BLACK BEAUTY
YOUNG FOLKS' EDITION
1902
BLACK BEAUTY
CHAPTER I
MY EARLY HOME
The first place that I can well remember was a pleasant meadow with apond of clear water in it. Over the hedge on one side we looked into aplowed field, and on the other we looked over a gate at our master'shouse, which stood by the roadside. While I was young I lived upon mymother's milk, as I could not eat grass. In the daytime I ran by herside, and at night I lay down close by her. When it was hot we used tostand by the pond in the shade of the trees, and when it was cold we hada warm shed near the grove.
There were six young colts in the meadow beside me; they were older thanI was. I used to run with them, and had great fun; we used to gallop alltogether round the field, as hard as we could go. Sometimes we hadrather rough play, for they would bite and kick, as well as gallop.
One day, when there was a good deal of kicking, my mother whinnied to meto come to her, and then she said: "I wish you to pay attention to whatI am going to say. The colts who live here are very good colts, but theyare cart-horse colts, and they have not learned manners. You have beenwell-bred and well-born; your father has a great name in these parts,and your grandfather won the cup at the races; your grandmother had thesweetest temper of any horse I ever knew, and I think you have neverseen me kick or bite. I hope you will grow up gentle and good, and neverlearn bad ways; do your work with a good will, lift your feet up wellwhen you trot, and never bite or kick even in play."
I have never forgotten my mother's advice. I knew she was a wise oldhorse, and our master thought a great deal of her. Her name was Duchess,but he called her Pet.
Our master was a good, kind man. He gave us good food, good lodging andkind 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 sawhim at the gate she would neigh with joy, and trot up to him. He wouldpat and stroke her and say, "Well, old Pet, and how is your littleDarkie?" I was a dull black, so he called me Darkie; then he would giveme a piece of bread, which was very good, and sometimes he brought acarrot for my mother. All the horses would come to him, but I think wewere his favorites. My mother always took him to town on a market-day ina light gig.
We had a ploughboy, Dick, who sometimes came into our field to pluckblackberries from the hedge. When he had eaten all he wanted he wouldhave what he called fun with the colts, throwing stones and sticks atthem to make them gallop. We did not much mind him, for we could gallopoff; 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 thenext field, watching what was going on; over the hedge he jumped in asnap, and catching Dick by the arm, he gave him such a box on the ear asmade him roar with the pain and surprise. As soon as we saw the masterwe trotted up nearer to see what went on.
"Bad boy!" he said, "bad boy! to chase the colts. This is not the firsttime, but it shall be the last. There--take your money and go home; Ishall not want you on my farm again." So we never saw Dick any more. OldDaniel, the man who looked after the horses, was just as gentle as ourmaster; so we were well off.
CHAPTER II
THE HUNT
Before I was two years old a circumstance happened which I have neverforgotten. It was early in the spring; there had been a little frost inthe night, and a light mist still hung over the woods and meadows. I andthe other colts were feeding at the lower part of the field when weheard what sounded like the cry of dogs. The oldest of the colts raisedhis head, pricked his ears, and said, "There are the hounds!" andcantered off, followed by the rest of us, to the upper part of thefield, where we could look over the hedge and see several fields beyond.My mother and an old riding horse of our master's were also standingnear, and seemed to know all about it. "They have found a hare," said mymother, "and if they come this way we shall see the hunt."
And soon the dogs were all tearing down the field of young wheat next toours. I never heard such a noise as they made. They did not bark, norhowl, nor whine, but kept on a "yo! yo, o, o! yo, o, o!" at the top oftheir voices. After them came a number of men on horseback, allgalloping as fast as they could. The old horses snorted and lookedeagerly 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 ifthey had come to a stand; the dogs left off barking and ran about everyway with their noses to the ground.
"They have lost the scent," said the old horse; "perhaps the hare willget off."
"What hare?" I said.
"Oh, I don't know what hare; likely enough it may be one of our ownhares out of the woods; any hare they can find will do for the dogs andmen to run after"; and before long the dogs began their "yo; yo, o, o!"again, and back they came all together at full speed, making straightfor our meadow at the part where the high bank and hedge overhang thebrook.
"Now we shall see the hare," said my mother; and just then a hare, wildwith fright, rushed by and made for the woods. On came the dogs; theyburst over the bank, leaped the stream and came dashing across thefield, followed by the huntsmen. Several men leaped their horses cleanover, close upon the dogs. The hare tried to get through the fence; itwas too thick, and she turned sharp around to make for the road, but itwas too late; the dogs were upon her with their wild cries; we heardone shriek, and that was the end of her. One of the huntsmen rode up andwhipped off the dogs, who would soon have torn her to pieces. He heldher up by the leg, torn and bleeding, and all the gentlemen seemed wellpleased.
