Black Beauty Read Free Page B

ill-used
before she came here. John does all he can to please 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 great
deal, and I can tell you there is not a better place for a horse
all round 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 that she did
not stay in that box."

Chapter 5 A
Fair Start
    The name of the coachman was John Manly; 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 Highwood, and back by the
watermill 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 saw it 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 rein will
guide him. Down at the end of the common we met one of those
traveling 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 Highwood, 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 rein 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 him myself
to-morrow."
    The next day I was brought up for my master. I remembered my
mother's counsel and my good old master's, 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 wish 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 is really quite a beauty, and he 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