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of　his　own　cart　or　carriage　coming　behind　him　that　he　would　be　sure

to　run　away；　although　of　course　when　he　is　ridden　he　sees　them　all　about　him

if　the　streets　are　crowded。　　I　admit　they　do　sometimes　come　too　close

to　be　pleasant；　but　we　don't　run　away；　we　are　used　to　it；　and　understand　it；

and　if　we　never　had　blinkers　put　on　we　should　never　want　them；

we　should　see　what　was　there；　and　know　what　was　what；

and　be　much　less　frightened　than　by　only　seeing　bits　of　things

that　we　can't　understand。　　Of　course　there　may　be　some　nervous　horses

who　have　been　hurt　or　frightened　when　they　were　young；

who　may　be　the　better　for　them；　but　as　I　never　was　nervous；　I　can't　judge。〃



〃I　consider；〃　said　Sir　Oliver；　〃that　blinkers　are　dangerous　things

in　the　night；　we　horses　can　see　much　better　in　the　dark　than　men　can；

and　many　an　accident　would　never　have　happened　if　horses　might　have　had

the　full　use　of　their　eyes。　　Some　years　ago；　I　remember；

there　was　a　hearse　with　two　horses　returning　one　dark　night；

and　just　by　Farmer　Sparrow's　house；　where　the　pond　is　close　to　the　road；

the　wheels　went　too　near　the　edge；　and　the　hearse　was　overturned

into　the　water；　both　the　horses　were　drowned；　and　the　driver　hardly　escaped。

Of　course　after　this　accident　a　stout　white　rail　was　put　up　that　might　be

easily　seen；　but　if　those　horses　had　not　been　partly　blinded；

they　would　of　themselves　have　kept　further　from　the　edge；　and　no　accident

would　have　happened。　　When　our　master's　carriage　was　overturned；

before　you　came　here；　it　was　said　that　if　the　lamp　on　the　left　side　had　not

gone　out；　John　would　have　seen　the　great　hole　that　the　road…makers　had　left；

and　so　he　might；　but　if　old　Colin　had　not　had　blinkers　on　he　would　have

seen　it；　lamp　or　no　lamp；　for　he　was　far　too　knowing　an　old　horse

to　run　into　danger。　　As　it　was；　he　was　very　much　hurt；

the　carriage　was　broken；　and　how　John　escaped　nobody　knew。〃



〃I　should　say；〃　said　Ginger；　curling　her　nostril；　〃that　these　men；

who　are　so　wise；　had　better　give　orders　that　in　the　future

all　foals　should　be　born　with　their　eyes　set　just　in　the　middle

of　their　foreheads；　instead　of　on　the　side；　they　always　think

they　can　improve　upon　nature　and　mend　what　God　has　made。〃



Things　were　getting　rather　sore　again；　when　Merrylegs　held　up

his　knowing　little　face　and　said；　〃I'll　tell　you　a　secret：　　I　believe

John　does　not　approve　of　blinkers；　I　heard　him　talking　with　master　about　it

one　day。　　The　master　said　that　‘if　horses　had　been　used　to　them；

it　might　be　dangerous　in　some　cases　to　leave　them　off'；

and　John　said　he　thought　it　would　be　a　good　thing　if　all　colts

were　broken　in　without　blinkers；　as　was　the　case　in　some　foreign　countries。

So　let　us　cheer　up；　and　have　a　run　to　the　other　end　of　the　orchard；

I　believe　the　wind　has　blown　down　some　apples；　and　we　might

just　as　well　eat　them　as　the　slugs。〃



Merrylegs　could　not　be　resisted；　so　we　broke　off　our　long　conversation；

and　got　up　our　spirits　by　munching　some　very　sweet　apples

which　lay　scattered　on　the　grass。









11　　　　　　Plain　Speaking







The　longer　I　lived　at　Birtwick　the　more　proud　and　happy　I　felt

at　having　such　a　place。　　Our　master　and　mistress　were　respected　and　beloved

by　all　who　knew　them；　they　were　good　and　kind　to　everybody　and　everything；

not　only　men　and　women；　but　horses　and　donkeys；　dogs　and　cats；

cattle　and　birds；　there　was　no　oppressed　or　ill…used　creature

that　had　not　a　friend　in　them；　and　their　servants　took　the　same　tone。

If　any　of　the　village　children　were　known　to　treat　any　creature　cruelly

they　soon　heard　about　it　from　the　Hall。



The　squire　and　Farmer　Grey　had　worked　together；　as　they　said；

for　more　than　twenty　years　to　get　check…reins　on　the　cart…horses

done　away　with；　and　in　our　parts　you　seldom　saw　them；　and　sometimes；

if　mistress　met　a　heavily　laden　horse　with　his　head　strained　up

she　would　stop　the　carriage　and　get　out；　and　reason　with　the　driver

