oats crushed beans and bran with vetches or ryegrass as the man might think needful I heard the master give the order so I knew there was plenty of good food and I thought I was well off for a few days all went on well I found that my Groom understood his business he kept the stable clean and airy and he groomed me thoroughly and was never otherwise than gentle he had been a hostler in one of the great hotels in Bath he had given that up and now cultivated fruit and vegetables for the market and his wife bred and fattened poultry and rabbits for sale after a while it seemed to me that my oats came very short I had the beans the pan was mixed with them instead of oats of which there were very few certainly not more than a quarter of what there should have been in two or three weeks this began to tell upon my strength and spirits the grass food, though very good was not the thing to keep up my condition without corn however I could not complain nor make known my wants so it went on for about two months and I wondered that my master did not see that something was the matter however one afternoon he rode out into the country to see a friend of his a gentleman farmer who lived on the road to Wells this gentleman had a very quick eye for horses and after he had welcomed his friend he said casting his eye over me it seems to me Mary that your horse does not look so well as he did when you first had him has he been well? yes I believe so said my master but he is not nearly as lively as he was my groom tells me that horses are always dull and weak in the autumn and that I must expect it autumn fiddle sticks said the farmer why this is only August and with your light work and good food he ought not to fall down like this even if it was autumn how do you feed him? my master told him the others shook his head slowly and began to feel me over I can't say who eats your corn my dear fellow or I'm much mistaken if your horse gets it have you ridden very fast? no very gently then just put your hand here said he passing his hand over my neck and shoulder he is as warm and damp as a horse just come up from grass I advise you to look in your stable little lord I hate to be suspicious I think heaven now have no cost to me for I can trust my men present or absent but there are mean scoundrels wicked enough to rob a dumb beast of a spoon you must look into it and turning to his man who had come to take me give this horse a right good feed of bruised oats and oats syndrome dumb beasts yes we are but if I could have spoken I could have told my master where his oats went to my groom used to come every morning about six o'clock and with him a little boy who always had a covered basket with him he used to go with his father into the harness room where the corn was kept and I could see them when the door stood ajar fill a little bag with oats out of the bin and then he used to be off five or six mornings after this just as the boy had left the stable the door was pushed open and a policeman walked in holding the child tight by the arm another policeman followed and locked the door on the inside saying show me the place where your father keeps his rabbits food the boy looked very frightened and began to cry but there was no escape and he led the way to the corn bin here the policeman found another empty bag like that which was found full of oats in the boy's basket Filcher was cleaning my feet at the time but they soon saw him he clustered a good deal they walked him off to the lock-up and his boy with him I heard afterward that the boy was not held to be guilty but the man was sentenced to prison for two months End of Chapter 30 Chapter 31 of Black Beauty This is a LibriVox recording All LibriVox recordings are in the public domain For more information or to volunteer please visit LibriVox.org Black Beauty by Anna Sewell Chapter 31 A Humbug My master was not immediately suited but in a few days my new groom came he was a tall, good-looking fellow enough but if ever there was a humbug in the shape of a groom Alfred Smirk was the man he was very civil to me and never used me ill in fact he did a great deal of stroking and patting when his master was there to see it he always brushed my mane and tail with water and my hoofs with oil before he brought me to the door but as to cleaning my feet or looking to my shoes or grooming me thoroughly he thought no more of that than if I had been a cow he left my bit rusty my saddle damp and my cropper stiff Alfred Smirk considered himself very handsome he spent a great deal of time about his hair whiskers and necktie before a little looking-glass in the harness room when his master was speaking to him it was always Yes sir, yes sir touching his hat at every word and everyone thought he was a very nice young man and that Mr. Barry was very fortunate to meet with him I should say he was the laziest most conceited fellow I ever came near of course it was a great thing not to be ill-used but then a horse wants more than that I had a loose box and might have been very comfortable if he had not been too indolent to clean it out he never took all the straw away and the smell from what lay underneath was very bad while the strong vapours that rose made my eyes smart and inflamed and I did not feel the same appetite for my food one day his master came in and said Alfred this table smells rather strong should you not give that stall a good scrub and throw down plenty of water well sir he said touching his cap I'll do so if you please sir but it is rather dangerous sir throwing down water in a horse's box they are very apt to take cold sir I should not like to do him any injury but I'll do it if you please sir well said his master I should not like him to take cold but I don't like the smell of this table do you think the drains are all right well sir now you mention it I think the drain does sometimes send back a smell there may be something wrong sir then send for the bricklayer and have it seen to said his master yes sir I will the bricklayer came and pulled up a great many bricks but found nothing amiss we put down some lime and charged the master five shillings and the smell in my box was as bad as ever but that was not all standing as I did on a quantity of moist straw my feet grew unhealthy in tender and the master used to say I don't know what is the matter with this horse he goes very fumble footed I am sometimes afraid he will stumble yes sir said Alfred I have noticed the same myself when I have exercised him now the fact was that he hardly ever did exercise me and when the master was busy I often stood for days together without stretching my legs at all and yet being fed just as high as if I were at hard work this often disordered my health and made me sometimes heavy and dull but more often restless and feverish he never even gave me a meal of green food or a brand mash which would have cooled me for he was altogether as ignorant as he was conceited and then instead of exercise or change of food I had to take horse balls and drafts which beside the nuisance of having them poured down my throat used to make me feel ill and uncomfortable one day my feet were so tender that trotting over some fresh stones with my master on my back I made two such serious stumbles that as he came down lands down into the city he stopped the ferriers and asked him to see what was the matter with me the man took up my feet one by one and examined them then standing up and dusting his hands one against the other he said your horse has got the thrush and badly too his feet are very tender it is fortunate that he has not been down I wonder your groom has not seen to it before this is the sort of thing we find in foul stables where the litter is never properly cleaned out if you will send him here tomorrow I will attend to the hoof and I will direct your man how to apply the liniment which I will give him the next day I had my feet thoroughly cleansed and stuffed with towel soaked in some strong lotion and an unpleasant business it was the ferrier ordered all the litter to be taken out of my box day by day and the floor kept very clean then I was to have brand mashes a little green food and not so much corn till my feet were well again with this treatment I soon regained my spirits but Mr. Barry was so much disgusted at being twice deceived by his grooms that he determined to give out keeping a horse and to hire when he wanted one I was therefore kept till my feet were quite sound and was then sold again end of chapter 31 chapter 32 of black beauty this is a LibriVox recording all LibriVox recordings are in the public domain for more information or to volunteer please visit LibriVox.org black beauty by Anna Sewell chapter 32 horse fair no doubt a horse fair is a very amusing place to those who have nothing to lose at any rate there is plenty to see long strings of young horses out of the country fresh from the marshes and droves of shaggy little Welsh ponies no higher than Mary legs and hundreds of cart horses of all sorts some of them with their long tails braided up and tied with scarlet cord and a good many like myself handsome and high-bred but fallen into the middle class with some accident or blemish unsoundness of wind or some other complaint there were some splendid animals quite in their prime and fit for anything they were throwing out their legs and showing off their paces in high style as they were trotted out with a leading rain the groom running by the side but round in the background there were a number of poor things sadly broken down with hard work with their knees knuckling over and their hind legs swinging out at every step and there were some very dejected looking old horses with the underlip hanging down and the ears lying back heavily as if there were no more pleasure in life and no more hope there were some so thin you might see all their ribs and some with old sores on their backs and hips these were sad sights for a horse to look upon who knows not but he may come to the same state there was a great deal of bargaining of running up and beating down and if a horse may speak his mind so far as he understands I should say there were more lies told and more trickery at that horse fair than a clever man could give an account of I was put with two or three other strong useful looking horses and a good many people came to look at us the gentlemen always turned for me when they saw my broken knees though the man who had me swore it was only a slip in the stall the first thing was to pull my mouth open then to look at my eyes then feel all the way down my legs and give me a hard feel of the skin and flesh and then try my paces it was wonderful what a difference there was in the way these things were done some did it in a rough off-hand way as if one was only a piece of wood while others would take their hands gently over one's body with a pat now and then as much as to say by your leave of course I judged a good deal of the buyers by their manners to myself there was one man I thought if he would buy me I should be happy he was not a gentleman nor yet one of the loud flashy sort he called himself so he was rather a small man but well made and quick in all his motions I knew in a moment by the way he handled me that he was used to horses he spoke gently and his grey eye had a kindly cheery look in it it may seem strange to say but it is true all the same that the clean fresh smell there was about him made me take to him no smell of old beer and tobacco which I hated but a fresh smell as if he had come out of a hayloft he offered twenty three pounds for me but that was refused and he walked away I looked after him but he was gone and a very hard looking loud voiced man came I was dreadfully afraid he would have me but he walked off one or two more came who did not mean business then the hard faced man came back again and offered twenty three pounds a very close bargain was being driven for my salesman began to think he should not get all he asked and must come down the grey eyed man came back again I could not help reaching out my head toward him he stroked my face kindly well old chap he said I think we should suit each other I'll give twenty four for him say twenty five and you shall have him twenty four ten said my friend in a very decided tone and not another sixpence yes or no done said the salesman and you may depend upon it for his deal of quality in that horse and if you want him for cab work he's a bargain the money was paid on the spot and my new master took my halter and led me out of the fair to an inn where he had a saddle and bridle ready he gave me a good feed of oats and stood by while I ate it talking to himself and talking to me half an hour after we were on our way to London through pleasant lanes and country roads until we came into the great London thoroughfare on which we travelled steadily we reached the great city the gas lamps were already lighted there were streets to the right and streets to the left and streets crossing each other from mile upon mile I thought we should never come to the end of them at last in passing through one we came to a long cab stand when my rider called out in a cheery voice good night governor hello cried a voice have you got a good one replied my owner thank you governor and he wrote on we soon turned up one of the side streets and about half way up that we turned into a very narrow street with rather poor looking houses on one side and what seemed to be coach houses and stables on the other my owner pulled up at one of the houses and whistled the door flew open and a young woman followed by a little girl and boy ran out there was a very lively greeting as my rider dismounted well then Harry my boy opened the gates and mother will bring us the lantern the next minute they were all standing round me in a small stable yard is he gentle father yes dolly as gentle as your own kitten come and pat him at once the little hand was patting about all over my shoulder without fear how good it felt let me get him a brand mash while you rub him down said the mother dude Polly that's just what he wants and I know you've got a beautiful mash sausage dumpling and apple turnover shouted the boy which set them all laughing I was led into a comfortable clean smelling stall with plenty of dry straw and after a capital supper I lay down thinking I was going to be happy end of chapter 32 chapter 33 of black beauty this is a LibriVox recording all LibriVox recordings are in the public domain for more information or to volunteer please visit LibriVox.org black beauty by Anna Sewell chapter 33 a London cab horse Jeremiah Barker was my new master's name but as everyone called him Jerry I shall do the same Polly his wife was just as good a match as a man could have she was a plump, trim, tidy little woman with smooth dark hair dark eyes and a merry little mouth the boy was 12 years old a tall, frank, good tempered lad and little Dorothy, Dolly they called her was her mother over again at eight years old they were all wonderfully fond of each other I never knew such a happy merry family before or since Jerry had a cab of his own and two horses which he drove and attended to himself his other horse was a tall white rather large boned animal called Captain he was old now but when he was young he must have been splendid he had still a proud way of holding his head and arching his neck in fact he was a high-bred, fine-mannered noble old horse every inch of him he told me that in his early youth he went to the Crimean War he belonged to an officer in the cavalry