Page 16 of Black Beauty


  Besides the depressing effect this had on my spirits, it very muchweakened my sight, and when I was suddenly brought out of the darknessinto the glare of daylight it was very painful to my eyes. Several timesI 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 saythat a stone-blind horse was safer to drive than one which had imperfectsight, as it generally makes them very timid. However, I escaped withoutany permanent injury to my sight, and was sold to a large cab owner.

  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 bull-dog's, and his voice was asharsh as the grinding of cart wheels over graveled stones. His name wasNicholas Skinner, and I believe he was the man that poor Seedy Sam drovefor.

  I have heard men say that seeing is believing; but I should say thatfeeling is believing; for much as I had seen before, I never knew tillnow 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 onthe men, and the men were hard on the horses. In this place we had noSunday rest, and it was in the heat of summer.

  Sometimes on a Sunday morning a party of fast men would hire the cab forthe day; four of them inside and another with the driver, and I had totake them ten or fifteen miles out into the country, and back again;never would any of them get down to walk up a hill, let it be everso steep, or the day ever so hot--unless, indeed, when the driver wasafraid I should not manage it, and sometimes I was so fevered and wornthat I could hardly touch my food. How I used to long for the nice branmash with niter in it that Jerry used to give us on Saturday nights inhot 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 Mondaymorning we were as fresh as young horses again; but here there was norest, and my driver was just as hard as his master. He had a cruel whipwith something so sharp at the end that it sometimes drew blood, and hewould 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 Idid my best and never hung back; for, as poor Ginger said, it was nouse; 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 wishvery nearly came to pass.

  I went on the stand at eight in the morning, and had done a good shareof work, when we had to take a fare to the railway. A long train wasjust expected in, so my driver pulled up at the back of some of theoutside cabs to take the chance of a return fare. It was a very heavytrain, and as all the cabs were soon engaged ours was called for. Therewas a party of four; a noisy, blustering man with a lady, a little boyand a young girl, and a great deal of luggage. The lady and the boy gotinto the cab, and while the man ordered about the luggage the young girlcame and looked at me.

  "Papa," she said, "I am sure this poor horse cannot take us and all ourluggage so far, he is so very weak and worn up. Do look at him."

  "Oh! he's all right, miss," said my driver, "he's strong enough."

  The porter, who was pulling about some heavy boxes, suggested to thegentleman, as there was so much luggage, whether he would not take asecond cab.

  "Can your horse do it, or can't he?" said the blustering man.

  "Oh! he can do it all right, sir; send up the boxes, porter; he couldtake more than that;" and he helped to haul up a box so heavy that Icould feel the springs go down.

  "Papa, papa, do take a second cab," said the young girl in a beseechingtone. "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 prettything it would be if a man of business had to examine every cab-horsebefore he hired it--the man knows his own business of course; there, getin and hold your tongue!"

  My gentle friend had to obey, and box after box was dragged up andlodged on the top of the cab or settled by the side of the driver. Atlast all was ready, and with his usual jerk at the rein and slash of thewhip he drove out of the station.

  The load was very heavy and I had had neither food nor rest sincemorning; but I did my best, as I always had done, in spite of crueltyand injustice.

  I got along fairly till we came to Ludgate Hill; but there the heavyload and my own exhaustion were too much. I was struggling to keep on,goaded by constant chucks of the rein and use of the whip, when in asingle moment--I cannot tell how--my feet slipped from under me, and Ifell heavily to the ground on my side; the suddenness and the forcewith which I fell seemed to beat all the breath out of my body. I layperfectly still; indeed, I had no power to move, and I thought now I wasgoing 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. Ithought I heard that sweet, pitiful voice saying, "Oh! that poor horse!it is all our fault." Some one came and loosened the throat strap ofmy bridle, and undid the traces which kept the collar so tight upon me.Some one said, "He's dead, he'll never get up again." Then I could heara policeman giving orders, but I did not even open my eyes; I could onlydraw a gasping breath now and then. Some cold water was thrown overmy head, and some cordial was poured into my mouth, and something wascovered over me. I cannot tell how long I lay there, but I found my lifecoming back, and a kind-voiced man was patting me and encouraging me torise. After some more cordial had been given me, and after one or twoattempts, I staggered to my feet, and was gently led to some stableswhich were close by. Here I was put into a well-littered stall, and somewarm gruel was brought to me, which I drank thankfully.

