Black Beauty

by Anna Sewell

  The day after this was decided Harry took me to the forge for some newshoes; when I returned Captain was gone. I and the family all felt itvery much.

  Jerry had now to look out for another horse, and he soon heard of onethrough an acquaintance who was under-groom in a nobleman's stables. Hewas a valuable young horse, but he had run away, smashed into anothercarriage, flung his lordship out, and so cut and blemished himself thathe was no longer fit for a gentleman's stables, and the coachman hadorders to look round, and sell him as well as he could.

  "I can do with high spirits," said Jerry, "if a horse is not vicious orhard-mouthed."

  "There is not a bit of vice in him," said the man; "his mouth is verytender, and I think myself that was the cause of the accident; you seehe had just been clipped, and the weather was bad, and he had not hadexercise enough, and when he did go out he was as full of spring as aballoon. Our governor (the coachman, I mean) had him harnessed in astight and strong as he could, with the martingale, and the check-rein, avery sharp curb, and the reins put in at the bottom bar. It is my beliefthat it made the horse mad, being tender in the mouth and so full ofspirit."

  "Likely enough; I'll come and see him," said Jerry.

  The next day Hotspur, that was his name, came home; he was a fine brownhorse, without a white hair in him, as tall as Captain, with a veryhandsome head, and only five years old. I gave him a friendly greetingby way of good fellowship, but did not ask him any questions. The firstnight he was very restless. Instead of lying down, he kept jerking hishalter rope up and down through the ring, and knocking the block aboutagainst the manger till I could not sleep. However, the next day, afterfive or six hours in the cab, he came in quiet and sensible. Jerrypatted and talked to him a good deal, and very soon they understood eachother, and Jerry said that with an easy bit and plenty of work he wouldbe as gentle as a lamb; and that it was an ill wind that blew nobodygood, for if his lordship had lost a hundred-guinea favorite, the cabmanhad gained a good horse with all his strength in him.

  Hotspur thought it a great come-down to be a cab-horse, and wasdisgusted at standing in the rank, but he confessed to me at the end ofthe 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 andtail fastened to each other at the saddle. In fact, he settled in well,and Jerry liked him very much.

  45 Jerry's New Year

  For some people Christmas and the New Year are very merry times; but forcabmen and cabmen's horses it is no holiday, though it may be a harvest.There are so many parties, balls, and places of amusement open that thework is hard and often late. Sometimes driver and horse have to waitfor hours in the rain or frost, shivering with the cold, while the merrypeople within are dancing away to the music. I wonder if the beautifulladies ever think of the weary cabman waiting on his box, and hispatient beast standing, till his legs get stiff with cold.

  I had now most of the evening work, as I was well accustomed tostanding, and Jerry was also more afraid of Hotspur taking cold. We hada great deal of late work in the Christmas week, and Jerry's cough wasbad; but however late we were, Polly sat up for him, and came out with alantern to meet him, looking anxious and troubled.

  On the evening of the New Year we had to take two gentlemen to a housein one of the West End Squares. We set them down at nine o'clock, andwere told to come again at eleven, "but," said one, "as it is a cardparty, 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 alwayspunctual. The clock chimed the quarters, one, two, three, and thenstruck 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 theway round; it was very cold, and there was no shelter. Jerry got offhis 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 beganto beat his arms, but that set him off coughing; so he opened the cabdoor and sat at the bottom with his feet on the pavement, and was alittle 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 wouldbe 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 sohoarse 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 thoughtI should have stumbled. When the men got out they never said they weresorry 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 tookless, and they had to pay for the two hours and a quarter waiting; butit 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 forhim.

  "Can't I do something?" she said.

  "Yes; get Jack something warm, and then boil me some gruel."

  This was said in a hoarse whisper; he could hardly get his breath, buthe gave me a rub-down as usual, and even went up into the hayloft for anextra bundle of straw for my bed. Polly brought me a warm mash that mademe comfortable, and then they locked the door.

  It was late the next morning before any one came, and then it was onlyHarry. He cleaned us and fed us, and swept out the stalls, then he putthe straw back again as if it was Sunday. He was very still, and neitherwhistled 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 fromwhat they said that Jerry was dangerously ill, and the doctor said itwas a bad case. So two days passed, and there was great trouble indoors.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 to the house, my boy," he said, "but I want to know howyour father is."