and used to lead the regiment I will tell more of that hereafter the next morning when I was well groomed Polly and Dolly came into the yard to see me and make friends Harry had been helping his father since the early morning and had stated his opinion that I should turn out a regular brick Polly brought me a slice of apple and Dolly a piece of bread and made as much of me as if I had been the black beauty of olden time it was a great treat to be petted again and talked to in a gentle voice and I let them see as well as I could that I wished to be friendly Polly thought I was very handsome and a great deal too good for a cab if it was not for the broken knees of course there's no one to tell us whose fault it was said Jerry I don't know I shall give him the benefit of the doubt for a firmer, neater stepper I never rode we'll call him Jack after the old one shall we Polly do she said for I like to keep a good name going captain went out in the cab all the morning Harry came in after school to feed me and give me water in the afternoon I was put into the cab Jerry took as much pains to see if the collar and bridle fitted comfortably if he had been John Manley over again when the crapper was let out a hole or two it all fitted well there was no check rain, no curb nothing but a plain ring snaffle what a blessing that was after driving through the side street we came to the large cab stand where Jerry had said good night on one side of this wide street were high houses with wonderful shop fronts and on the other was an old church and churchyard surrounded by iron palisades alongside these iron rails a number of cabs were drawn up waiting for passengers bits of hay were lying about on the ground some of the men were standing together talking some were sitting on their boxes reading the newspaper and one or two were feeding their horses with bits of hay and giving them a drink of water we pulled up in the rank at the back of the last cab two or three men came round and began to look at me and pass their remarks very good for a funeral said one too smart looking his head in a very wise way you'll find out something wrong one of these fine mornings my name isn't Jones well? said Jerry pleasantly I suppose I need not find it out till it finds me out eh and if so I'll keep up my spirit a little longer then there came up a broad-faced man dressed in a great grey coat with great grey cape and great white buttons a grey hat and a blue comforter loosely tied round his neck his hair was grey too he was a jolly looking fellow and the other men made way for him he looked me all over as if he had been going to buy me and then straightening himself up with a grunt he said it is the right sort for you Jerry I don't care what you pay for him he'll be worth it thus my character was established on the stand this man's name was Grant but he was called Grey Grant or Governor Grant he had been the longest on that stand of any of the men and he took it upon himself to settle matters and stopped disputes he was generally a good humoured sensible man but if his temper was a little out as it was sometimes when he had drunk too much nobody liked to come too near his fist for he could deal a very heavy blow the first week of my life as a cab-horse was very trying I had never been used to London and the noise, the hurry the crowds of horses, carts and carriages that I had to make my way through made me feel anxious and harassed but I soon found that I could perfectly trust my driver and then I made myself easy and got used to it Jerry was as good a driver as I had ever known and what was better he took as much thought for his horses as he did for himself he soon found out that I was willing to work and do my best and he never laid the whip on me unless it was gently drawing the end of it over my back when I was to go on but generally I knew this quite well by the way in which he took up the reins and I believe his whip was more frequently stuck up by his side than in his hand in a short time I and my master understood each other as well as horse and man can do in the stable too he did all that he could for our comfort the stalls were the old-fashioned style too much on the slope but he had two movable bars fixed across the back of our stalls so that at night and when we were resting he just took off our halters and put up the bars and thus we could turn about and stand whichever way we pleased which is a great comfort and gave us as much change of food as he could and always plenty of it and not only that but he always gave us plenty of clean fresh water which he allowed to stand by us both night and day except of course when we came in warm some people say that a horse ought not to drink all he likes but I know if we are allowed to drink when we want it we drink only a little at a time and it does us a great deal more good than swallowing down half a bucket full at a time because we have been left without till we are thirsty and miserable some grooms will go home to their beer and leave us for hours with our dry hay and oats and nothing to moisten them then of course we gulp down too much at once which helps to spoil our breathing and sometimes chills our stomachs but the best thing we had here was our Sundays for rest we worked so hard in the week that I do not think we could have kept up to it but for that day besides we had then time to enjoy each other's company it was on these days that I learned my companion's history End of Chapter 33 Chapter 34 of Black Beauty This is a LibriVox recording All LibriVox recordings are in the public domain For more information or to volunteer please visit LibriVox.org Black Beauty by Anna Sewell Chapter 34 An Old War Horse Captain had been broken in and trained for an army horse His first owner was an officer of cavalry going out to the Crimean War He said he quite enjoyed the training with all the other horses trotting together, turning together to the right hand or the left halting at the word of command or dashing forward at full speed at the sound of the trumpet or signal of the officer He was, when young, a dark, dappled iron gray and considered very handsome His master, a young, high-spirited gentleman was very fond of him and treated him from the first kindness He told me he thought the life of an army horse was very pleasant, but when it came to being sent abroad over the sea in a great ship he almost changed his mind Well, that part of it was dreadful Said he Of course, we could not walk off the land into the ship, so they were obliged to put strong straps under our bodies, and then we were lifted off our legs in spite of our struggles and were swung through the air to the deck of the great vessel There we were placed in small, close stalls and never for a long time saw the sky or were able to stretch our legs The ship sometimes rolled about in high winds and we were knocked about and felt bad enough However, at last it came to an end and we were hauled up and swung over again to the land We were very glad and snorted in aid for joy and we once more felt firm ground under our feet We soon found that the country we had come to was very different from our own and that we had many hardships to endure besides the fighting But many of the men were so fond of their horses that they did everything they could to make them comfortable in spite of snow wet and all things out of order But what about the fighting? said I, was not that worse than anything else Well, said he I hardly know, we always like to hear the trumpet sound and to be called out and we're impatient to start off though Sometimes we had to stand for hours waiting for the word of command and when the word was given we used to spring forward as gaily and eagerly as if there were no cannonballs bayonets or bullets I believe so long as we felt our rider firm in the saddle and his hand steady on the bridle not one of us gave way to fear, not even with the terrible bombshells whirled through the air and burst into a thousand pieces I, with my noblemaster went into many actions together without a wound and though I saw horses shot down with bullets pierced through with lances and gashed with fearful sabercuts though we left them dead on the field or dying in the agony of their wounds I don't think I feared for myself my master's cheery voice as he encouraged his men made me feel as if he and I could not be killed I had such perfect trust in him that while he was guiding me I was ready to charge up to the very cannon's mouth I saw many brave men cut down many fall mortally wounded from their saddles I had heard the cries and groans of the dying I had canted over ground slippery with blood and frequently had to turn aside to avoid trampling on wounded men or horse but until one dreadful day I had never felt terror that day I shall never forget Here old captain paused for a while and drew a long breath I waited and he went on it was one autumn morning and as usual an hour before daybreak our cavalry had turned out ready, comparison for the day's work whether it might be fighting or waiting the men stood by their horses waiting ready for orders as the light increased there seemed to be some excitement among the officers and before the day was well begun we heard the firing of the enemy's guns the officers rode up and gave the word for the men to mount and in a second every man was in his saddle and every horse stood expecting the touch of the rain or the pressure of his rider's heels all animated all eager but still we had been trained so well that except by the champing of our bits and the rest of tossing of our heads from time to time it could not be said that we were stirred my dear master and I were at the head of the line and as all sat motionless and watchful he took a little stray lock of my mane which had turned over on the wrong side laid it over on the right and smoothed it down with his hand then patting my neck he said we shall have a day of it today Bayard my beauty but we'll do our duty as we have done he stroked my neck that morning more I think than he had ever done before I was slightly on and on as if he were thinking of something else I loved to feel his hand on my neck and arched my chest proudly and happily but I stood very still for I knew all his moods and when he liked me to be quiet and when gay I cannot tell all that happened on that day but I will tell of the last charge that we made together it was across the valley right in front of the enemy's cannon we were well used to the roar of heavy guns the rattle of musket fire and the flying of shot near us but never had I been under such a fire as we rode through on that day from the right from the left and from the front shot and shell poured in upon us many a brave man went down many a horse fell flinging his rider to the earth many a horse without a rider ran wildly out of the ranks then terrified it being alone with no hand to guide him came pressing in among his old companions to gallop with them to the charge fearful as it was no one stopped no one turned back every moment the ranks were thinned but as our comrades fell we closed in to keep them together and instead of being shaken or staggered in our pace our gallop became faster and faster as we neared the cannon my master was cheering on his comrades with his right arm raised on high when one of the balls whizzing close to my head struck him I felt him stagger with the shock though he uttered no cry I tried to check my speed but the sword dropped from his right hand the rain fell loose from the left and sinking backward from the saddle he fell to the earth the other riders swept past us and by the force of their charge I was driven from the spot I wanted to keep my place by his side and not leave him under that rush of horses feet but it was in vain and now without a master or a friend I was alone on the great slaughter ground then fear took hold on me and I trembled as I had never trembled before and I too as I had seen other horses do tried to join the ranks and gallop with them but I was beaten off by the swords of the soldiers just then a soldier whose horse had been killed under him caught at my bridle and mounted me and with this new master I was again going forward but our gallant company was cruelly overpowered and those who remained alive after the fierce fight for the guns came galloping back over the same ground some of the horses had been so badly wounded that they could scarcely move from the loss of blood other noble creatures were trying on three legs to drag themselves along and others were struggling to rise on their forefeet when their hind legs had been shattered by shot after the battle the wounded men were brought in and the dead were buried and what about the wounded horses I said were they left to die no the army farriers went over the field with their pistols and shot all that were ruined some that had only slight wounds were brought back and attended to but the greater part of the noble willing creatures that went out that morning never came back in our stables there was only about one in four that returned I never saw my dear master again I believe he fell dead from the saddle I never loved any other master so well I went into many other engagements but was only once wounded and then not seriously and when the war was over I began to England as sound and strong as when I went out I said I have heard people talk about war as if it was a very fine thing ah said he I should think they never saw it no doubt it is a very fine when there is no enemy when it is just exercise and parade and sham fight yes it is very fine then but when thousands of good brave men and horses are killed or crippled for life it has a very different look do you know what they thought about said I no he said that is more than a horse can understand but the enemy must have been awfully wicked people if it was right to go all that way over the sea on purpose to kill them End of Chapter 34 Chapter 35 of Black Beauty This is a LibriVox recording all LibriVox recordings are in the public domain for more information or to volunteer please visit LibriVox.org Black Beauty by Anna Sewell Chapter 35 Jerry Barker I never knew a better man than my new master he was kind and good and as strong for the right as John Manley and so good tempered and merry that very few people could pick a quarrel with him making little songs and singing them to himself one he was very fond of was this come father and mother and sister and brother come all of you turn to and help one another and so they did Harry was as clever at stable work as a much older boy and always wanted to do what he could then Polly and Dolly used to come in the morning to help with the cab to brush and beat the cushions and rub the glass while Jerry was giving us a cleaning in the yard and Harry was rubbing the harness there used to be a great deal of laughing and fun between them and it put captain and me in much better spirits than if we had heard scolding and hard words they were always early in the morning for Jerry would say if you in the morning throw minutes away you can't pick them up in the course of a day you may hurry and scurry and flurry and worry you've lost them forever forever and I he could not bear any careless loitering and waste of time nothing was so near making him angry as to find people who were always late wanting a cab horse to be driven hard to make up for their idleness one day two wild looking young men came out of a tavern close by the stand and called Jerry here Caby look sharp we are rather late put on the steam