As for me, I was so astonished that I did not at first see what wasgoing on by the brook; but when I did look, there was a sad sight; twofine horses were down; one was struggling in the stream, and the otherwas groaning on the grass. One of the riders was getting out of thewater covered with mud, the other lay quite still.
"His neck is broken," said my mother.
"And serves 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 oldhorse, and have seen and heard a great deal, I never yet could make outwhy men are so fond of this sport; they often hurt themselves, oftenspoil good horses, and tear up the fields, and all for a hare, or a fox,or a stag, that they could get more easily some other way; but we areonly horses, and don't know."
While my mother was saying this, we stood and looked on. Many of theriders had gone to the young man; but my master was the first to raisehim. His head fell back and his arms hung down, and every one lookedvery serious. There was no noise now; even the dogs were quiet, andseemed to know that something was wrong. They carried him to ourmaster's house. I heard afterwards that it was the squire's only son, afine, tall young man, and the pride of his family.
They were now riding in all directions--to the doctor's, and to SquireGordon's, to let him know about his son. When Bond, the farrier, came tolook at the black horse that lay groaning on the grass, he felt him allover, and shook his head; one of his legs was broken. Then some one ranto our master's house and came back with a gun; presently there was aloud bang and a dreadful shriek, and then all was still; the black horsemoved no more.
My mother seemed much troubled; she said she had known that horse foryears, and that his name was Rob Roy; he was a good horse, and there wasno vice in him. She never would go to that part of the field afterwards.
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 wascovered with black cloth and was drawn by black horses; after that cameanother and another and another, and all were black, while t
he bell kepttolling, tolling. They were carrying young Gordon to the church-yard tobury him. He would never ride again. What they did with Rob Roy I neverknew; but 'twas all for one little hare.
CHAPTER III
MY BREAKING IN
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 myforehead. I was thought very handsome; my master would not sell me tillI was four years old; he said lads ought not to work like men, and coltsought 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 examinedmy eyes, my mouth, and my legs; he felt them all down, and then I had towalk 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 saidhe would break me in himself, and he lost no time about it, for the nextday he began.
Every one may not know what breaking in is, therefore I will describeit. It means to teach a horse to wear a saddle and bridle, and to carryon his back a man, woman, or child; to go just the way they wish, and togo quietly. Besides this, he has to learn to wear a collar, and abreeching, and to stand still while they are put on; then to have a cartor a buggy fixed behind, so that he cannot walk or trot without draggingit after him; and he must go fast or slow, just as his driver wishes. Hemust 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 downfor weariness. So you see this breaking in is a great thing.
I had, of course, long been used to a halter and a head-stall, and to beled about in the fields and lanes quietly, but now I was to have a bitand bridle; my master gave me some oats as usual, and after a good dealof coaxing he got the bit into my mouth and the bridle fixed, but it wasa nasty thing! Those who have never had a bit in their mouths cannotthink how bad it feels; a great piece of cold hard steel as thick as aman's finger to be pushed into one's mouth, between one's teeth, andover one's tongue, with the ends coming out at the corner of yourmouth, 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 canyou get rid of the nasty hard thing; it is very bad! at least I thoughtso; but I knew my mother always wore one when she went out, and allhorses did when they were grown up; and so, what with the nice oats, andwhat with my master's pats, kind words, and gentle ways, I got to wearmy bit and bridle.
Next came the saddle, but that was not half so bad; my master put it onmy back very gently, while Old Daniel held my head; he then made thegirths fast under my body, patting and talking to me all the time; thenI had a few oats, then a little leading about; and this he did every daytill I began to look for the oats and the saddle. At length, onemorning, my master got on my back and rode me around the meadow on thesoft grass. It certainly did feel queer; but I must say I felt ratherproud to carry my master, and as he continued to ride me a little everyday, I soon became accustomed to it.
The next unpleasant business was putting on the iron shoes; that too wasvery hard at first. My master went with me to the smith's forge, to seethat I was not hurt or got any fright. The blacksmith took my feet inhis hand, one after the other, and cut away some of the hoof. It did notpain me, so I stood still on three legs till he had done them all. Thenhe took a piece of iron the shape of my foot, and clapped it on, anddrove some nails through the shoe quite into my hoof, so that the shoewas firmly on. My feet felt very stiff and heavy, but in time I got usedto 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 onmy neck, and a bridle with great side-pieces against my eyes, calledblinkers, and blinkers indeed they were, for I could not see on eitherside, but only straight in front of me; next there was a small saddlewith a nasty stiff strap that went right under my tail; that was thecrupper. I hated the crupper--to have my long tail doubled up and pokedthrough that strap was almost as bad as the bit. I never felt more likekicking, but of course I could not kick such a good master, and so intime I got used to everything, and could do my work as well as mymother.
