Black Beauty Read online

  This wise speech of good little Merrylegs, which we knew was quite true,cooled us all down, especially Sir Oliver, who was dearly fond of hismaster; and to turn the subject I said, "Can any one tell me the use ofblinkers?"

  "No!" said Sir Oliver shortly, "because they are no use."

  "They are supposed," said Justice, the roan cob, in his calm way, "toprevent horses from shying and starting, and getting so frightened as tocause 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; theysay that a horse would be so frightened to see the wheels of his owncart 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 thestreets are crowded. I admit they do sometimes come too close to bepleasant, 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 shouldsee what was there, and know what was what, and be much less frightenedthan by only seeing bits of things that we can't understand. Of coursethere may be some nervous horses who have been hurt or frightened whenthey were young, who may be the better for them; but as I never wasnervous, I can't judge."

  "I consider," said Sir Oliver, "that blinkers are dangerous things inthe night; we horses can see much better in the dark than men can, andmany an accident would never have happened if horses might have had thefull use of their eyes. Some years ago, I remember, there was a hearsewith two horses returning one dark night, and just by Farmer Sparrow'shouse, where the pond is close to the road, the wheels went too near theedge, and the hearse was overturned into the water; both the horses weredrowned, and the driver hardly escaped. Of course after this accidenta stout white rail was put up that might be easily seen, but if thosehorses had not been partly blinded, they would of themselves have keptfurther from the edge, and no accident would have happened. When ourmaster's carriage was overturned, before you came here, it was said thatif the lamp on the left side had not gone out, John would have seen thegreat hole that the road-makers had left; and so he might, but if oldColin had not had blinkers on he would have seen it, lamp or no lamp,for he was far too knowing an old horse to run into danger. As it was,he was very much hurt, the carriage was broken, and how John escapednobody knew."

  "I should say," said Ginger, curling her nostril, "that these men, whoare so wise, had better give orders that in the future all foals shouldbe born with their eyes set just in the middle of their foreheads,instead of on the side; they always think they can improve upon natureand mend what God has made."

  Things were getting rather sore again, when Merrylegs held up hisknowing little face and said, "I'll tell you a secret: I believe Johndoes not approve of blinkers; I heard him talking with master about itone day. The master said that 'if horses had been used to them, it mightbe dangerous in some cases to leave them off'; and John said he thoughtit 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 havea run to the other end of the orchard; I believe the wind has blown downsome apples, and we might just as well eat them as the slugs."

  Merrylegs could not be resisted, so we broke off our long conversation,and got up our spirits by munching some very sweet apples which layscattered on the grass.

  11 Plain Speaking

  The longer I lived at Birtwick the more proud and happy I felt at havingsuch a place. Our master and mistress were respected and beloved by allwho knew them; they were good and kind to everybody and everything; notonly men and women, but horses and donkeys, dogs and cats, cattle andbirds; there was no oppressed or ill-used creature that had not a friendin them, and their servants took the same tone. If any of the villagechildren were known to treat any creature cruelly they soon heard aboutit from the Hall.

  The squire and Farmer Grey had worked together, as they said, for morethan twenty years to get check-reins on the cart-horses done away with,and in our parts you seldom saw them; and sometimes, if mistress meta heavily laden horse with his head strained up she would stop thecarriage and get out, and reason with the driver in her sweet seriousvoice, and try to show him how foolish and cruel it was.

  I don't think any man could withstand our mistress. I wish all ladieswere 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 apowerful man driving toward us in a light pony chaise, with a beautifullittle bay pony, with slender legs and a high-bred sensitive head andface. Just as he came to the park gates the little thing turned towardthem; the man, without word or warning, wrenched the creature's headround with such a force and suddenness that he nearly threw it on itshaunches. Recovering itself it was going on, when he began to lash itfuriously. The pony plunged forward, but the strong, heavy hand held thepretty creature back with force almost enough to break its jaw, whilethe whip still cut into him. It was a dreadful sight to me, for I knewwhat fearful pain it gave that delicate little mouth; but master gave methe word, and we were up with him in a second.

  "Sawyer," he cried in a stern voice, "is that pony made of flesh andblood?"

  "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. Hewas a builder who had often been to the park on business.

  "And do you think," said master sternly, "that treatment like this willmake him fond of your will?"

  "He had no business to make that turn; his road was straight on!" saidthe man roughly.

  "You have often driven that pony up to my place," said master; "it onlyshows the creature's memory and intelligence; how did he know that youwere not going there again? But that has little to do with it. I mustsay, Mr. Sawyer, that a more unmanly, brutal treatment of a littlepony it was never my painful lot to witness, and by giving way to suchpassion you injure your own character as much, nay more, than you injureyour horse; and remember, we shall all have to be judged according toour works, whether they be toward man or toward beast."