will you and take us to the Victorian time for the one o'clock train you shall have a shilling extra I will take you at the regular pace gentlemen shillings don't pay for putting on the steam like that Larry's cab was standing next to ours he flung open the door and said I'm your man gentlemen take my cab my horse will get you there all right and as he shut them in with a wink toward Jerry said it's against his conscience to go beyond a jog trot then slashing his jaded horse he set off as hard as he could Jerry patted me on the neck no Jack a shilling would not pay for that sort of thing all right old boy although Jerry was determinedly said against hard driving to please careless people he always went a good fair pace and was not against putting on the steam as he said if only he knew why I will remember one morning as we were on the stand waiting for a fare that a young man carrying a heavy portmanteau trot on a piece of orange peel which lay on the pavement and fell down with great force Jerry was the first to run and lift him up he seemed much stunned but they led him into a shop he walked as if he were in great pain Jerry of course came back to the stand but in about ten minutes one of the shopmen called him so we drew up to the pavement can you take me to the southeastern railway said the young man this unlucky fall has made me late I fear but it is of great importance that I do not lose the twelve o'clock train I should be most thankful if you could get me there in time and would gladly pay you extra fare I'll do my very best and Jerry heartily if you think you are well enough sir for he looked dreadfully white and ill I must go he said earnestly please to open the door and let us lose no time the next minute Jerry was on the box with a cheery cheer up to me and a twitch of the rain that I well understood now then Jack my boy said he spin along we'll show them how we can get over the ground if we only know why then the streets are full of traffic but we did what could be done and when a good driver and a good horse who understand each other or of one mind it is wonderful what they can do I had a very good mouth that is I could be guided by the slightest touch of the rain and that is a great thing in London among carriages, omnibuses, carts, vans, trucks, cabs and great wagons creeping along at a walking pace some going one way some another some going slowly others wanting to pass them omnibuses stopping short every few minutes to take up a passenger obliging the horse that is coming behind to pull up too or to pass and get before them perhaps you try to pass but just then something else comes dashing in through the narrow opening and you have to keep in behind the omnibus again presently you think you see a chance and manage to get to the front getting so near the wheels on each side that half an inch nearer and they would scrape well you get along for a bit but soon find yourself in a long train or in a carriage all obliged to go at a walk perhaps you come to a regular block up and have to stand still for minutes together till something clears out into a side street or the policeman interferes you have to be ready for any chance to dash forward if there be an opening and be quick as a rat dog to see if there be room and if there be time lest you get your own wheels locked or smashed or the shaft of some other vehicle run into your chest or shoulder all this is what you have to be ready for if you want to get through London fast in the middle of the day it wants a deal of practice Jerry and I were used to it and no one could beat us at getting through when we were set upon it I was quick and bold and could always trust my driver Jerry was quick and patient at the same time and could trust his horse which was a great thing too he very seldom used the whip I knew by his voice and his click-click when he wanted to get on fast and by the rain where I was to go so there was no need for whipping the streets were very full that day but we got on pretty well as far as the bottom of Cheapside where there was a block for three or four minutes the young man put his head out and said anxiously I think I'd better get out and walk I shall never get there if this goes on I'll do all that can be done sir said Jerry I think we shall be in time this block up cannot last much longer and your luggage is very heavy for you to carry sir just then the cart in front of us drove on and then we had a good turn in and out in and out we went as fast as horse flesh could do it and for a wonder had a good clear time on London Bridge for there was a whole train of cabs and carriages all going our way at a quick trot perhaps wanting to catch that very train at any rate we whirled into the station with many more just as the great clock pointed to eight minutes to twelve o'clock thank god we are in time said the young man and thank you too my friend and to your good horse you have saved me more than money can ever pay for take this extra half crown no sir no thank you all the same so glad we hit the time sir but don't stay now sir the bell was ringing here porter take this gentleman's luggage doverline twelve o'clock train that's it and without waiting for another word Jerry wheeled me round to make room for other cabs that were dashing up the last minute and drew up on one side till the crush was passed he said so glad poor young fellow I wonder what it was that made him so anxious Jerry often talked to himself quite loud enough for me to hear when we were not moving on Jerry's return to the rank there was a good deal of laughing and chaffing at him for driving hard to the train for an extra fare as they said all against his principles and they wanted to know how much he had pocketed a good deal more than I generally get said he nodding slyly what he gave me will keep me in little comforts for several days said one said another look here said Jerry the gentleman offered me half a crown extra but I didn't take it it was quite pay enough for me to see how glad he was to catch that train and if Jack and I choose to have a quick run now and then to please ourselves that's our business and not yours said Larry most likely not said Jerry but I don't know that I shall be the less happy for that I have heard the commandments read a great many times and I never noticed that any of them said thou shalt be rich and there are a good many curious things said in the New Testament about rich men that I think would make me feel rather queer if I was one of them if you ever do get rich said Governor Gray looking over his shoulder across the top of his cab Jerry and you won't find a curse come with your will as for you Larry you'll die poor you spend too much in whip cord well said Larry what is a fellow to do if his horse won't go without it you never take the trouble to see if he will go without it your whip is always going as if he and the st. Vinus's dance in your arm and if it does not wear you out it wears your horse out you know you are always changing your horses and why because you never give them any peace or encouragement well I have not had good luck said Larry that's where it is and you never will said the Governor good luck is rather particular who she rides with and mostly prefers those who have got common sense and a good heart at least than as my experience Governor Gray turned round again to his paper and the other men went to their cabs End of Chapter 35 Chapter 36 of Black Beauty this is a LibriVox recording all LibriVox recordings are in the public domain for more information or to volunteer please visit LibriVox.org Black Beauty by Anna Sewell Chapter 36 The Sunday Cab one morning as Jerry had just put me into the shafts and was fastening the traces a gentleman walked into the yard your servant sir said Jerry good morning Mr. Barker said the gentleman I should be glad to make some arrangements with you for taking Mrs. Briggs regularly to church on Sunday mornings we go to the new church now and that is rather further than she can walk thank you sir said Jerry but I have only taken out a six days license it would not be legal a few years since the annual charge for a cab license was very much reduced and the difference between the six and seven days cabs was abolished oh said the other I did not know yours was a six days cab but of course it would be very easy to alter your license I would see that you did not lose by it the fact is Mrs. Briggs very much prefers you to drive her I should be glad to oblige the lady sir but I had a seven days license once and the work was too hard for me and too hard for my horses year in and year out not a days rest and never a Sunday with my wife and children and never able to go to a place of worship which I had always been used to do before I took to the driving box so for the last five years I have only taken a six days license and I find it better all the way round well of course replied Mr. Briggs it is very proper that every person should have rest and be able to go to church on Sundays but I should have thought you would not have minded such a short distance for the horse and only once a day you would have all the afternoon and evening for yourself and we are very good customers you know yes sir that is true and I am grateful for all favors I am sure and anything that I could do to oblige you or the lady I should be proud and happy to do but I can't give up my Sundays sir indeed I can't I read that God made man and he made horses and all the other beasts and as soon as he had made them he made a day of rest and bade that all should rest one day and seven and I think sir he must have known what was good for them and I am sure it is good for me I am stronger and healthier all together now that I have a day of rest the horses are fresh too and do not wear up nearly so fast the six day drivers all tell me the same and I have laid by more money in the savings bank than ever I did before and as for the wife and children sir why hearts alive they would not go back to the seven days for all they could see oh very well said the gentleman don't trouble yourself Mr. Barker any further I will inquire somewhere else and he walked away he says Jerry to me we can't help it Jack old boy we must have our Sundays Paulie he shouted Paulie come here she was there in a minute what is it all about Jerry why my dear Mr. Briggs wants me to take Mrs. Briggs to church every Sunday morning I say I have only a six days license he says get a seven days license and I'll make it worth your while we are very good customers to us Mrs. Briggs often goes out shopping for hours or making calls and then she pays down fare and honorable like a lady there's no beating down or making three hours into two hours and a half as some folks do and it is easy work for the horses not like tearing along to catch trains for people that are always a quarter of an hour too late and if I don't oblige her in this matter it is very likely we shall lose them all together hey little woman I say Jerry says she speaking very slowly I say if Mrs. Briggs would give you a sovereign every Sunday morning I would not have you a seven days cab man again we have known what it was to have no Sundays and now we know what it is to call them our own thank God you earn enough to keep us though it is sometimes close work to pay for all the out and hey the license and the rent besides but Harry will soon be earning something and I would rather struggle on harder than we do then go back to those horrid times when you hardly had a minute to look at your own children and we never could go to a place of worship together or have a happy quiet day God forbid that we should ever turn back to those times that's what I say Jerry and that is just what I told Mr. Briggs my dear said Jerry and what I mean to stick to so don't go and fret yourself Polly for she had begun to cry I would not go back to the old times if I earn twice as much so that is settled little woman now cheer up and I'll be off to the stand three weeks had passed away after this conversation and no order had come from Mrs. Briggs so there was nothing but taking jobs from the stand Jerry took it to heart a good deal for of course the work was harder for horse and man but Polly would always cheer him up and say never mind do your best and leave the rest will all come right some day or night it soon became known that Jerry had lost his best customer and for what reason most of the men said he was a fool but two or three took his part if workmen don't stick to their Sunday said Truman they will soon have none left it is every man's right and every beast's right by God's law we have a day of rest and by the law of England we have a day of rest and I say we ought to hold to the rights these laws give us and keep them for our children all very well for you religious chaps to talk so said Larry but I'll turn a shilling when I can I don't believe in religion for I don't see that your religious people are any better than the rest if they are not better put in Jerry it is because they are not religious you might as well say that our country's laws are not good because some people break them if a man gives way to his temper and speaks evil of his neighbor and does not pay his debt he is not religious I don't care how much he goes to church if some men are shams and humbugs that does not make religion untrue real religion is the best and truest thing in the world and the only thing that can make a man very happy or make the world we live in any better if religion was good for anything said Jones it would prevent your religious people from making us work on Sundays as you know many of them do and that's why I say religion is nothing but a sham why if it was not for the church and chapel goers it would be hardly worthwhile are coming out on a Sunday but they have their privileges as they call them and I go without I shall expect them to answer for my soul if I can't get a chance to saving it several of the men applauded this till Jerry said that may sound well enough but it won't do every man must look after his own soul you can't lay it down at another man's door like a foundling and expect him to take care of it and don't you see if you are always sitting on your box waiting for a fair they will say if we don't take him someone else will and he does not look for any Sunday of course they don't go to the bottom of it or they would see if they never came for a cab it would be no use your stand in there but people don't always like to go to the bottom of things it may not be convenient to do it but if you Sunday drivers would all strike for a day of rest the thing would be done and what would all the good people do if they could not get their favorite creatures said Larry it is not for me to lay down plans for other people said Jerry but if they can't walk so far they can go to what is nearer and if it should rain they can put on their Macintoshes as they do on a week day if a thing is right it can be done and if it is wrong it can be done without and a good man will find a way and that is as true for us cabmen as it is for the church goers Chapter 37 of Black Beauty this is a LibriVox recording all LibriVox recordings are in the public domain for more information or to volunteer please visit LibriVox.org Black Beauty by Anna Sewell Chapter 37 The Golden Rule two or three weeks after this as we came into the yard rather late in the evening Polly came running across the road with the lantern she always told it to him if it was not very wet it has all come right Jerry Mrs. Briggs sent a servant