  In the evening I was sufficiently recovered to be led back to Skinner'sstables, where I think they did the best for me they could. In themorning Skinner came with a farrier to look at me. He examined me veryclosely and said:

  "This is a case of overwork more than disease, and if you could give hima run off for six months he would be able to work again; but now thereis not an ounce of strength left in him."

  "Then he must just go to the dogs," said Skinner. "I have no meadows tonurse sick horses in--he might get well or he might not; that sort ofthing don't suit my business; my plan is to work 'em as long as they'llgo, and then sell 'em for what they'll fetch, at the knacker's orelsewhere."

  "If he was broken-winded," said the farrier, "you had better have himkilled out of hand, but he is not; there is a sale of horses coming offin about ten days; if you rest him and feed him up he may pick up, andyou may get more than his skin is worth, at any rate."

  Upon this advice Skinner, rather unwillingly, I think, gave orders thatI 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 ingiving them. Ten days of perfect rest, plenty of good oats, hay,bran mashes, with boiled linseed mixed in them, did more to get up mycondition than anything else could have done; those linseed mashes weredelicious, and I began to think, after all, it might be better to livethan go to the dogs. When the twelfth day after the accident came, Iwas taken to the sale, a few miles out of London. I felt that any changefrom my present place must be an improvement, so I held up my head, andhoped for the best.

  48 Farmer Thoroughgood and His Grandson Willie

  At this sale, of course I found myself in company with the oldbroken-down horses--some lame, some broken-winded, some old, and somethat I am sure it would have been merciful to shoot.

  The buyers and sellers, too, many of them, looked not much better offthan the poor beasts they were bargaining about. There were poor oldmen, trying to get a horse or a pony for a few pounds, that might dragabout some little wood or coal cart. There were poor men trying to sella worn-out beast for two or three pounds, rather than have the greaterloss of killing him. Some of them looked as if poverty and hard timeshad hardened them all over; but there were others that I would havewillingly used the last of my strength in s
erving; poor and shabby, butkind and human, with voices that I could trust. There was one totteringold man who took a great fancy to me, and I to him, but I was not strongenough--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 byhis 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 companionshe stood still and gave a pitiful look round upon us. I saw his eyerest on me; I had still a good mane and tail, which did something for myappearance. I pricked my ears and looked at him.

  "There's a horse, Willie, that has known better days."

  "Poor old fellow!" said the boy, "do you think, grandpapa, he was ever acarriage horse?"

  "Oh, yes! my boy," said the farmer, coming closer, "he might have beenanything when he was young; look at his nostrils and his ears, the shapeof his neck and shoulder; there's a deal of breeding about that horse."He put out his hand and gave me a kind pat on the neck. I put out mynose in answer to his kindness; the boy stroked my face.

  "Poor old fellow! see, grandpapa, how well he understands kindness.Could not you buy him and make him young again as you did withLadybird?"

  "My dear boy, I can't make all old horses young; besides, Ladybird wasnot so very old, as she was run down and badly used."

  "Well, grandpapa, I don't believe that this one is old; look at his maneand 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 the boy! he is as horsey as his oldgrandfather."

  "But do look at his mouth, grandpapa, and ask the price; I am sure hewould grow young in our meadows."

  The man who had brought me for sale now put in his word.

  "The young gentleman's a real knowing one, sir. Now the fact is, this'ere hoss is just pulled down with overwork in the cabs; he's not an oldone, and I heerd as how the vetenary should say, that a six months' runoff would set him right up, being as how his wind was not broken.I've had the tending of him these ten days past, and a gratefuller,pleasanter animal I never met with, and 'twould be worth a gentleman'swhile to give a five-pound note for him, and let him have a chance. I'llbe bound he'd be worth twenty pounds next spring."

  The old gentleman laughed, and the little boy looked up eagerly.

  "Oh, grandpapa, did you not say the colt sold for five pounds more thanyou 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; justtrot him out, will you?"

  I arched my poor thin neck, raised my tail a little, and threw out mylegs as well as I could, for they were very stiff.

  "What is the lowest you will take for him?" said the farmer as I cameback.

  "Five pounds, sir; that was the lowest price my master set."

  "'Tis a speculation," said the old gentleman, shaking his head, but atthe same time slowly drawing out his purse, "quite a speculation! Haveyou any more business here?" he said, counting the sovereigns into hishand.

  "No, sir, I can take him for you to the inn, if you please."

  "Do so, I am now going there."

