English
Mynewmasterwasanunmarriedman.HelivedatBath,andwasmuchengagedinbusiness.
Hisdoctoradvisedhimtotakehorseexercise,andforthispurposeheboughtme.
Hehiredastableashortdistancefromhislodgings,andengagedamannamedFilcherasgroom.
Mymasterknewverylittleabouthorses,buthetreatedmewell,andIshouldhavehadagoodandeasyplacebutforcircumstancesofwhichhewasignorant.
Heorderedthebesthaywithplentyofoats,crushedbeans,andbran,withvetches,orryegrass,asthemanmightthinkneedful.
Iheardthemastergivetheorder,soIknewtherewasplentyofgoodfood,andIthoughtIwaswelloff.
Forafewdaysallwentonwell.Ifoundthatmygroomunderstoodhisbusiness.
Hekeptthestablecleanandairy,andhegroomedmethoroughly;andwasneverotherwisethangentle.
HehadbeenanhostlerinoneofthegreathotelsinBath.
Hehadgiventhatup,andnowcultivatedfruitandvegetablesforthemarket,andhiswifebredandfattenedpoultryandrabbitsforsale.
Afterawhileitseemedtomethatmyoatscameveryshort;Ihadthebeans,butbranwasmixedwiththeminsteadofoats,ofwhichtherewereveryfew;certainlynotmorethanaquarterofwhatthereshouldhavebeen.
Intwoorthreeweeksthisbegantotelluponmystrengthandspirits.
Thegrassfood,thoughverygood,wasnotthethingtokeepupmyconditionwithoutcorn.
However,Icouldnotcomplain,normakeknownmywants.
Soitwentonforabouttwomonths;andIwonderedthatmymasterdidnotseethatsomethingwasthematter.
However,oneafternoonherodeoutintothecountrytoseeafriendofhis,agentlemanfarmer,wholivedontheroadtoWells.
Thisgentlemanhadaveryquickeyeforhorses;andafterhehadwelcomedhisfriendhesaid,castinghiseyeoverme:
"Itseemstome,Barry,thatyourhorsedoesnotlooksowellashedidwhenyoufirsthadhim;hashebeenwell?"
"Yes,Ibelieveso,"saidmymaster;"butheisnotnearlysolivelyashewas;mygroomtellsmethathorsesarealwaysdullandweakintheautumn,andthatImustexpectit."
"Autumn,fiddlesticks!"saidthefarmer."Why,thisisonlyAugust;andwithyourlightworkandgoodfoodheoughtnottogodownlikethis,evenifitwasautumn.Howdoyoufeedhim?"
Mymastertoldhim.Theothershookhisheadslowly,andbegantofeelmeover.
"Ican'tsaywhoeatsyourcorn,mydearfellow,butIammuchmistakenifyourhorsegetsit.Haveyouriddenveryfast?"
"No,verygently."
"Thenjustputyourhandhere,"saidhe,passinghishandovermyneckandshoulder;"heisaswarmanddampasahorsejustcomeupfromgrass.
Iadviseyoutolookintoyourstablealittlemore.
Ihatetobesuspicious,and,thankheaven,Ihavenocausetobe,forIcantrustmymen,presentorabsent;buttherearemeanscoundrels,wickedenoughtorobadumbbeastofhisfood.Youmustlookintoit."
Andturningtohisman,whohadcometotakeme,"Givethishorsearightgoodfeedofbruisedoats,anddon'tstinthim."
"Dumbbeasts!"Yes,weare;butifIcouldhavespokenIcouldhavetoldmymasterwherehisoatswentto.
Mygroomusedtocomeeverymorningaboutsixo'clock,andwithhimalittleboy,whoalwayshadacoveredbasketwithhim.
Heusedtogowithhisfatherintotheharness-room,wherethecornwaskept,andIcouldseethem,whenthedoorstoodajar,fillalittlebagwithoatsoutofthebin,andthenheusedtobeoff.
Fiveorsixmorningsafterthis,justastheboyhadleftthestable,thedoorwaspushedopen,andapolicemanwalkedin,holdingthechildtightbythearm;anotherpolicemanfollowed,andlockedthedoorontheinside,saying,"Showmetheplacewhereyourfatherkeepshisrabbits'food."
Theboylookedveryfrightenedandbegantocry;buttherewasnoescape,andheledthewaytothecorn-bin.
Herethepolicemanfoundanotheremptybaglikethatwhichwasfoundfullofoatsintheboy'sbasket.
Filcherwascleaningmyfeetatthetime,buttheysoonsawhim,andthoughheblusteredagooddealtheywalkedhimofftothe"lock-up",andhisboywithhim.
Iheardafterwardthattheboywasnotheldtobeguilty,butthemanwassentencedtoprisonfortwomonths.
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