this afternoon to ask you to take her out tomorrow at eleven o'clock I said yes I thought so but we suppose she employed someone else now well said he the real fact is master was put out because Mr. Barker refused to come on Sundays and he has been trying other cabs but there is something wrong with them all some drive too fast and some too slow in the mist recess there is not one of them nice and clean as yours and nothing will suit her but Mr. Barker's cab again Polly was almost out of breath and Jerry broke out into a merry laugh will all come right some day or night you were right my dear you generally are run in and get the supper and I'll have Jack's heart as often and make him snug and happy in no time after this Mrs. Briggs wanted Jerry's cab quite as often as before never however on a Sunday but there came a day when we had Sunday work and this was how it happened we had all come home on the Sunday night very tired and very glad to think that the next day would be all rest but so it was not to be on Sunday morning Jerry was cleaning me in the yard when Polly stepped up to him looking very full of something what is it said Jerry well my dear she said poor Diana Brown has just had a letter brought to say that her mother is dangerously ill and that she must go directly if she wishes to see her alive the place is more than 10 miles away from here out in the country and she says if she takes a train she should still have 4 miles to walk and so weak as she is and the baby only 4 weeks old of course that would be impossible and she wants to know if you would take her in your cab and she promises to pay you faithfully as she can get the money tut tut we'll see about that it was not the money I was thinking about but of losing our Sunday the horses are tired and I'm tired too that's where it pinches for that matter said Polly for it's only half Sunday without you but you know we should do to other people as we should like they should do to us and I know very well what I should like if my mother was dying and Jerry dare I am sure it won't break the Sabbath for if pulling a poor beast or donkey out of a pit would not spoil it I'm quite sure taking poor Diana would not do it why Polly you are as good as the minister and so as I've had my Sunday morning sermon early today you may go and tell Diana that I'll be ready for her as the clock strikes 10 but stop just step around to butcher Braden's with my compliments and ask him if he would lend to be his light trap I know he never uses it on the Sunday and it would make a wonderful difference to the horse away she went and soon returned saying that he could have the trap and welcome all right said he now put me up a bit of bread and cheese and I'll be back in the afternoon as soon as I can and they'll have the meat pie ready for early tea instead of dinner said Polly and away she went while he made his preparations to the tune of Polly's the woman and no mistake of which tune he was very fond I was selected for the journey and at 10 o'clock we started in a light high-wheeled gig which ran so easily that after the four-wheeled cab it seemed like nothing it was a fine May day and as soon as we were out of the town the sweet air the smell of the fresh grass and the soft country roads were as pleasant as they used to be in the old times and I soon began to feel quite fresh Dinah's family lived in a small farmhouse up a green lane close by a meadow with some fine shady trees there were two cows feeding in it a young man asked Jerry to bring his trap into the meadow and he would tie me up in the cow shed he wished he had a better stable to offer if your cows would not be offended said Jerry there is nothing my horse would like so well as to have an hour or two in your beautiful meadow he is quiet and it would be a rare treat for him do and welcome said the young man the best we have is at your service for your kindness to my sister we shall be having some dinner in an hour and I'll hope you'll come in though with mother so ill we are all out of sorts in the house Jerry thanked him kindly but said as he had some dinner with him there was nothing he should like so well as walking about in the meadow when my harness was taken off I did not know what I should do first whether to grass or roll over on my back or lie down in rest or have a gallop across the meadow out of sheer spirits at being free and I did all by turns Jerry seemed to be quite as happy as I was he sat down by a bank under a shady tree and listened to the birds then he sang himself and read out of the little brown book he is so fond of then wandered round the meadow and down by a little brook where he picked the flowers and the hawthorn and tied them up with long sprays of ivy then he gave me a good feed of the oats which he had brought with him but the time seemed all too short I had not been in a field since I left poor ginger at Earl Shaw we came home gently and Jerry's first words were as we came into the yard well Polly I have not lost my Sunday after all for the birds were singing hymns in every bush and I joined in the service and as for Jack he was like a young colt when he handed Dolly the flowers she jumped about for joy chapter 39 chapter 38 of Black Beauty this is a LibriVox recording all LibriVox recordings are in the public domain for more information or to volunteer please visit LibriVox.org Black Beauty by Anna Sewell chapter 38 Dolly and a Real Gentleman winter came in early with a great deal of cold and wet there was snow or sleet or rain almost every day for weeks changing only for keen driving winds or sharp frosts the horses all felt it very much when it is a dry cold a couple of good thick rugs will keep the warmth in us but when it is soaking rain they soon get wet through and are no good some of the drivers had a waterproof cover to throw over which was a fine thing but some of the men were so poor that they could not protect either themselves or their horses and many of them suffered very much that winter when we horses had worked half the day we went to our dry stables and could rest while they had to sit on their boxes sometimes staying out as late as one or two o'clock in the morning if they had a party to wait for when the streets were slippery with frost or snow that was the worst of all for us horses one mile of such travelling with a weight to draw and no firm footing would take more out of us than four on a good road every nerve and muscle of our bodies is on the strain to keep our balance and added to this the fear of falling is more exhausting than anything else if the roads are very bad indeed our shoes are roughed but that makes us feel nervous at first when the weather was very bad many of the men would go and sit in the tavern close by and get someone to watch for them but they often lost a fare in that way and could not, as Jerry said be there without spending money he never went to the rising sun there was a coffee shop near where he now and then went or he bought of an old man who came to our rank a tin of hot coffee and pies it was his opinion that spirits and beer made a man colder afterward and that dry clothes, good food cheerfulness and a comfortable wife at home were the best things to keep a cab man warm Polly always supplied him with something to eat when he could not get home and sometimes he would see little dolly peeping from the corner of the street to make sure if father was on the stand if she saw him she would run off at full speed and soon come back with something in a tin a basket, some hot soup or pudding Polly had ready it was wonderful how such a little thing could get safely across the street often thronged with horses and carriages but she was a brave little maid and felt it quite an honour to bring father's first course as he used to call it she was a general favourite on the stand and there was not a man who would not have seen her safely across the street if Jerry had not been able to do it one cold windy day Dolly had brought Jerry a basin of something hot and was standing by him while he ate it he had scarcely begun when a gentleman walking toward us very fast held up his umbrella Jerry touched his hat and return gave the basin to Dolly and was taking off my cloth when the gentleman hastening up cried out No, no, finish your soup, my friend I have not much time to spare but I can wait till you have done and set your little girl safe on the pavement so saying he seated himself in the cab Jerry thanked him kindly and came back to Dolly There Dolly, that's a gentleman that's a real gentleman Dolly he has got time and thought for the comfort of a poor cabin and a little girl Jerry finished his soup, set the child across and then took his orders to drive to Clapham Rise several times after that the same gentleman took our cab I think he was very fond of dogs and horses for whenever we took him to his own door two or three dogs would come shouting out to meet him sometimes he came round and patted me saying in his quiet, pleasant way this horse has got a good master and he deserves it it was a very rare thing for anyone to notice the horse that had been working for him I have known ladies to do it now and then and this gentleman and one or two others have given me a pat and a kind word but ninety-nine persons out of a hundred would assume think of patting the steam engine that drew the train this gentleman was not young and there was a forward stoop in his shoulders as if he was always going at something his lips were thin and closed shut though they had a very pleasant smile his eye was keen and there was something in his jaw and the motion of his head that made one think he was very determined in anything he said about his voice was pleasant and kind any horse would trust that voice though it was just as decided as everything else about him one day he and another gentleman took our cab they stopped at a shop in R Street and while his friend went in he stood at the door a little ahead of us on the other side of the street a cart with two very fine horses was standing before some wine vaults the carter was not with them and I cannot tell how long they had been standing but they seemed to think they had waited long enough and began to move off before they had gone many paces the carter came running out and caught them he seemed furious at their having moved and with whip and rain punished them brutally even beating them about the head our gentleman saw it all and stepping quickly across the street said in a decided voice if you don't stop that directly I'll have you arrested for leaving your horses and for brutal conduct the man who had clearly been drinking poured forth some abusive language but he left off knocking the horses about and taking the reins got into his cart meantime our friend had quietly taken a notebook from his pocket and looking at the name and address painted on the cart he wrote something down what do you want with that? growled the carter as he cracked his whip and was moving on a nod and a grim smile was the only answer he got on returning to the cab our friend was joined by his companion who said laughingly I should have thought right that you had enough business of your own to look after without troubling yourself about other people's horses and servants our friend stood still for a moment and throwing his head a little back do you know why this wall is as bad as it is? no said the other then I'll tell you it is because people think only about their own business and won't trouble themselves to stand up for the oppressed nor bring the wrongdoer to light I never see a wicked thing like this without doing what I can and many a master has thanked me for letting him know how his horses have been used I wish there were more gentlemen like you sir said Jerry for they are wanted badly enough in this city after this we continued our journey and as they got out of the cab our friend was saying my doctrine is this that if we see cruelty or wrong that we have the power to stop and do nothing we make ourselves sharers in the guilt end of chapter 38 chapter 39 of black beauty this is a LibriVox recording all LibriVox recordings are in the public domain for more information please visit LibriVox.org Black Beauty by Anna Sewell chapter 39 CD Sam I should say that for a cab horse I was very well off indeed my driver was my owner and it was his interest to treat me well and not overwork me even had he not been so good a man as he was but there were a great many horses which belonged to the large cab owners who let them out to their drivers for so much money a day the owners did not belong to these men the only thing they thought of was how to get their money out of them first to pay the master and then to provide for their own living and a dreadful time some of these horses had of it of course I understood but little but it was often talked over on the stand and the governor who was a kind-hearted man and fond of horses would sometimes speak up if one came in very much jaded or ill-used one day a shabby miserable looking driver who went by the name of CD Sam brought in his horse looking dreadfully beat and the governor said you and your horse look more fit for the police station than for this rank the man flung his tattered rug over the horse turned full round upon the governor and said in a voice that sounded almost desperate if the police have any business with the matter it ought to be with the masters who charge us so much all the fares that affect so low if a man has to pay 18 shillings a day for the use of a cabin two horses as many of us has to do in the season it must make that up before we earn a penny for ourselves I say it is more than hard work nine shillings a day to get out each horse before you begin to get your own living you know that's true and if the horses don't work we must starve and I am my children and only one earns anything I am on the stand 14 or 16 hours a day and I haven't had a Sunday these 10 or 12 weeks you no skinner never gives a day if you can help it and if I don't work hard tell me who does I want a warm coat and a Macintosh but with so many to feed how can a man get it I had to pledge my clock a week ago to pay skinner I will never see it again some of the other drivers stood round nodding their heads and saying he was right the man went on you that have your own horses and cabs would drive for good masters have a chance of getting on and a chance of doing right I haven't we can't charge more than six minutes a mile after the first within a four mile radius this very morning I had to go a clear six miles and only took three shillings I could not get a return fare had to come all the way back there's 12 miles for the horse three shillings for me after that I had three mile fare and there were bags and boxes enough to have brought in a good many tuppets if they've been put outside that you know how people do all that could be piled up inside on the front seat were put in and three every boxes went on top that was six pence and the fare one and six pence then I got a return for a shilling now that makes 18 miles for the horse and six shillings for me there's three shillings still had horse to earn and nine shillings for the afternoon horse before I touch a penny of course it's not always as bad as that but you know it often is and I say to his a mockery to tell a man that he must not overwork his horse for when a beast is down right tired there's nothing but the whip that will keep his legs are going you can't help yourself you must put your wife and children before the horse