  Master rode me home slowly, and I could tell by his voice how the thinghad grieved him. He was just as free to speak to gentlemen of his ownrank as to those below him; for another day, when we were out, we meta Captain Langley, a friend of our master's; he was driving a splendidpair of grays in a kind of break. After a little conversation thecaptain said:

  "What do you think of my new team, Mr. Douglas? You know, you are thejudge 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. "Theyare an uncommonly handsome pair," he said, "and if they are as good asthey look I am sure you need not wish for anything better; but I seeyou still hold that pet scheme of yours for worrying your horses andlessening their power."

  "What do you mean," said the other, "the check-reins? Oh, ah! I knowthat's a hobby of yours; well, the fact is, I like to see my horses holdtheir heads up."

  "So do I," said master, "as well as any man, but I don't like tosee them held up; that takes all the shine out of it. Now, you are amilitary man, Langley, and no doubt like to see your regiment look wellon parade, 'heads up', and all that; but you would not take much creditfor your drill if all your men had their heads tied to a backboard! Itmight not be much harm on parade, except to worry and fatigue them; buthow would it be in a bayonet charge against the enemy, when they wantthe free use of every muscle, and all their strength thrown forward? Iwould not give much for their chance of victory. And it is just the samewith horses: you fret and worry their tempers, and decrease their power;you will not let them throw their weight against their work, and sothey have to do too much with their joints and muscles, and of courseit wears them up faster. You may depend upon it, horses were intendedto have their heads free, as free as men's are; and if we could act alittle more according to common sense, and a good deal less accordingto fashion, we should find many things work easier; besides
, you know aswell as I that if a horse makes a false step, he has much less chanceof recovering himself if his head and neck are fastened back. And now,"said the master, laughing, "I have given my hobby a good trot out, can'tyou make up your mind to mount him, too, captain? Your example would goa long way."

  "I believe you are right in theory," said the other, "and that's rathera hard hit about the soldiers; but--well--I'll think about it," and sothey parted.

  12 A Stormy Day

  One day late in the autumn my master had a long journey to go onbusiness. I was put into the dog-cart, and John went with his master. Ialways liked to go in the dog-cart, it was so light and the high wheelsran along so pleasantly. There had been a great deal of rain, and nowthe wind was very high and blew the dry leaves across the road in ashower. We went along merrily till we came to the toll-bar and the lowwooden bridge. The river banks were rather high, and the bridge, insteadof rising, went across just level, so that in the middle, if the riverwas full, the water would be nearly up to the woodwork and planks; butas there were good substantial rails on each side, people did not mindit.

  The man at the gate said the river was rising fast, and he feared itwould be a bad night. Many of the meadows were under water, and in onelow part of the road the water was halfway up to my knees; the bottomwas 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'sbusiness engaged him a long time we did not start for home till ratherlate in the afternoon. The wind was then much higher, and I heard themaster say to John that he had never been out in such a storm; and so Ithought, as we went along the skirts of a wood, where the great brancheswere 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 rather awkward if one of thesebranches came down upon us."

  The words were scarcely out of his mouth when there was a groan, and acrack, and a splitting sound, and tearing, crashing down among the othertrees came an oak, torn up by the roots, and it fell right across theroad just before us. I will never say I was not frightened, for I was. Istopped still, and I believe I trembled; of course I did not turn roundor run away; I was not brought up to that. John jumped out and was in amoment 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 round it; therewill be nothing for it, but to go back to the four crossways, and thatwill 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 tothe bridge it was very nearly dark; we could just see that the water wasover the middle of it; but as that happened sometimes when the floodswere out, master did not stop. We were going along at a good pace, butthe moment my feet touched the first part of the bridge I felt surethere was something wrong. I dare not go forward, and I made a deadstop. "Go on, Beauty," said my master, and he gave me a touch with thewhip, but I dare not stir; he gave me a sharp cut; I jumped, but I darenot go forward.

  "There's something wrong, sir," said John, and he sprang out of thedog-cart and came to my head and looked all about. He tried to lead meforward. "Come on, Beauty, what's the matter?" Of course I could nottell him, 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 thehouse, tossing a torch about like one mad.

  "Hoy, hoy, hoy! halloo! stop!" he cried.

  "What's the matter?" shouted my master.

  "The bridge is broken in the middle, and part of it is carried away; ifyou come on you'll be into the river."