  "He is very bad," said Harry, "he can't be much worse; they callit 'bronchitis'; the doctor thinks it will turn one way or anotherto-night."

  "That's bad, very bad," said Grant, shaking his head; "I know two menwho died of that last week; it takes 'em off in no time; but whilethere's life there's hope, so you must keep up your spirits."

  "Yes," said Harry quickly, "and the doctor said that father had a betterchance than most men, because he didn't drink. He said yesterday thefever was so high that if father had been a drinking man it would haveburned him up like a piece of paper; but I believe he thinks he will getover 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'msure he will, my boy; he's the best man I know. I'll look in earlyto-morrow."

  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, "and now you must keep him warm, andkeep his mind easy, and that brings me to the horses; you see Jack willbe all the better for the rest of a week or two in a warm stable, andyou can easily take him a turn up and down the street to stretch hislegs; but this young one, if he does not get work, he will soon be allup on end, as you may say, and will be rather too much for you; and whenhe does go out there'll be an accident."

  "It is like that now," said Harry. "I have kept him short of corn, buthe'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 thatif she is agreeable I will come for him every day till something isarranged, and take him for a good spell of work, and whatever he earns,I'll bring your mother half of it, and that will help with the horses'feed. Your father
is in a good club, I know, but that won't keep thehorses, and they'll be eating their heads off all this time; I'll comeat noon and hear what she says," and without waiting for Harry's thankshe was gone.

  At noon I think he went and saw Polly, for he and Harry came to thestable together, harnessed Hotspur, and took him out.

  For a week or more he came for Hotspur, and when Harry thanked him orsaid anything about his kindness, he laughed it off, saying it was allgood luck for him, for his horses were wanting a little rest which theywould not otherwise have had.

  Jerry grew better steadily, but the doctor said that he must never goback to the cab work again if he wished to be an old man. The childrenhad 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 streets are nothing but slush," said the governor; "it will giveyou a good warming, my boy, to get him clean and dry."

  "All right, governor," said Harry, "I shall 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 Dollycame in, looking very full of something.

  "Who lives at Fairstowe, Harry? Mother has got a letter from Fairstowe;she seemed so glad, and ran upstairs to father with it."

  "Don't you know? Why, it is the name of Mrs. Fowler's place--mother'sold mistress, you know--the lady that father met last summer, who sentyou and me five shillings each."

  "Oh! Mrs. Fowler. Of course, I know all about her. I wonder what she iswriting to mother about."

  "Mother wrote to her last week," said Harry; "you know she told fatherif ever he gave up the cab work she would like to know. I wonder whatshe says; run in and see, Dolly."

  Harry scrubbed away at Hotspur with a huish! huish! like any oldhostler. In a few minutes Dolly came dancing into the stable.

  "Oh! Harry, there never was anything so beautiful; Mrs. Fowler says weare all to go and live near her. There is a cottage now empty thatwill just suit us, with a garden and a henhouse, and apple-trees, andeverything! and her coachman is going away in the spring, and then shewill want father in his place; and there are good families round, whereyou 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 byturns, and father does look so happy!"

  "That's uncommon jolly," said Harry, "and just the right thing, I shouldsay; it will suit father and mother both; but I don't intend to be apage-boy with tight clothes and rows of buttons. I'll be a groom or agardener."

  It was quickly settled that as soon as Jerry was well enough they shouldremove to the country, and that the cab and horses should be sold assoon as possible.

  This was heavy news for me, for I was not young now, and could not lookfor any improvement in my condition. Since I left Birtwick I had neverbeen so happy as with my dear master Jerry; but three years of cab work,even under the best conditions, will tell on one's strength, and I feltthat I was not the horse that I had been.

  Grant said at once that he would take Hotspur, and there were men on thestand who would have bought me; but Jerry said I should not go to cabwork again with just anybody, and the governor promised to find a placefor 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 childrencame to bid me good-by. "Poor old Jack! dear old Jack! I wish we couldtake you with us," she said, and then laying her hand on my mane she puther face close to my neck and kissed me. Dolly was crying and kissedme too. Harry stroked me a great deal, but said nothing, only he seemedvery sad, and so I was led away to my new place.