the masters must look to that we can't I don't ill use my horse for the sake of it none of you can say I do there's wrong lays somewhere never a days rest never a quiet hour with the wife and children I often feel like an old man that I'm only 45 you know how quick some of the gentry artists are specters of cheating and overcharging while they stand with their purses in their hands counting it over to a penny looking at us as if we were pickpockets I wish some of them had got to sit on my box 16 hours a day and get a living out of it 18 shillings per side that would not be so uncommon particular never to give us a sixpence over or cram all the luggage inside of course some of them tip us pretty handsome now and then or else we could not live but you can't depend upon that the men who stood round much approved this speech and one of them said it is desperate hard and if a man sometimes does what is wrong it is no wonder and if he gets a dram too much who is to blow him up Jerry had taken no part in this conversation but I never saw his face look so sad before the governor had stood with both his hands in his pockets now he took his handkerchief out of his hat and wiped his forehead you've beaten me Sam he said for it's all true and I won't cast it up to you any more about the police it was the look in that horse's eye that came over me it is hard lines for man and it is hard lines for beast and who's to mend it I don't know but anyway you might tell the poor beast that you were sorry to take it out of him in that way sometimes a kind word is all we can give him poor brutes and it's wonderful that they do understand a few mornings after this talk a new man came on the stand with Sam's cab aloo said one what's up with city Sam said the man he was taken last night in the yard and could scarcely crawl home his wife sent a boy this morning to say his father was in high fever and could not get out so I'm here instead the next morning the same man came again how is Sam inquired the governor he's gone said the man what gone you don't mean to say he's dead just snuffed out said the other he died at four o'clock this morning all yesterday he was raving raving about Skinner and having no Sundays he had a Sunday's rest these were his last words no one spoke for a while and then the governor said I'll tell you what mates this is a warning for us end of chapter 39 chapter 40 of black beauty this is a LibriVox recording all LibriVox recordings are in the public domain for more information or to volunteer please visit LibriVox.org black beauty by Anna Sewell chapter 40 poor ginger one day while our cab and many others were waiting outside one of the parks where music was playing a shabby old cab drove up beside ours the horse was an old worn-out chestnut with an ill-kept coat and bones that showed plainly through it the knees knuckled over and the forelegs were very unsteady I had been eating some hay and the wind rolled a little lock of it that way and the poor creature put out her long thin neck and picked it up and then turned and looked about for more there was a hopeless look in the dull eye that I could not help noticing and then as I was thinking where I had seen that horse before she looked full at me and said black beauty is that you? it was ginger but how changed the beautifully arched and glossy neck was now straight and lank and fallen in the clean straight legs and delicate fetlocks were swelled the joints were grown out of shape with hard work the face that was once so full of spirit and life was now full of suffering and I could tell by the heaving of her sides and her frequent cough how bad her breath was our drivers were standing together a little way off so I sidled up to her a step or two that we might have a little quiet talk it was a sad tale that she had to tell after a twelve months runoff at Earl Shaw she was considered to be fit for work again and was sold to a gentleman for a little while she got on very well but after a longer gallop than usual the old strain returned and after being rested and doctored she was again sold in this way she changed hands several times but always getting lower down and so at last said she I was bought by a man who keeps a number of calves and horses and lets them out you look well off and I'm glad of it but I could not tell you what my life has been when they found out my weakness they said I was not worth what they gave for me and that I must go into one of the low caps and just be used up that is what they are doing whipping and working with never one thought of what I suffer they paid for me and they must get it out of me they say the man who hires me now pays a deal of money to the owner every day so he has to get it out of me too so it's all the week round and round with never a Sunday rest I said you used to stand up for yourself if you were ill used ah she said I did once but it's no use men are strongest and if they are cruel and have no feeling there is nothing we can do but just bear it bear it on and on to the end I wish the end was come I wish I was dead I've seen dead horses and I'm sure they did not suffer pain I wish I may drop down dead at my work and not be sent off to the knackers I was very much troubled and I put my nose up to hers but I could say nothing to comfort her I think she was pleased to see me for she said you were the only friend I ever had just then her driver came up and with a tug at her mouth backed her out of the line and drove off leaving me very sad indeed a short time after this a cart with a dead horse in it passed our cab stand the head hung out of the cart tail I was very surprised but I can't speak of them the sight was too dreadful it was a chestnut horse with a long thin neck I saw a white streak down the forehead I believe it was ginger I hoped it was for then her troubles would be over oh if men were more merciful they would shoot us before we came to such misery End of Chapter 40 Chapter 41 of Black Beauty This is a LibriVox recording All LibriVox recordings are in the public domain For more information or to volunteer please visit LibriVox.org Black Beauty by Anna Sewell Chapter 41 The Butcher I saw a great deal of trouble among the horses in London and much of it might have been prevented by a little common sense We horses do not mind hard work if we are treated reasonably and I am sure there are many driven by quite poor men who have a happier life than I had when I used to go in the Countess of W's carriage with my silver-mounted harness and high feeding It often went to my heart to see how the little ponies were used straining along with heavy loads or staggering under heavy blows from some low, cruel boy Once I saw a little grey pony with a thick mane and a pretty head and so much like Marylegs that if I had not been in harness I should have made to him He was doing his best to pull a heavy cart while a strong, rough boy cutting him under the belly with his whip and chucking cruelly at his little mouth Could it be Marylegs? It was just like him but then Mr. Bloomfield was never to sell him and I think he would not do it but this might have been quite as good a little fellow and had as happy a place when he was young I often noticed the great speed at which Butcher's horses were made to go though I did not know why it was so till one day when we had to wait some time in St. John's Wood There was a butcher shop next door and as we were standing a butcher's cart came dashing up at a great pace The horse was hot and much exhausted He hung his head down while his heaving sides and trembling legs showed how hard he had been driven The lad jumped out of the cart and was getting the basket when the master came out of the shop much displeased After looking at the horse he turned angrily to the lad How many times shall I tell you not to drive in this way You ruined the last horse in his wind and you are going to ruin this in the same way If you were not my own son I would dismiss you on the spot It is a disgrace to have a horse brought to the shop in a condition like that You are liable to be taken up by the police for such driving and if you are you need not look for me for bail for I have spoken to you till I'm tired You must look out for yourself During this speech the boy had stood by sullen and dogged but when his father ceased he broke out angrily It wasn't his fault and he wouldn't take the blame He was only going by orders all the time You always say now be quick now look sharp and when I go to the house there's one once a leg of mutton for an early dinner and I must be back with it in a quarter of an hour another cook has forgotten to order the beef I must go and fetch it and be back in no time or the mistress will scold she persists they have company coming unexpectedly and must have chops sent up directly and the lady at number four in the crescent never orders her dinner till the meat comes in for lunch and it's nothing but hurry hurry all the time if the gentry would think of what they want in order to meet the day before there need not be this blow up I wish to goodness they would said the butcher would save me a wonderful deal of harass and I could suit my customers much better if I knew beforehand but there what's the use of talking whoever thinks of a butcher's convenience or a butcher's horse now then take him in and look to him well mind he does not go out again today and if anything else is wanted you must carry it yourself in the basket with that he went in and the horse was led away but all boys are not cruel I have seen some as fond of their pony or donkey as if it had been a favorite dog little creatures have worked away as cheerfully and willingly for their young drivers as I work for Jerry it may be hard work sometimes but a friend's hand and voice make it easy there was a young costar boy who came up our street with greens and potatoes he had an old pony not very handsome but the cheerfulness and pluckiest little thing I ever saw and to see how fond those two were of each other was a treat the pony followed his master like a dog and when he got into his cart he would stop without a whip or a word and rattle down the street as merrily as if he had come out of the queen's stables Jerry liked the boy and called him Prince Charlie for he said he would make a king of drivers someday there was an old man too who used to come up our street with a little coal cart he wore a coal heavers hat and looked rough and black he and his old horse used to plod together along the street like two good partners who understood each other the horse would stop of his own accord and with the coal of him he used to keep one ear bent toward his master the old man's cry could be heard up the street long before he came near I never knew what he said but the children called him Old Bar Who for it sounded like that Polly took her coal of him and was very friendly and Jerry said it was a comfort to think how happy an old horse might be in a poor place End of Chapter 41 Chapter 42 of Black Beauty This is a LibriVox recording all LibriVox recordings are in the public domain for more information or to volunteer please visit LibriVox.org Black Beauty by Anna Sewell Chapter 42 The Election As we came into the yard one afternoon Polly came out Jerry, I've had Mr. B here asking about your vote and he wants to hire your cab for the election he will call for an answer Well Polly you may say that my cab will be otherwise engaged I should not like to have it paced over with their great bills and as to making Jack and Captain race about to the public houses to bring up half drunken voters why? I think it would be an insult to the horses no, I shan't do it I suppose you'll vote for the gentleman he said he was of your politics so he is in some of things but I shall not vote for him Polly you know what his trade is yes well, a man who gets rich by that trade may be all very well in some ways but he is blind to what working men want I could not in my conscience send him up to make the laws I dare say they'll be angry but every man must do what he thinks to be the best for his country On the morning before the election Jerry was putting me into the shafts when Dolly came into the yard sobbing with her little blue frock and white pinafore spattered all over with mud why Dolly? what is the matter? it was naughty boys she sobbed I have turned the turd all over me and called me a little regga regga they called her a little blue ragamuffin father said Harry who ran in looking very angry but I have given it to them they won't insult my sister again I have given them a thrashing they will remember a set of cowardly rascally orange black guns Jerry kissed the child and said run into your mother my pet and tell her I think you would better stay at home today and help her then turning gravely to Harry my boy I hope you will always defend your sister and give anybody who insults her a good thrashing that is as it should be but mind I won't have any election black guarding on my promises there are as many blue black guards as there are orange and as many white as there are purple or any other color and I won't have any of my family mixed up with it even women and children are ready to quarrel for the sake of a color and not one in ten of them knows what it is about why father I thought blue was for liberty my boy liberty does not come from colors they only show party and all the liberty you can get out of them is liberty to get drunk at other people's expense liberty to ride to the pole in a dirty old cab liberty to abuse anyone that does not wear your color and to shout yourself horse at what you only half understand that's your liberty oh father you are laughing no Harry I am serious and I am ashamed to see how men go on who ought to know better an election is a very serious thing at least ought to be and every man ought to vote according to his conscience and let his neighbor do the same End of Chapter 42 Chapter 43 of Black Beauty This is a LibriVox recording all LibriVox recordings are in the public domain for more information or to volunteer please visit LibriVox.org Black Beauty by Anna Sewell Chapter 43 A Friend in Need The election day came at last there was no lack of work for Jerry and me first came a stout puffy gentleman with a carpet bag he wanted to go to the bishops gate station then we were called by a party who wished to be taken to the regents park and next we were wanted in a side street where a timid anxious old lady was waiting to be taken to the bank there we had to stop to take her back again and just as we had set her down a red-faced gentleman with a handful of papers came running up out of breath and before Jerry could get down he had opened the door popped himself in and called out Bow Street police station quick so off we went with him another turn or two we came back there was no other cab on the stand Jerry put on my nose bag for as he said we must eat when we can on such days as these so much away Jack and make the best of your time old boy I found I had a good feed of crushed oats wetted up with a little bran this would be a treat any day but very refreshing then Jerry was so thoughtful and kind what horse would not do his best for such a master then he took out one of Polly's meat pies and standing near me he began to eat it the streets were very full and the cabs with the candidates colors on them were dashing about through the crowd as if life and limb were of no consequence we saw two people knocked down that day and one was a woman the horses were having a bad time of it poor things but