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AtthistimeIusedtostandinthestableandmycoatwasbrushedeverydaytillitshonelikearook'swing.
ItwasearlyinMay,whentherecameamanfromSquireGordon's,whotookmeawaytothehall.
Mymastersaid,"Good-by,Darkie;beagoodhorse,andalwaysdoyourbest."
Icouldnotsay"good-by",soIputmynoseintohishand;hepattedmekindly,andIleftmyfirsthome.
AsIlivedsomeyearswithSquireGordon,Imayaswelltellsomethingabouttheplace.
SquireGordon'sparkskirtedthevillageofBirtwick.
Itwasenteredbyalargeirongate,atwhichstoodthefirstlodge,andthenyoutrottedalongonasmoothroadbetweenclumpsoflargeoldtrees;thenanotherlodgeandanothergate,whichbroughtyoutothehouseandthegardens.
Beyondthislaythehomepaddock,theoldorchard,andthestables.
Therewasaccommodationformanyhorsesandcarriages;butIneedonlydescribethestableintowhichIwastaken;thiswasveryroomy,withfourgoodstalls;alargeswingingwindowopenedintotheyard,whichmadeitpleasantandairy.
Thefirststallwasalargesquareone,shutinbehindwithawoodengate;theotherswerecommonstalls,goodstalls,butnotnearlysolarge;ithadalowrackforhayandalowmangerforcorn;itwascalledaloosebox,becausethehorsethatwasputintoitwasnottiedup,butleftloose,todoasheliked.
Itisagreatthingtohavealoosebox.
Intothisfineboxthegroomputme;itwasclean,sweet,andairy.
Ineverwasinabetterboxthanthat,andthesideswerenotsohighbutthatIcouldseeallthatwentonthroughtheironrailsthatwereatthetop.
Hegavemesomeveryniceoats,hepattedme,spokekindly,andthenwentaway.
WhenIhadeatenmycornIlookedround.Inthestallnexttominestoodalittlefatgraypony,withathickmaneandtail,averyprettyhead,andapertlittlenose.
Iputmyheaduptotheironrailsatthetopofmybox,andsaid,"Howdoyoudo?Whatisyourname?"
Heturnedroundasfarashishalterwouldallow,helduphishead,andsaid,"MynameisMerrylegs.
Iamveryhandsome;Icarrytheyoungladiesonmyback,andsometimesItakeourmistressoutinthelowchair.
Theythinkagreatdealofme,andsodoesJames.
Areyougoingtolivenextdoortomeinthebox?"
Isaid,"Yes."
"Well,then,"hesaid,"Ihopeyouaregood-tempered;Idonotlikeanyonenextdoorwhobites."
Justthenahorse'sheadlookedoverfromthestallbeyond;theearswerelaidback,andtheeyelookedratherill-tempered.
Thiswasatallchestnutmare,withalonghandsomeneck.Shelookedacrosstomeandsaid:
"Soitisyouwhohaveturnedmeoutofmybox;itisaverystrangethingforacoltlikeyoutocomeandturnaladyoutofherownhome."
"Ibegyourpardon,"Isaid,"Ihaveturnednooneout;themanwhobroughtmeputmehere,andIhadnothingtodowithit;andastomybeingacolt,Iamturnedfouryearsoldandamagrown-uphorse.
Ineverhadwordsyetwithhorseormare,anditismywishtoliveatpeace."
"Well,"shesaid,"weshallsee.Ofcourse,Idonotwanttohavewordswithayoungthinglikeyou."Isaidnomore.
Intheafternoon,whenshewentout,Merrylegstoldmeallaboutit.
"Thethingisthis,"saidMerrylegs."Gingerhasabadhabitofbitingandsnapping;thatiswhytheycallherGinger,andwhenshewasinthelooseboxsheusedtosnapverymuch.
OnedayshebitJamesinthearmandmadeitbleed,andsoMissFloraandMissJessie,whoareveryfondofme,wereafraidtocomeintothestable.
Theyusedtobringmenicethingstoeat,anappleoracarrot,orapieceofbread,butafterGingerstoodinthatboxtheydarednotcome,andImissedthemverymuch.
Ihopetheywillnowcomeagain,ifyoudonotbiteorsnap."
ItoldhimIneverbitanythingbutgrass,hay,andcorn,andcouldnotthinkwhatpleasureGingerfoundit.
"Well,Idon'tthinkshedoesfindpleasure,"saysMerrylegs;"itisjustabadhabit;shesaysnoonewaseverkindtoher,andwhyshouldshenotbite?
Ofcourse,itisaverybadhabit;butIamsure,ifallshesaysbetrue,shemusthavebeenveryill-usedbeforeshecamehere.
Johndoesallhecantopleaseher,andJamesdoesallhecan,andourmasterneverusesawhipifahorseactsright;soIthinkshemightbegood-temperedhere.
Yousee,"hesaid,withawiselook,"Iamtwelveyearsold;Iknowagreatdeal,andIcantellyouthereisnotabetterplaceforahorseallroundthecountrythanthis.
Johnisthebestgroomthateverwas;hehasbeenherefourteenyears;andyouneversawsuchakindboyasJamesis;sothatitisallGinger'sownfaultthatshedidnotstayinthatbox."
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