  "Thank God!" said my master. "You Beauty!" said John, and took thebridle 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 offafter that furious blast which tore up the tree. It grew darker anddarker, stiller and stiller. I trotted quietly along, the wheels hardlymaking a sound on the soft road. For a good while neither master norJohn spoke, and then master began in a serious voice. I could notunderstand much of what they said, but I found they thought, if I hadgone on as the master wanted me, most likely the bridge would have givenway under us, and horse, chaise, master, and man would have fallen intothe river; and as the current was flowing very strongly, and there wasno light and no help at hand, it was more than likely we should all havebeen drowned. Master said, God had given men reason, by which they couldfind out things for themselves; but he had given animals knowledge whichdid not depend on reason, and which was much more prompt and perfect inits way, and by which they had often saved the lives of men. John hadmany stories to tell of dogs and horses, and the wonderful things theyhad done; he thought people did not value their animals half enough normake friends of them as they ought to do. I am sure he makes friends ofthem if ever a man did.

  At last we came to the park gates and found the gardener looking out forus. 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 onJustice, the roan cob, toward the wooden bridge to make inquiry afterus.

  We saw a light at the hall-door and at the upper windows, and as we cameup mistress ran out, saying, "Are you really safe, my dear? Oh! Ihave been so anxious, fancying all sorts of things. Have you had noaccident?"

  "No, my dear; but if your Black Beauty had not been wiser than we werewe 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 thestable. Oh, what a good supper he gave me that night, a good bran mashand some crushed beans with my oats, and such a thick bed of straw! andI was glad of it, for I was tired.

  13 The Devil's Trade Mark

  One day when John and I had been out on some business of our master's,and were returning gently on a long, straight road, at some distance wesaw a boy trying to leap a pony over a gate; the pony would not take theleap, and the boy cut him with the whip, but he only turned off on oneside. He whipped him again, but the pony turned off on the other side.Then the boy got off and gave him a hard thrashing, and knocked himabout the head; then he got up again and tried to make him leap thegate, 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 uphis heels, and sent the boy neatly over into a broad quickset hedge, andwith the rein dangling from his head he set off home at a full gallop.John laughed out quite loud. "Served him right," he said.

  "Oh, oh, oh!" cried the boy as he struggled about among the thorns; "Isay, come and help me out."

  "Thank ye," said John, "I think you are quite in the right place, andmaybe a little scratching will teach you not to leap a pony over a gatethat is too high for him," and so with that John rode off. "It may be,"said he to himself, "that young fellow is a liar as well as a cruel one;we'll just go home by Farmer Bushby's, Beauty, and then if anybody wantsto know you and I can tell 'em, ye see." So we turned off to the right,and soon came up to the stack-yard, and within sight of the house. Thefarmer was hurrying out into the road, and his wife was standing at thegate, looking very frightened.

  "Have you seen my boy?" said Mr. Bushby as we came up; "he went out anhour ago on my black pony, and the creature is just come back without arider."

  "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 goodlittle pony about shamefully because he would not leap a gate that wastoo high for him. The pony behaved well, sir, and showed no vice; but atlast he just threw up his heels and tipped the young gentleman into thethorn hedge. He wanted me to help him out, but I hope you will excuseme, 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, a
nd it riles me to seethem badly used; it is a bad plan to aggravate an animal till he useshis heels; the first time is not always the last."

  During this time the mother began to cry, "Oh, my poor Bill, I must goand meet him; he must be hurt."

  "You had better go into the house, wife," said the farmer; "Bill wants alesson about this, and I must see that he gets it; this is not the firsttime, nor the second, that he has ill-used that pony, and I shall stopit. I am much obliged to you, Manly. Good-evening."

  So we went on, John chuckling all the way home; then he told James aboutit, who 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 toswagger about and bully the little boys. Of course, we elder ones wouldnot have any of that nonsense, and let him know that in the school andthe playground farmers' sons and laborers' sons were all alike. I wellremember one day, just before afternoon school, I found him at the largewindow catching flies and pulling off their wings. He did not see me andI 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 bellowed in sucha style. The boys rushed in from the playground, and the master ran infrom the road to see who was being murdered. Of course I said fair andsquare at once what I had done, and why; then I showed the master theflies, some crushed and some crawling about helpless, and I showed himthe wings on the window sill. I never saw him so angry before; but asBill was still howling and whining, like the coward that he was, he didnot give him any more punishment of that kind, but set him up on a stoolfor the rest of the afternoon, and said that he should not go out toplay for that week. Then he talked to all the boys very seriously aboutcruelty, and said how hard-hearted and cowardly it was to hurt theweak and the helpless; but what stuck in my mind was this, he said thatcruelty was the devil's own trade-mark, and if we saw any one who tookpleasure in cruelty we might know who he belonged to, for the devil wasa murderer from the beginning, and a tormentor to the end. On the otherhand, where we saw people who loved their neighbors, and were kind toman and beast, we might know that was God's mark."