the voters inside thought nothing of that many of them were half drunk hurrying out of the cab windows if their own party came by it was the first election I had seen and I don't want to be in another though I have heard things are better now Jerry and I had not eaten many mouthfuls before a poor young woman carrying a heavy child came along the street she was looking this way and that way and seemed quite bewildered presently she made her way up to Jerry and asked if he could tell her the way to St. Thomas's hospital and how far it was to get there she had come from the country that morning she said in a market cart she did not know about the election and she had gotten order for the hospital for her little boy the child was crying with a feeble pining cry poor little fellow he suffers a deal of pain he is four years old and can't walk anymore than a baby but the doctor said if I could get him into the hospital he might get well how far is it and which way is it why mrs. you can't get there walking through crowds like this why it is three miles away and that child is heavy yes bless him he is but I am strong thank god and to find you the way I think I should get on somehow please tell me the way you can't do it you might be knocked down and the child will be run over now look here just get into this cab and I'll drive you safe to the hospital don't you see the rain is coming on no so no I can't do that thank you I have only just money enough to get back with please tell me the way I've got a wife and dear children at home and I know a father's feelings now get you into that cab and I'll take you there for nothing I'd be ashamed of myself to let a woman and a sick child run a risk like that heaven bless you said the woman and burst into tears there there cheer up my dear I'll soon take you there come let me put you inside as Jerry went to open the door two men with colors in their hats and buttonholes ran up calling out cab engaged cried Jerry but one of the men pushing past the woman spraying into the cab followed by the other Jerry looked as stern as a policeman this cab is already engaged gentlemen by that lady lady said one of them oh she can wait our business is very important besides we were in first it is our right and we shall stay in a droll smile came over Jerry's face as he shut the door upon them alright gentlemen pray stay in as long as it suits you I can wait while you rest yourself and turning his back upon them he walked up to the young woman who was standing near me they'll soon be gone he said laughing don't trouble yourself my dear and they soon work on for when they understood Jerry's dodge they got out calling him all sorts of bad names and blustering about his number and getting a summons after this little stoppage we were soon on our way to the hospital going as much as possible through by streets Jerry rung the great bell and helped the young woman out thank you a thousand times she said I never could have got here alone you're kindly welcome and I hope the dear child will soon be better he watched her go in at the door and gently he said to himself in as much as you have done it to one of the least of these then he patted my neck which was always his way when anything pleased him the rain was now coming down fast and just as we were leaving the hospital the door opened again and the porter called out cab we stopped and a lady came down the steps Jerry seemed to know her at once she put back her veil and said Barker Jeremiah Barker is at you I'm very glad to find you here you're just the friend I want for it is very difficult to get a cab in this part of London today I shall be proud to serve you ma'am I am right glad I happened to be here where may I take you to ma'am to the Paddington station and then if we are in good time as I think we shall be you shall tell me all about Mary and the children we got to the station in good time and being under shelter the lady stood a good while talking to Jerry I found she had been Polly's mistress and after many inquiries about her she said how do you find the cab work suit you in the winter I know Mary was rather anxious about you last year yes ma'am she was I had a bad cough that followed me up quite into the warm weather and when I am kept out late she does worry herself a good deal you see ma'am it is all hours and all weathers and that does try a man's constitution but I'm getting on pretty well and I should feel quite lost if I had not horses to look after I was brought up to it and I'm afraid I should not do so well at anything else well Barker she said it would be a great pity that you should seriously risk your health for this work not only for your own but for Mary's and the children's sake there are many places where good drivers or good grooms are wanted and if you ever think you ought to give up this cab work let me know then sending some kind messages to Mary she put something into his hand saying there is five shillings each for the two children Mary will know how to spend it Jerry thanked her and seemed much pleased and turning out of the station we at last reached home and I at least was tired End of Chapter 43 Chapter 44 of Black Beauty This is a LibriVox recording all LibriVox recordings are in the public domain for more information or to volunteer please visit LibriVox.org Black Beauty by Anna Sewell Chapter 44 Old Captain and his successor Captain and I were great friends he was a noble old fellow I never thought that he would have to leave his home and go down the hill but his turn came and this was how it happened I was not there but I heard all about it he and Jerry had taken a party to the Great Railway Station over London Bridge and were coming back somewhere between the bridge and the monument when Jerry saw a brewer's empty tray coming along drawn by two powerful horses the Dreyman was lashing his horses with his heavy whip the Drey was light he started off at a furious rate the man had no control over them and the street was full of traffic one young girl was knocked down and run over and the next moment they dashed up against our cab both the wheels were torn off and the cab was thrown over Captain was dragged down the shafts splintered and one of them ran into his side Jerry too was thrown but was only bruised nobody could tell how he escaped he always said it was a miracle poor Captain was got up he was found to be very much cut and knocked about Jerry led him home gently and a sad sight it was to see the blood soaking into his white coat and dropping from his side and shoulder the Dreyman was proved to be very drunk and was fined and the brewer had to pay damages to our master but there was no one to pay damages to poor Captain the ferrier and Jerry did the best they could to ease his pain and make him comfortable the fly had to be mended and for several days I did not go out and Jerry earned nothing the first time we went to the stand after the accident the Governor came up to hear how Captain was he'll never get over it said Jerry at least not from my work so the ferrier said this morning he says he may do for carding and that sort of work it has put me out very much carding indeed I've seen what horses come to at that work round London I will only wish all the drunkards could be put in a lunatic asylum instead of being allowed to run foul of sober people if they would break their own bones and smash their own carts and lame their own horses then that would be their affair and we might let them alone but it seems to me that the innocent always suffer and then they talk about compensation you can't make compensation there's all the trouble and vexation and loss of time besides losing a good horse that's like an old friend talking to compensation if there's one devil that I should like to see in the bottomless pit more than another it's the drink devil I say Jerry said the Governor you are treading pretty hard on my toes you know I'm not as good as you are more shame to me I wish I was well said Jerry why don't you cut with it Governor you are too good a man to be a slave of such a thing I'm a great fool Jerry but I tried once for two days and I thought I shouldn't have died how did you do I had hard work at it for several weeks you see I never did get drunk but I found that I was not my own master and then when the Craven come on it was hard work to say no I saw that one of us must knock under the drink devil or Jerry Barker and I said that it should not be Jerry Barker God helping me but it was a struggle and I wanted all the help I could get for till I tried to break the habit I did not know how strong it was but then Polly took such pains that I should have good food and when the Craven came on I used to get a cup of coffee or some peppermint or read a bit in my book and that was a help to me sometimes I had to say over and over to myself give up the drink or lose your soul give up the drink or break Polly's heart but thanks be to God my dear wife my chains were broken for ten years I have not tasted a drop and never wished for it I have a great mind to try at it said Grant for it is a poor thing not to be one's own master do Governor do you'll never repent it and what a help it would be to some of the poor fellows in our rank if they saw you could do without it I know there's two or three would like to keep out of that tavern if they could at first Captain seemed to do well but he was a very old horse and it was only his wonderful constitution and Jerry's care that had kept him up at the cab work so long now he broke down very much the farrier said he might mend up enough to sell for a few pounds but Jerry said no a few pounds got by selling a good old servant into hard work and misery would canker all the rest of his money and he thought the kindest thing he could do for the final fellow would be to put a sure bullet through his head and then he would never suffer more for he did not know where to find a kind master for the rest of his days the day after this was decided Harry took me to the forge for some new shoes when I returned Captain was gone I and the family all felt it very much Jerry had now to look out for another horse and he soon heard of one through an acquaintance who was under groomed in nobleman's stables he was a valuable young horse but he had run away smashed into another carriage flung his lordship out and so cut and blemished himself that he was no longer fit for a gentleman's stables and the coachman had orders to look round and sell him as well as he could I can do with the high spirits said Jerry if a horse is not vicious or hard-mouthed there's not a bit of vice in him said the man his mouth is very tender and I think myself that was the cause of the accident you see he had just been clipped and the weather was bad and he had not had exercise enough and when he did go out he was as full of spring as a balloon our governor the coachman I mean had him harnessed in as tight and strong as he could with the martingale and the check-rain a very sharp curb and the reins put in at the bottom bar it is my belief that it made the horse mad being tender in the mouth and so full of spirit likely enough I'll come and see him the next day Hotspur, that was his name, came home he was a fine brown horse without a white hair in him as tall as captain with a very handsome head and only five years old I gave him a friendly greeting by way of good fellowship but did not ask him any questions the first night he was very restless instead of lying down he kept jerking his halter-rope up and down through the ring and knocking the block about against the manger till I could not sleep the next day after five or six hours in the cab he came in quiet and sensible Jerry patted and talked to him a good deal and very soon they understood each other and Jerry said that with an easy bit and plenty of work he would be as gentle as a lamb and that it was an ill wind that blew nobody good for if his lordship had lost a hundred guinea favorite the cab man had gained a good horse with all his strength in him Hotspur thought it a great come-down to be a cab horse but he confessed to me at the end of the week that an easy mouth and a free head made up for a great deal and after all the work was not so degrading as having one's head and tail fastened to each other at the saddle in fact he settled in well and Jerry liked him very much End of Chapter 44 Chapter 45 of Black Beauty This is a LibriVox recording All LibriVox recordings are in the public domain For more information or to volunteer please visit LibriVox.org Black Beauty by Anna Sewell Chapter 45 Jerry's New Year For some people Christmas and the New Year are very merry times but for cab men and cab men's horses it is no holiday though it may be a harvest There are so many parties balls and places of amusement open that the work is hard and often late Sometimes driver and horse have to wait for hours most shivering with the cold while the merry people within are dancing away to the music I wonder if the beautiful ladies ever think of the weary cab man waiting on his box and his patient beast standing till his legs get stiff with cold I had now most of the evening work as I was well accustomed to standing and Jerry was also more afraid of Hotspur taking cold We had a great deal of late work in the Christmas week and Jerry's cough was bad but however late we were Polly sat up for him and came out with a lantern to meet him looking anxious and troubled On the evening of the New Year we had to take two gentlemen to a house in one of the West End Squares We set them down at nine o'clock and were told to come again at eleven But, said one, as it is a card party you may have to wait a few minutes but don't be late As the clock struck eleven we were at the door for Jerry was always punctual Two, three and then struck twelve but the door did not open The wind had been very changeable with squalls of rain during the day but now it came on sharp driving sleet which seemed to come all the way round It was very cold and there was no shelter Jerry got off his box and came and pulled one of my cloths a little more over my neck Then he took a turn or two up and down stamping his feet Then he began to beat his arms but that set him off coughing He sat at the bottom with his feet on the pavement and was a little sheltered Still the clock chimed the quarters and no one came At half past twelve he rang the bell and asked the servant if he would be wanted that night Oh yes, you'll be wanted safe enough said the man You must not go, it will soon be over And again Jerry sat down but his voice was so hoarse I could hardly hear him At a quarter past one the door opened and the two gentlemen came out They got into the cab without a word and told Jerry where to drive That was nearly two miles My legs were numb with cold and I thought I should have stumbled When the men got out they never said they were sorry to have kept us waiting so long but were angry at the charge However, as Jerry never charged more than was his due so he never took less and they had to pay for the two hours and a quarter waiting but it was hard earned money to Jerry At last we got home He could hardly speak and his cough was dreadful Polly asked no questions but opened the door and held the lantern for him Can't I do something She said Yes, get Jack something warm and then boil me some gruel This was said in a horse whisper He could hardly get his breath but he gave me a rub down as usual and even went up into the hay loft for an extra bundle of straw for my bed Polly brought me a warm mash