  Part IV

  46 Jakes and the Lady

  I was sold to a corn dealer and baker, whom Jerry knew, and with him hethought I should have good food and fair work. In the first he was quiteright, and if my master had always been on the premises I do not thinkI should have been overloaded, but there was a foreman who was alwayshurrying and driving every one, and frequently when I had quite a fullload he would order something else to be taken on. My carter, whose namewas Jakes, often said it was more than I ought to take, but the otheralways overruled him. "'Twas no use going twice when once would do, andhe chose to get business forward."

  Jakes, like the other carters, always had the check-rein up, whichprevented me from drawing easily, and by the time I had been there threeor 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 steepuphill. I used all my strength, but I could not get on, and was obligedcontinually to stop. This did not please my driver, and he laid his whipon badly. "Get on, you lazy fellow," he said, "or I'll make you."

  Again I started the heavy load, and struggled on a few yards; again thewhip came down, and again I struggled forward. The pain of that greatcart whip was sharp, but my mind was hurt quite as much as my poorsides. To be punished and abused when I was doing my very best wasso hard it took the heart out of me. A third time he was flogging mecruelly, when a lady stepped quickly up to him, and said in a sweet,earnest voice:

  "Oh! pray do not whip your good horse any more; I am sure he is doingall 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 thanhis best; that's all I know, ma'am," said Jakes.

  "But is it not a heavy load?" she said.

  "Yes, yes, too heavy," he said; "but that's not my fault; the foremancame just as we were starting, and would have three hundredweight moreput on to save him trouble, and I must get on 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 will let me."

  The man laughed.

  "You see," she said, "you do not give him a fair chance; he cannot useall his power with his head held back as it is with that check-rein; ifyou would take it off I am sure he would do better--do try it," she saidpersuasively, "I should be very glad if you would."

  "Well, well," said Jakes, with a short laugh, "anything to please alady, of course. How far would you wish it down, ma'am?"

  "Quite down, give him his head altogether."

  The rein was taken off, and in a moment I put my head down to my veryknees. What a comfort it was! Then I tossed it up and down several timesto get the aching stiffness out of my neck.

  "Poor fellow! that is what you wanted," said she, patting and strokingme with her gentle hand; "and now if you will speak kindly to him andlead him on I believe he will be able to do better."

  Jakes took the rein. "Come on, Blackie." I put down my head, and threwmy whole weight against the collar; I spared no strength; the loadmoved on, and I pulled it steadily up the hill, and then stopped to takebreath.

  The lady had walked along the footpath, and now came across into theroad. She stroked and patted my neck, as I had not been patted for manya long day.

  "You see he was quite willing when you gave him the chance; I am sure heis a fine-tempered creature, and I dare say has known better days. Youwon't put that rein on again, will you?" for he was just going to hitchit up on the old plan.

  "Well, ma'am, I can't deny that having his head has helped him up thehill, and I'll remember it another time, and thank you, ma'am; but ifhe went without a check-rein I should be the laughing-stock of all thecarters; it is the fashion, you see."

  "Is it not better," she said, "to lead a good fashion than to follow abad one? A great many gentlemen do not use check-reins now; our carriagehorses have not worn them for fifteen years, and work with much lessfatigue than those who have them; besides," she added in a very seriousvoice, "we have no right to distress any of God's creatures without avery good reason; we call them dumb animals, and so they are, for theycannot tell us how t
hey feel, but they do not suffer less because theyhave no words. But I must not detain you now; I thank you for tryingmy plan with your good horse, and I am sure you will find it far betterthan the whip. Good-day," and with another soft pat on my neck shestepped 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 herplan, uphill, at any rate;" and I must do him the justice to say thathe let my rein out several holes, and going uphill after that, he alwaysgave me my head; but the heavy loads went on. Good feed and fair restwill keep up one's strength under full work, but no horse can standagainst overloading; and I was getting so thoroughly pulled down fromthis cause that a younger horse was bought in my place. I may as wellmention here what I suffered at this time from another cause. I hadheard horses speak of it, but had never myself had experience of theevil; this was a badly-lighted stable; there was only one very smallwindow at the end, and the consequence was that the stalls were almostdark.