English
ThenexttimethatGingerandIweretogetherinthepaddockshetoldmeaboutherfirstplace.
"Aftermybreakingin,"shesaid,"Iwasboughtbyadealertomatchanotherchestnuthorse.
Forsomeweekshedroveustogether,andthenweweresoldtoafashionablegentleman,andweresentuptoLondon.
Ihadbeendrivenwithacheck-reinbythedealer,andIhateditworsethananythingelse;butinthisplacewewerereinedfartighter,thecoachmanandhismasterthinkingwelookedmorestylishso.
Wewereoftendrivenaboutintheparkandotherfashionableplaces.
Youwhoneverhadacheck-reinondon'tknowwhatitis,butIcantellyouitisdreadful.
"Iliketotossmyheadaboutandholditashighasanyhorse;butfancynowyourself,ifyoutossedyourheaduphighandwereobligedtoholditthere,andthatforhourstogether,notabletomoveitatall,exceptwithajerkstillhigher,yourneckachingtillyoudidnotknowhowtobearit.
Besidesthat,tohavetwobitsinsteadofone—andminewasasharpone,ithurtmytongueandmyjaw,andthebloodfrommytonguecoloredthefroththatkeptflyingfrommylipsasIchafedandfrettedatthebitsandrein.
Itwasworstwhenwehadtostandbythehourwaitingforourmistressatsomegrandpartyorentertainment,andifIfrettedorstampedwithimpatiencethewhipwaslaidon.Itwasenoughtodriveonemad."
"Didnotyourmastertakeanythoughtforyou?"Isaid.
"No,"saidshe,"heonlycaredtohaveastylishturnout,astheycallit;Ithinkheknewverylittleabouthorses;heleftthattohiscoachman,whotoldhimIhadanirritabletemper!
thatIhadnotbeenwellbrokentothecheck-rein,butIshouldsoongetusedtoit;buthewasnotthemantodoit,forwhenIwasinthestable,miserableandangry,insteadofbeingsmoothedandquietedbykindness,Igotonlyasurlywordorablow.
IfhehadbeencivilIwouldhavetriedtobearit.
Iwaswillingtowork,andreadytoworkhardtoo;buttobetormentedfornothingbuttheirfanciesangeredme.
Whatrighthadtheytomakemesufferlikethat?
Besidesthesorenessinmymouth,andthepaininmyneck,italwaysmademywindpipefeelbad,andifIhadstoppedtherelongIknowitwouldhavespoiledmybreathing;butIgrewmoreandmorerestlessandirritable,Icouldnothelpit;andIbegantosnapandkickwhenanyonecametoharnessme;forthisthegroombeatme,andoneday,astheyhadjustbuckledusintothecarriage,andwerestrainingmyheadupwiththatrein,Ibegantoplungeandkickwithallmymight.
Isoonbrokealotofharness,andkickedmyselfclear;sothatwasanendofthatplace.
"AfterthisIwassenttoTattersall'stobesold;ofcourseIcouldnotbewarrantedfreefromvice,sonothingwassaidaboutthat.
Myhandsomeappearanceandgoodpacessoonbroughtagentlemantobidforme,andIwasboughtbyanotherdealer;hetriedmeinallkindsofwaysandwithdifferentbits,andhesoonfoundoutwhatIcouldnotbear.
Atlasthedrovemequitewithoutacheck-rein,andthensoldmeasaperfectlyquiethorsetoagentlemaninthecountry;hewasagoodmaster,andIwasgettingonverywell,buthisoldgroomlefthimandanewonecame.
Thismanwasashard-temperedandhard-handedasSamson;healwaysspokeinarough,impatientvoice,andifIdidnotmoveinthestallthemomenthewantedme,hewouldhitmeabovethehockswithhisstablebroomorthefork,whicheverhemighthaveinhishand.
Everythinghedidwasrough,andIbegantohatehim;hewantedtomakemeafraidofhim,butIwastoohigh-mettledforthat,andonedaywhenhehadaggravatedmemorethanusualIbithim,whichofcourseputhiminagreatrage,andhebegantohitmeabouttheheadwitharidingwhip.
Afterthatheneverdaredtocomeintomystallagain;eithermyheelsormyteethwerereadyforhim,andheknewit.
Iwasquitequietwithmymaster,butofcoursehelistenedtowhatthemansaid,andsoIwassoldagain.
"Thesamedealerheardofme,andsaidhethoughtheknewoneplacewhereIshoulddowell.''
Twasapity,'hesaid,'thatsuchafinehorseshouldgotothebad,forwantofarealgoodchance,'andtheendofitwasthatIcameherenotlongbeforeyoudid;butIhadthenmadeupmymindthatmenweremynaturalenemiesandthatImustdefendmyself.
Ofcourseitisverydifferenthere,butwhoknowshowlongitwilllast?
IwishIcouldthinkaboutthingsasyoudo;butIcan't,afterallIhavegonethrough."
"Well,"Isaid,"IthinkitwouldbearealshameifyouweretobiteorkickJohnorJames."
"Idon'tmeanto,"shesaid,"whiletheyaregoodtome.
IdidbiteJamesonceprettysharp,butJohnsaid,'Tryherwithkindness,'andinsteadofpunishingmeasIexpected,Jamescametomewithhisarmboundup,andbroughtmeabranmashandstrokedme;andIhaveneversnappedathimsince,andIwon'teither."
IwassorryforGinger,butofcourseIknewverylittlethen,andIthoughtmostlikelyshemadetheworstofit;however,Ifoundthatastheweekswentonshegrewmuchmoregentleandcheerful,andhadlostthewatchful,defiantlookthatsheusedtoturnonanystrangepersonwhocamenearher;andonedayJamessaid,"Idobelievethatmareisgettingfondofme,shequitewhinniedaftermethismorningwhenIhadbeenrubbingherforehead."
"Ay,ay,Jim,'tis'theBirtwickballs',"saidJohn,"she'llbeasgoodasBlackBeautybyandby;kindnessisallthephysicshewants,poorthing!"
Masternoticedthechange,too,andonedaywhenhegotoutofthecarriageandcametospeaktous,asheoftendid,hestrokedherbeautifulneck.
"Well,myprettyone,well,howdothingsgowithyounow?
Youareagoodbithappierthanwhenyoucametous,Ithink."
Sheputhernoseuptohiminafriendly,trustfulway,whileherubbeditgently.
"Weshallmakeacureofher,John,"hesaid.
"Yes,sir,she'swonderfullyimproved;she'snotthesamecreaturethatshewas;it's'theBirtwickballs',sir,"saidJohn,laughing.
ThiswasalittlejokeofJohn's;heusedtosaythataregularcourseof"theBirtwickhorseballs"wouldcurealmostanyvicioushorse;theseballs,hesaid,weremadeupofpatienceandgentleness,firmnessandpetting,onepoundofeachtobemixedupwithhalfapintofcommonsense,andgiventothehorseeveryday.
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