that made me comfortable and then they locked the door It was late the next morning before anyone came and then it was only Harry He cleaned us and fed us and swept out the stalls then he put the straw back again as if it was Sunday He was very still and neither whistled nor sang At noon he came again and gave us our food and water This time Dolly came with him She was crying and I could gather from what they said that Jerry was dangerously ill and the doctor said it was a bad case So two days passed There was no trouble in doors We only saw Harry and sometimes Dolly I think she came for company for Polly was always with Jerry and he had to be kept very quiet On the third day while Harry was in the stable a tap came at the door and Governor Grant came in I wouldn't go into the house, my boy He said But I want to know how your father is He is very bad said Harry Well, it's bronchitis The doctor thinks it will turn one way or another tonight That's bad Very bad said Grant, shaking his head I know two men who died of that last wink It takes them off in no time But while there's life there's hope So you must keep up your spirits Yes, said Harry quickly and the doctor said that father had a better chance than most men because he didn't drink He said yesterday the fever was so hard that if father had been a drinking man it would have burned him up like a piece of paper But I believe he thinks he will get over it Don't you think he will, Mr. Grant? The Governor looked puzzled If there's any rule that good men should get over these things I'm sure he will, my boy He's the best man I know I'll look in early tomorrow Early next morning he was there Well, said he Father is better, said Harry Mother hopes he will get over it Thank God, said the Governor Now you must keep him warm and keep his mind easy and that brings me to the horses You see, Jack will be all the better from the rest of a week or two on a warm stable and you can easily take him a turn up and down the street to stretch his legs But this young one if he does not get work he will soon be all up on end, as you may say and will be rather too much for you and when he does go out there will be an accident Now, said Harry I've kept him short of corn but he's so full of spirit I don't know what to do with him Just so, said Grant Now look here Will you tell your mother that if she is agreeable I will come for him every day until something is arranged and take him for a good spell of work and whatever he earns he'll bring your mother half of it and that will help in the horse's speed Your father is in a good club, I know but that won't keep the horses and they'll be eating their heads off all this time I'll come at noon and hear what she says and without waiting for Harry's thanks he was gone At noon I think he went and saw Polly for he and Harry came to the stable together harnessed Hotspur and took him out for a week or more he came for Hotspur and when Harry thanked him or said anything about his kindness he laughed it off saying it was all good luck for him for his horses were wanting a little rest which they would not otherwise have had Jerry grew better steadily but the doctor said that he must never go back to the cab work again if he wished to be an old man the children had many consultations together about what father and mother would do and how they could help to earn money one afternoon Hotspur was brought in very wet and dirty The strings are nothing but slush said the governor It will give you a good warming my boy to get him clean and dry Alright governor said Harry I will not leave him till he is you know I have been trained by my father I wish all the boys had been trained like you said the governor While Harry was sponging off the mud from Hotspur's body and legs Dolly came in looking very full of something Who lives at Fairstow Harry Mother has got a letter from Fairstow She seemed so glad and ran upstairs to father with it Don't you know why it's the name of Mrs Fowler's place mother's old mistress you know the lady that father met last summer was chilling rich Oh Mrs Fowler of course I know all about her I wonder what she's writing to mother about Mother wrote to her last week said Harry you know she told father that if he ever gave up the carb work she would like to know I wonder what she says run in and see Dolly Harry scrubbed away at Hotspur with a whish whish like any old hustler In a few minutes Dolly came dancing into the stable Oh Harry there never was anything so beautiful all to go and live near her There's a cottage now empty that will just suit us with a garden and a hen house and apple trees and everything and her coachman is going away in the spring and then she will want father in his place and there are good many families around where you can get a place in the garden or the stable or as a page boy and there's a good school for me and mother is laughing and crying by turns and father does look so happy That's uncommon Dolly said Harry and just the right thing I should say it will suit father and mother both but I don't intend to be a page boy with tight clothes and rows of buttons I'll be a groom or a gardener It was quickly settled that as soon as Jerry was well enough they should remove to the country and that the cab and horses should be sold as soon as possible This was heavy news to me for I was not young now and could not look for any improvement in my condition Since I left Burtwick I had never been so happy as with my dear master Jerry but three years of carb work even under the best conditions will tell on one's strength and I felt that I was not the horse that I had been Grant said at once that he would take Hotspur and there were men on the stand who would have bought me but Jerry said I should not go to carb work again with just anybody and the governor promised to find a place for me where I should be comfortable The day came for going away Jerry had not been allowed to go out yet and I never saw him after that New Year's Eve Polly and the children came to bid me goodbye Poor old Jack Daryl Jack I wish we could take it with us She said and then laying her hand on my mane she put her face close to my neck and kissed me Dolly was crying and kissed me too Harry stroked me a great deal but said nothing only he seemed very sad and so I was led away to my new place End of Chapter 45 Chapter 46 of Black Beauty This is a LibriVox recording All LibriVox recordings are in the public domain For more information or to volunteer please visit LibriVox.org Black Beauty by Anna Sewell Chapter 46 Jakes and the Lady I was sold to a corn dealer and baker whom Jerry knew and with him he thought I should have good food and fair work In the first he was quite right and on the premises I do not think I should have been overloaded but there was a foreman who was always hurrying and driving everyone and frequently when I had quite a full load he would order something else to be taken on My Carter whose name was Jakes often said it was more than I ought to take but the other always overruled him There was no use going twice when once would do and he chose to get business forward Jakes like the other Carter's always had the check rain up and prevented me from drawing easily and by the time I had been there three or four months I found the work telling very much on my strength One day I was loaded more than usual and part of the road was a steep uphill I used all my strength but I could not get on and was obliged continually to stop This did not please my driver and he laid his whip on badly Get on you lazy fellow he said Again I started the heavy load and struggled on a few yards Again the whip came down and again I struggled forward The pain of that great cart whip was sharp but my mind was hurt quite as much as my poor sides To be punished and abused when I was doing my very best was so hard it took the heart out of me A third time he was flogging me cruelly when a lady stepped quickly up to him and said in a sweet earnest voice Oh pray do not whip your good horse anymore I am sure he is doing all he can and the road is very steep I am sure he is doing his best If doing his best won't get this load up he must do something more than his best That's all I know ma'am Said Jakes But is it not a heavy load? She said Yes yes too heavy But that's not my fault The foreman came just as we were starting and would have three hundred weight more put on to save him trouble with it as well as I can He was raising the whip again when the lady said Pray stop I think I can help you if you let me The man laughed You see You do not give him a fair chance He cannot use all his power with his head held back as it is with that check reign If you would take it off I am sure he would do better Do try it I should be very glad if you would Well well Please How far would you wish it down ma'am Quiet down Give him his head all together The reign was taken off and in a moment I put my head down to my very knees What a comfort it was Then I tossed it up and down several times to get the aching stiffness out of my neck Poor fellow that is what you wanted Said she Padding and stroking me with her gentle hand And now if you will speak kindly to him and lead him on I believe he will be able to do better Come on Blacky I put down my head and threw my whole weight against the collar I spared no strength, the load moved on and I pulled it steadily up the hill and then stopped to take breath The lady had walked along the footpath and now came across into the road She stroked and patted my neck as I had not been patted for many a long day You see he was quite willing when you gave him the chance I am sure he is a fine tempered creature and I dare say he has known better days You won't put that rain on him again will you for he was just going to hitch it up on the old plan Well ma'am I can't deny that having his head has helped him up the hill and I'll remember it another time and thank you ma'am But if you went without a check rain I should be the laughing stock of all the carjers It is the fashion you see Is it not better? To lead a good fashion or a bad one? A great many gentlemen do not use check rains now Our carriage horses have not worn them for 15 years and work with much less fatigue than those who have them Besides We have no right to distress any of God's creatures without a very good reason We call them dumb animals and so they are for they cannot tell us how they feel but they do not suffer less because they have no words I must not detain you now I thank you for trying my plan with your good horse and I am sure you will find it far better than the whip Good day And with another soft pat on my neck she stepped lightly across the path and I saw her no more That was a real lady I'll be bound for it said jakes to himself She spoke just as polite as if I was a gentleman and I'll try her plan uphill at any rate what I could say Good feed and fair rest will keep up one's strength under full work but no horse can stand against overloading and I was getting so thoroughly pulled down from this cause that a younger horse was bought in my place I may as well mention here what I suffered at this time from another cause I had heard horses speak of it but had never myself had experienced of the evil This was a badly lighted stable lighted stable. There was only one very small window at the end, and the consequence was that the stalls were almost dark. Besides the depressing effect this had on my spirits, it very much weakened my sight, and when I was suddenly brought out of the darkness into the glare of daylight it was very painful to my eyes. Several times I stumbled over the threshold and could scarcely see where I was going. I believe, had I stayed there very long, I should have become purblind, and that would have been a great misfortune, for I have heard men say that a stone-blind horse was safer to drive than one which had imperfect sight, as it generally makes them very timid. However, I escaped without any permanent injury to my sight, and was sold to a large cab owner. End of Chapter 46 Chapter 47 of Black Beauty. This is a LibriVox recording. All LibriVox recordings are in the public domain. For more information or to volunteer, please visit LibriVox.org. Black Beauty by Anna Sewell. Chapter 47. Hard Times. My new master I shall never forget. He had black eyes and a hooked nose. His mouth was as full of teeth as a bulldog's, and his voice was as harsh as the grinding of cartwheels over graveled stones. His name was Nicholas Skinner, and I believe he was the man that poor seedy Sam drove for. I have heard men say that seeing is believing, but I should say that feeling is believing. For much as I had seen before, I never knew till now the utter misery of a cab horse's life. Skinner had a low set of cabs and a low set of drivers. He was hard on the men, and the men were hard on the horses. In this place we had no Sunday rest, and it was in the heat of summer. Sometimes on a Sunday morning a party of fast men would hire the cab for the day, four of them inside and another with the driver, and I had to take them 10 or 15 miles out into the country and back again. Never would any of them get down to walk up a hill, let it be ever so steep, or the day ever so hot. Unless, indeed, when the driver was afraid I should not manage it, and sometimes I was so fevered and worn that I could hardly touch my food. How I used to long for the nice bran mash with nighter in it that Jerry used to give us on Saturday nights in hot weather that used to cool us down and make us so comfortable. Then we had two nights and a whole day for unbroken rest, and on Monday morning we were as fresh as young horses again. But here there was no rest, and my driver was just as hard as his master. He had a cruel whip with something so sharp at the end that it sometimes drew blood, and he would even whip me under the belly and flip the lash out at my head. Indignities like these took the heart out of me terribly, but still I did my best and never hung back, for, as poor Ginger said, it was no use, men are the strongest. My life was now so utterly wretched that I wished I might, like Ginger, drop down dead at my work and be out of my misery, and one day my wish very nearly came to pass. I went on the stand at eight in the morning, and had done a good share of work when we had to take a fare to the railway. A long train was just expected in, so my driver pulled up at the back of some of the outside cabs to take the chance of a return fare. It was a very heavy train, and as all the cabs were soon engaged, ours was called for. There was a party of four—a noisy, blustering man with a lady, a little boy, and a young girl, and a great deal of luggage. The lady and the boy got into the cab, and while the man ordered about the luggage, the young girl came and looked at me. Papa, she said, I am sure this poor horse cannot take us and all our luggage so far. He's so very weak and worn up. Do look at him. He's all right, miss. He's strong enough, said my driver. He can do it all right, sir. The porter, who was pulling about some heavy boxes, suggested to the gentleman, as there was so much luggage, whether he would not take a second cab. Can your horse do it or can't he, said the blustering man. Sent up the box's border. He could take more than that. And he helped to haul up a box so heavy that I could feel the springs go down. Papa, Papa, do take a second cab, said the young girl, in a beseeching tone. I am sure we are wrong. I am sure it is very cruel. Nonsense, Grace. Get in at once