I must not forget to mention one part of my training, which I havealways considered a very great advantage. My master sent me for afortnight to a neighboring farmer's, who had a meadow which was skirtedon one side by the railway. Here were some sheep and cows, and I wasturned in among them.
I shall never forget the first train that ran by. I was feeding quietlynear the pales which separated the meadow from the railway, when I hearda strange sound at a distance, and before I knew whence it came--with arush and a clatter, and a puffing out of smoke--a long black train ofsomething flew by, and was gone almost before I could draw my breath. Igalloped to the further side of the meadow, and there I stood snortingwith astonishment and fear. In the course of the day many other trainswent by, some more slowly; these drew up at the station close by, andsometimes made an awful shriek and groan before they stopped. I thoughtit very dreadful, but the cows went on eating very quietly, and hardlyraised their heads as the black, frightful thing came puffing andgrinding past. For the first few days I could not feed in peace; but asI found that this terrible creature never came into the field, or did meany harm, I began to disregard it, and very soon I cared as little aboutthe passing of a train as the cows and sheep did.
Since then I have seen many horses much alarmed and restive at the sightor sound of a steam engine; but, thanks to my good master's care, I amas fearless at railway stations as in my own stable. Now if any onewants to break in a young horse well, that is the way.
My master often drove me in double harness, with my mother, because shewas steady and could teach me how to go better than a strange horse. Shetold me the better I behaved the better I should be treated, and that itwas wisest always to do my best to please my master. "I hope you willfall into good hands, but a horse never knows who may buy him, or whomay drive him; it is all a chance for us; but still I say, do your bestwherever it is, and keep up your good name."
CHAPTER IV
BIRTWICK PARK
It was early in May, when there came a man from Gordon's, who took meaway to the Hall. My master said, "Good-bye, Darkie; be a good horse andalways do your best." I could not say "good-bye," so I put my nose inhis hand; he patted me kindly, and I left my first home. I will describethe stable into which I was taken; this was very roomy, with four goodstalls; a large swinging window opened into the yard, making it pleasantand airy.
The first stall was a large square one, shut in behind with a woodengate; the others were common stalls, good stalls, but not nearly solarge. It had a low rack for hay and a low manger for corn; it wascalled a box stall, because the horse that was put into it was not tiedup, but left loose, to do as he liked. It is a great thing to have a boxstall.
Into this fine box the groom put me; it was clean, sweet, and airy. Inever was in a better box than that, and the sides were not so high butthat I could see all that went on through the iron rails that were atthe top.
He gave me some very nice oats, patted me, spoke kindly, and then wentaway.
When I had eaten my oats, I looked round. In the stall next to minestood a little fat gray pony, with a thick mane and tail, a very prettyhead, and a pert little nose. I put my head up to the iron rails at thetop 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, andsaid, "My name is Merrylegs. I am very handsome. I carry the youngladies on my back, and sometimes I take our mistress out in the lowcart. They think a great deal of me, and so does James. Are you going tolive 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 fromthe stall beyond; the ears were laid ba
ck, and the eye looked ratherill-tempered. This was a tall chestnut mare, with a long handsome neck;she looked across to me and said, "So it is you have turned me out of mybox; it is a very strange thing for a colt like you to come and turn alady out of her own home."
"I beg your pardon," I said, "I have turned no one out; the man whobrought me put me here, and I had nothing to do with it. I never hadwords 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 wordswith a young thing like you." I said no more. In the afternoon, whenshe went out, Merrylegs told me all about it.
"The thing is this," said Merrylegs, "Ginger has a habit of biting andsnapping; that is why they call her Ginger, and when she was in thebox-stall, she used to snap very much. One day she bit James in the armand made it bleed, and so Miss Flora and Miss Jessie, who are very fondof me, were afraid to come into the stable. They used to bring me nicethings to eat, an apple, or a carrot, or a piece of bread, but afterGinger stood in that box, they dared not come, and I missed them verymuch. I hope they will now come again, if you do not bite or snap." Itold him I never bit anything but grass, hay, and corn, and could notthink what pleasure Ginger found it.
"Well, I don't think she does find pleasure," says Merrylegs; "it isjust a bad habit; she says no one was ever kind to her, and why shouldshe not bite? Of course, it is a very bad habit; but I am sure, if allshe says be true, she must have been very ill-used before she came here.John does all he can to please her; so I think she might begood-tempered here. You see," he said, with a wise look, "I am twelveyears old; I know a great deal, and I can tell you there is not a betterplace for a horse all round the country than this. John is the bestgroom that ever was; he has been here fourteen years; and you never sawsuch a kind boy as James is, so that it is all Ginger's own fault thatshe did not stay in that box."