  They walked forward, and I was led behind. The boy could hardly controlhis delight, and the old gentleman seemed to enjoy his pleasure. I had agood feed at the inn, and was then gently ridden home by a servant of mynew master's, and turned into a large meadow with a shed in one cornerof it.

  Mr. Thoroughgood, for that was the name of my benefactor, gave ordersthat I should have hay and oats every night and morning, and the run ofthe meadow during the day, and, "you, Willie," said he, "must take theoversight 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 pickingme out from among the other horses, and giving me a bit of carrot, orsomething good, or sometimes standing by me while I ate my oats. Healways came with kind words and caresses, and of course I grew very fondof him. He called me Old Crony, as I used to come to him in the fieldand follow him about. Sometimes he brought his grandfather, who alwayslooked closely at my legs.

  "This is our point, Willie," he would say; "but he is improving sosteadily that I think we shall see a change for the better in thespring."

  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 goodconstitution 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 workedbefore they came to their full strength. During the winter my legsimproved so much that I began to feel quite young again. The spring cameround, and one day in March Mr. Thoroughgood determined that he wouldtry me in the phaeton. I was well pleased, and he and Willie drove me afew miles. My legs were not stiff now, and I did the work with perfectease.

  "He's growing young, Willie; we must give him a little gentle work now,and by mid-summer he will be as good as Ladybird. He has a beautifulmouth and good paces; they can't be better."

  "Oh, grandpapa, how glad I am you bought him!"

  "So am I, my boy; but he has to thank you more than me; we must nowbe looking out for a quiet, genteel place for him, where he will bevalued."

  49 My Last Home

  One day during this summer the groom cleaned and dressed me with suchextraordinary care that I thought some new change must be at hand; hetrimmed my fetlocks and legs, passed the tarbrush over my hoofs, andeven parted my forelock. I think the harness had an extra polish. Willieseemed half-anxious, half-merry, as he got into the chaise with hisgrandfather.

  "If the ladies take to him," said the old gentleman, "they'll be suitedand he'll be suited. We can 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 thedoor. Willie rang the bell, and asked if Miss Blomefield or Miss Ellenwas at home. Yes, they were. So, while Willie stayed with me, Mr.Thoroughgood 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 Blomefield. They all cameand looked at me and asked questions. The younger lady--that was MissEllen--took to me very much; she said she was sure she should like me, Ihad such a good face. The tall, pale lady said that she should alwaysbe nervous in riding behind a horse that had once been down, as I mightcome down again, and if I did she should never get over the fright.

  "You see, ladies," said Mr. Thoroughgood, "many first-rate horses havehad their knees broken through the carelessness of their drivers withoutany fault of their own, and from what I see of this horse I should saythat is his case; but of course I do not wish to influence you. If youincline you can have him on trial, and then your coachman will see whathe thinks of him."

  "You have always been such a good adviser to us about our horses," saidthe 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 ofa 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 lookedpleased; but when he saw my knees he said in a disappointed voice:

  "I didn't think, sir, you would have recommended my ladies a blemishedhorse like that."

  "'Handsome is that handsome does'," said my master; "you are only takinghim on trial, and I am sure you will do fairly by him, young man. If heis 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 leftto 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 sameheight, too. I wonder where he is now."


  A little further on he came to the place in my neck where I was bled andwhere a little knot was left in the skin. He almost started, and beganto look me over carefully, talking to himself.

  "White star in the forehead, one white foot on the off side, this littleknot just in that place;" then looking at the middle of my back--"and,as I am alive, there is that little patch of white hair that John usedto call 'Beauty's three-penny bit'. It must be 'Black Beauty'! Why,Beauty! Beauty! do you know me?--little Joe Green, that almost killedyou?" 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 youngfellow, with black whiskers and a man's voice, but I was sure he knewme, and that he was Joe Green, and I was very glad. I put my nose upto him, and tried to say that we were friends. I never saw a man sopleased.

  "Give you a fair trial! I should think so indeed! I wonder who therascal was that broke your knees, my old Beauty! you must have beenbadly served out somewhere; well, well, it won't be my fault if youhaven't good times of it now. I wish John Manly was here to see you."

  In the afternoon I was put into a low park chair and brought to thedoor. Miss Ellen was going to try me, and Green went with her. I soonfound 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 SquireGordon's old "Black Beauty".

  When we returned the other sisters came out to hear how I had behavedmyself. She told them what she had just heard, and said:

  "I shall certainly write to Mrs. Gordon, and tell her that her favoritehorse has come to us. How pleased she will be!"