and don't make all this fuss. A pretty thing it would be if a man of business had to examine every cab horse before he hired it. The man knows his own business, of course. There, get in and hold your tongue. My gentle friend had to obey, and box after box was dragged up and lodged on the top of the cab, or settled by the side of the driver. At last all was ready, and with his usual jerk at the rain and slash of the whip he drove out of the station. The load was very heavy, and I had had neither food nor rest since morning, but I did my best, as I always had done, in spite of cruelty and injustice. I got along fairly till we came to Ludgate Hill, but there the heavy load and my own exhaustion were too much. I was struggling to keep on, goaded by constant chucks of the rain and use of the whip, when in a single moment, I cannot tell how, my feet slipped from under me, and I fell heavily to the ground on my side. The suddenness and the force with which I fell seemed to beat all the breath out of my body. I lay perfectly still. Indeed I had no power to move, and I thought now I was going to die. I heard a sort of confusion round me, loud, angry voices, and the getting down of the luggage, but it was all like a dream. I thought I heard that sweet pitiful voice saying, Oh, that poor horse, it is all our fault. Someone came and loosened the throat strap of my bridle, and undid the traces which kept the collar so tight upon me. Someone said, He's dead, he'll never get up again. Then I could hear a policeman giving orders, but I did not even open my eyes. I could only draw a gasping breath now and then. Some cold water was thrown over my head, and some cordial was poured into my mouth, and something was covered over me. I cannot tell how long I lay there, but I found my life coming back, and a kind-voiced man was patting me and encouraging me to rise. After some more cordial had been given me, and after one or two attempts, I staggered to my feet, and was gently led to some stables which were close by. Here I was put into a well-littered stall, and some warm gruel was brought to me, which I drank, thankfully. In the evening I was sufficiently recovered to be led back to Skinner's stables, where I think they did the best for me they could. In the morning Skinner came with a farrier to look at me. He examined me very closely, and said, This is a case of overwork more than disease, and if you could give him a run-off for six months, he would be able to work again. But now there is not an ounce of strength left in him. Then he must just go to the dogs, said Skinner. I have no medals to nurse six horses in. He might get well or he might not. That sort of thing don't suit my business. My plan is to work them as long as they'll go, and then sell them for what they'll fetch, at the knackers, or elsewhere. If he was broken-winded, said the farrier, you had better have him killed out of hand. But he is not. There is a sale of horses coming off in about ten days. If you rest him and feed him up, he may pick up, and you may get more than his skin is worth at any rate. Upon this advice Skinner, rather unwillingly, I think, gave orders that I should be well fed and cared for, and the stable man, happily for me, carried out the orders with a much better will than his master had in giving them. Ten days of perfect rest, plenty of good oats, hay, bran-mashes, with boiled linseed mixed in them, did more to get up my condition than anything else could have done. Those linseed-mashes were delicious, and I began to think after all, it might be better to live than go to the dogs. When the twelfth day after the accident came, I was taken to the sale, a few miles out of London. I felt that any change from my present place must be an improvement, so I held up my head and hoped for the best. End of Chapter 47 Chapter 48 of Black Beauty This is a LibriVox recording. All LibriVox recordings are in the public domain. For more information or to volunteer, please visit LibriVox.org Black Beauty by Anna Sewell Chapter 48 Farmer Thurigood and his grandson Willie At this sale, of course, I found myself in company with the old broken-down horses, some lame, some broken-winded, some old, and some that I am sure it would have been merciful to shoot. The buyers and sellers, too, many of them, looked not much better off than the poor beasts they were bargaining about. There were poor old men trying to get a horse or a pony for a few pounds that might drag about some little wood or coal cart. There were poor men trying to sell a worn-out beast for two or three pounds, rather than have the greater loss of killing him. Some of them looked as if poverty and hard times had hardened them all over, but there were others that I would have willingly used the last of my strength in serving, poor and shabby, but kind and human, with voices that I could trust. There was one tottering old man who took a great fancy to me and I to him, but I was not strong enough. It was an anxious time. Coming from the better part of the fair, I noticed a man who looked like a gentleman farmer with a young boy by his side. He had a broad back and round shoulders, a kind, ruddy face, and he wore a broad-brimmed hat. When he came up to me and my companions, he stood still and gave a pitiful look round upon us. I saw his eye rest on me. I had still a good mane and tail, which did something for my appearance. I pricked my ears and looked at him. There's a horse will eat that is known better days. Poor old fellow, said the boy. Do you think, Grandpa Pa, he was ever a carriage horse? Oh, yes, my boy, said the farmer, coming closer. He might have been anything when he was young. Look at his nostrils and his ears. The shape of his neck and shoulder. There is a tale of reading about that horse. He put out his hand and gave me a kind pat on the neck. I put out my nose and answered to his kindness. The boy stroked my face. Poor old fellow, see, Grandpa Pa, how well he understands kindness. Could you not buy him and make him young again, as you did with Lady Bird? My dear boy, I can't make all old horses young. Besides, Lady Bird was not so very old that she was run down and badly used. Well, Grandpa Pa, I don't believe that this one is old. Look at his mane and his tail. I wish you would look into his mouth and then you could tell. Though he is so very thin, his eyes are not sunk like some old horses. The old gentleman laughed. Bless them, boy. He is as horsey as his old grandfather. But do look at his mouth, Grandpa Pa, and ask the price. I'm sure he would grow young in our meadows. The man who had brought me for sale now put in his word. The young gentleman's a real known one, sir. Not the fact is, this ear also is just pulled down with overwork in the calves. He's not an old one, and I hear it as how the veterinarian should say, that a six months run off would set him right up, being as how his win was not broken. I've had the tendon of him these ten past days, and a great fellow present their animal I never met with, and would be worth the gentleman's while to give a five pound note for him and let him have a chance. I'll be bound he'd be worth twenty pounds next spring. The old gentleman laughed, and the little boy looked up eagerly. Oh, Grandpa Pa, did you not say the colt so for five pounds more than you expected? You would not be poorer if you did buy this one. The farmer slowly felt my legs, which were much swelled and strained. Then he looked at my mouth. Thirteen or fourteen, I should say. Just trot him out, will ya? I arched my poor thin neck, raised my tail a little, and threw out my legs as well as I could, for they were very stiff. What is the lowest you'll take for them? Said the farmer as I came back. Five pound sir, that was the lowest price my master set. Just his speculations? Said the old gentleman, shaking his head, but at the same time slowly drawing out his purse. Quite a speculation. Have you any more business here? He said, counting the sovereigns into his hand. No sir, I can take him for you to the end, if you please. Do so. I am now going there. They walked forward and I was led behind. The boy could hardly control his delight, and the old gentleman seemed to enjoy his pleasure. I had a good feed at the inn, and was then gently ridden home by a servant of my new masters, and turned into a large meadow with a shed in one corner of it. Mr. Thurrogood, for that was the name of my benefactor, gave orders that I should have hay and oats every night and morning, and the run of the meadow during the day, and— You, Willie. Said he. Must take the oversight of him. I give him in charge to you. The boy was proud of his charge, and undertook it in all seriousness. There was not a day when he did not pay me a visit, sometimes picking me out from among the other horses, and giving me a bit of carrot, or something good, or sometimes standing by me while I ate my oats. He always came with kind words and caresses, and of course I grew very fond of him. He called me old crony, as I used to come to him in the field and follow him about. Sometimes he brought his grandfather, who always looked closely at my legs. This is our point, Willie. He would say. He is improving so steadily that I think we shall see a change for the better in the spring. The perfect rest, the good food, the soft turf, and gentle exercise soon began to tell on my condition and my spirits. I had a good constitution from my mother, and I was never strained when I was young, so that I had a better chance than many horses who have been worked before they came to their full strength. During the winter my legs improved so much that I began to feel quite young again. The spring came round, and one day in March Mr. Thurrogood determined that he would try me in the Phaeton. I was well pleased, and he and Willie drove me a few miles. My legs were not stiff now, and I did the work with perfect ease. He's growing young, Willie. We must give him a little gentle work now, and by mid-summer he will be as good as Lady Bird. He has a beautiful mouth and good paces. They can't be better. Oh, Grandpa Pa, how glad I am you bought him. So am I, my boy. But he has to thank you more than me. We must now be looking out for a quiet, gentle place for him, where he will be valued. One day during this summer, the groom cleaned and dressed me with such extraordinary care that I thought some new change must be at hand. He trimmed my fetlocks and legs, passed the tar brush over my hoofs, and even parted my forelock. I think the harness had an extra polish. Willie seemed half anxious, half merry as he got into the shez with his grandfather. If the ladies take to him, said the old gentleman, they'll be suited, and he'll be suited. We can't but try. At the distance of a mile or two from the village, we came to a pretty low house, with a lawn and shrubbery at the front and a drive up to the door. Willie rang the bell and asked if Miss Bloomfield or Miss Ellen was at home. Yes, they were. So while Willie stayed with me, Mr. Thurrogood went into the house. In about ten minutes he returned, followed by three ladies. One tall pale lady, wrapped in a white shawl, leaned on a younger lady, with dark eyes and a merry face. The other, a very stately-looking person, was Miss Bloomfield. They all came and looked at me and asked questions. The younger lady, that was Miss Ellen, took to me very much. She said she was sure she should like me. I had such a good face. The tall pale lady said that she should always be nervous in riding behind a horse that had once been down, as I might come down again, and if I did, she should never get over the fright. You see, ladies, said Mr. Thurrogood, many first-rate horses have had their knees broken through the carelessness of their drivers, without any fault to their own, and from what I see of this horse, I should say that is his case. But of course I do not wish to influence you. If you incline, you can have him on trial, and then your coachman will see what he thinks of him. You have always been such a good advisor to us about our horses, said the stately lady. That your recommendation would go a long way with me, and if my sister Lavinia sees no objection, we will accept your offer of a trial with thanks. It was then arranged that I should be sent for the next day. In the morning, a smart-looking young man came for me. At first he looked pleased, but when he saw my knees, he said, in a disappointed voice. I didn't think, sir, you would have recommended my ladies a blemished horse like that. Handsome is that handsome does, said my master. You're really taking him on trial, and I am sure you will do fairly by him, young man. If he is not as safe as any horse you ever drove, send him back. I was led to my new home, placed in a comfortable stable, fed, and left to myself. The next day, when the groom was cleaning my face, he said, That is just like the star that Black Beauty had. He is much the same height too. I wonder where he is now. A little further on, he came to the place in my neck where I was bled, and where a little knot was left in the skin. He almost started, and began to look me over carefully, talking to himself. White star in the forehead, one white foot on the off-side, this little knot just in that place. And as I am alive there is that little patch of white hair that John used to call Beauty's three-penny bit. It must be Black Beauty. White Beauty! Beauty, do you know me? Little Joe Green that almost killed you? And he began patting and patting me as if he was quite overjoyed. I could not say that I remembered him. For now he was a fine grown young fellow, with Black Whiskers and a man's voice, but I was sure he knew me, and that he was Joe Green, and I was very glad. I put my nose up to him, and tried to say that we were friends. I never saw a man so pleased. Give you a fair trial. I should think so indeed. I wonder who the rascal was that broke your knees, my old Beauty. You must have been badly served out somewhere. Well, well, it won't be my fault if you have in a good times of it now. I wish John Manley was here to see you. In the afternoon I was put into a low park chair and brought to the door. Miss Ellen was going to try me, and Green went with her. I soon found that she was a good driver, and she seemed pleased with my paces. I heard Joe telling her about me, and that he was sure I was Squire Gordon's old Black Beauty. When we returned the other sisters came out to hear how I had behaved myself. She told them what she had just heard, and said, I shall certainly write to Mrs. Gordon and tell her that her favourite horse has come to us. How pleased she will be! After this I was driven every day for a week or so, and as I appeared to be quite safe, Miss Lavinia at last ventured out in the small close carriage. After this it was quite decided to keep me, and call me by my old name of Black Beauty. I have now lived in this happy place a whole year. Joe is the best and kindest of grooms. My work is easy and pleasant, and I feel my strength and spirits all coming back again. Mr. Thurrogood said to Joe the other day, in your place he will last till he is twenty years old, perhaps more. Willie always speaks to me when he can, and treats me as his special friend. My ladies have promised that I shall never be sold, and so I have nothing to fear, and here my story ends. My troubles are all over, and I am at home. And often before I am quite awake, I fancy I am still in the orchard at Birtwick, standing with my old friends under the apple trees. End of Chapter 49 End of Black Beauty