English
Oneday,whileourcabandmanyotherswerewaitingoutsideoneoftheparkswheremusicwasplaying,ashabbyoldcabdroveupbesideours.
Thehorsewasanoldworn-outchestnut,withanill-keptcoat,andbonesthatshowedplainlythroughit,thekneesknuckledover,andthefore-legswereveryunsteady.
Ihadbeeneatingsomehay,andthewindrolledalittlelockofitthatway,andthepoorcreatureputoutherlongthinneckandpickeditup,andthenturnedandlookedaboutformore.
TherewasahopelesslookinthedulleyethatIcouldnothelpnoticing,andthen,asIwasthinkingwhereIhadseenthathorsebefore,shelookedfullatmeandsaid,"BlackBeauty,isthatyou?"
ItwasGinger!buthowchanged!
Thebeautifullyarchedandglossyneckwasnowstraight,andlank,andfallenin;thecleanstraightlegsanddelicatefetlockswereswelled;thejointsweregrownoutofshapewithhardwork;theface,thatwasoncesofullofspiritandlife,wasnowfullofsuffering,andIcouldtellbytheheavingofhersides,andherfrequentcough,howbadherbreathwas.
Ourdriverswerestandingtogetheralittlewayoff,soIsidleduptoherasteportwo,thatwemighthavealittlequiettalk.Itwasasadtalethatshehadtotell.
Afteratwelvemonth'srunoffatEarlshall,shewasconsideredtobefitforworkagain,andwassoldtoagentleman.
Foralittlewhileshegotonverywell,butafteralongergallopthanusualtheoldstrainreturned,andafterbeingrestedanddoctoredshewasagainsold.
Inthiswayshechangedhandsseveraltimes,butalwaysgettinglowerdown.
"Andsoatlast,"saidshe,"Iwasboughtbyamanwhokeepsanumberofcabsandhorses,andletsthemout.
Youlookwelloff,andIamgladofit,butIcouldnottellyouwhatmylifehasbeen.
WhentheyfoundoutmyweaknesstheysaidIwasnotworthwhattheygaveforme,andthatImustgointooneofthelowcabs,andjustbeusedup;thatiswhattheyaredoing,whippingandworkingwithneveronethoughtofwhatIsuffer—theypaidforme,andmustgetitoutofme,theysay.
Themanwhohiresmenowpaysadealofmoneytotheownereveryday,andsohehastogetitoutofmetoo;andsoit'salltheweekroundandround,withneveraSundayrest."
Isaid,"Youusedtostandupforyourselfifyouwereill-used."
"Ah!"shesaid,"Ididonce,butit'snouse;menarestrongest,andiftheyarecruelandhavenofeeling,thereisnothingthatwecando,butjustbearit—bearitonandontotheend.
Iwishtheendwascome,IwishIwasdead.
Ihaveseendeadhorses,andIamsuretheydonotsufferpain;IwishImaydropdowndeadatmywork,andnotbesentofftotheknackers."
Iwasverymuchtroubled,andIputmynoseuptohers,butIcouldsaynothingtocomforther.Ithinkshewaspleasedtoseeme,forshesaid,"YouaretheonlyfriendIeverhad."
Justthenherdrivercameup,andwithatugathermouthbackedheroutofthelineanddroveoff,leavingmeverysadindeed.
Ashorttimeafterthisacartwithadeadhorseinitpassedourcab-stand.
Theheadhungoutofthecart-tail,thelifelesstonguewasslowlydroppingwithblood;andthesunkeneyes!
butIcan'tspeakofthem,thesightwastoodreadful.
Itwasachestnuthorsewithalong,thinneck.Isawawhitestreakdowntheforehead.
IbelieveitwasGinger;Ihopeditwas,forthenhertroubleswouldbeover.Oh!
ifmenweremoremercifultheywouldshootusbeforewecametosuchmisery.
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