in　her　sweet　serious　voice；　and　try　to　show　him　how　foolish　and　cruel　it　was。



I　don't　think　any　man　could　withstand　our　mistress。　　I　wish　all　ladies

were　like　her。　　Our　master；　too；　used　to　come　down　very　heavy　sometimes。

I　remember　he　was　riding　me　toward　home　one　morning　when　we　saw

a　powerful　man　driving　toward　us　in　a　light　pony　chaise；

with　a　beautiful　little　bay　pony；　with　slender　legs　and　a　high…bred

sensitive　head　and　face。　　Just　as　he　came　to　the　park　gates

the　little　thing　turned　toward　them；　the　man；　without　word　or　warning；

wrenched　the　creature's　head　round　with　such　a　force　and　suddenness

that　he　nearly　threw　it　on　its　haunches。　　Recovering　itself　it　was　going　on；

when　he　began　to　lash　it　furiously。　　The　pony　plunged　forward；

but　the　strong；　heavy　hand　held　the　pretty　creature　back

with　force　almost　enough　to　break　its　jaw；　while　the　whip　still　cut　into　him。

It　was　a　dreadful　sight　to　me；　for　I　knew　what　fearful　pain　it　gave

that　delicate　little　mouth；　but　master　gave　me　the　word；

and　we　were　up　with　him　in　a　second。



〃Sawyer；〃　he　cried　in　a　stern　voice；　〃is　that　pony　made　of　flesh　and　blood？〃



〃Flesh　and　blood　and　temper；〃　he　said；　〃he's　too　fond　of　his　own　will；

and　that　won't　suit　me。〃　　He　spoke　as　if　he　was　in　a　strong　passion。

He　was　a　builder　who　had　often　been　to　the　park　on　business。



〃And　do　you　think；〃　said　master　sternly；　〃that　treatment　like　this

will　make　him　fond　of　your　will？〃



〃He　had　no　business　to　make　that　turn；　his　road　was　straight　on！〃

said　the　man　roughly。



〃You　have　often　driven　that　pony　up　to　my　place；〃　said　master；

〃it　only　shows　the　creature's　memory　and　intelligence；　how　did　he　know

that　you　were　not　going　there　again？　　But　that　has　little　to　do　with　it。

I　must　say；　Mr。　Sawyer；　that　a　more　unmanly；　brutal　treatment

of　a　little　pony　it　was　never　my　painful　lot　to　witness；

and　by　giving　way　to　such　passion　you　injure　your　own　character　as　much；

nay　more；　than　you　injure　your　horse；　and　remember；　we　shall　all　have　to　be

judged　according　to　our　works；　whether　they　be　toward　man　or　toward　beast。〃



Master　rode　me　home　slowly；　and　I　could　tell　by　his　voice

how　the　thing　had　grieved　him。　　He　was　just　as　free　to　speak

to　gentlemen　of　his　own　rank　as　to　those　below　him；　for　another　day；

when　we　were　out；　we　met　a　Captain　Langley；　a　friend　of　our　master's；

he　was　driving　a　splendid　pair　of　grays　in　a　kind　of　break。

After　a　little　conversation　the　captain　said：



〃What　do　you　think　of　my　new　team；　Mr。　Douglas？　　You　know；

you　are　the　judge　of　horses　in　these　parts；　and　I　should　like　your　opinion。〃



The　master　backed　me　a　little；　so　as　to　get　a　good　view　of　them。

〃They　are　an　uncommonly　handsome　pair；〃　he　said；　〃and　if　they　are

as　good　as　they　look　I　am　sure　you　need　not　wish　for　anything　better；

but　I　see　you　still　hold　that　pet　scheme　of　yours　for　worrying　your　horses

and　lessening　their　power。〃



〃What　do　you　mean；〃　said　the　other；　〃the　check…reins？　　Oh；　ah！

I　know　that's　a　hobby　of　yours；　well；　the　fact　is；　I　like　to　see　my　horses

hold　their　heads　up。〃



〃So　do　I；〃　said　master；　〃as　well　as　any　man；　but　I　don't　like　to　see　them

held　up；　that　takes　all　the　shine　out　of　it。　　Now；　you　are　a　military　man；

Langley；　and　no　doubt　like　to　see　your　regiment　look　well　on　parade；

‘heads　up'；　and　all　that；　but　you　would　not　take　much　credit　for　your　drill

if　all　your　men　had　their　heads　tied　to　a　backboard！　　It　might　not　be

much　harm　on　parade；　except　to　worry　and　fatigue　them；　but　how　would　it　be

in　a　bayonet　charge　against　the　enemy；　when　they　want　the　free　use

of　every　muscle；　and　all　their　strength　thrown　forward？

I　would　not　give　much　for　their　chance　of　victory。　　And　it　is　just　the　same

with　horses：　　you　fret　and　worry　their　tempers；　and　decrease　their　power；

you　will　not　let　them　throw　their　weight　against　their　work；

and　so　they　have　to　do　too　much　with　their　joints　and　muscles；

and　of　course　it　wears　them　up　faster。　　You　may　depend　upon　it；

horses　were　intended　to　have　their　heads　free；　as　free　as　men's　are；

and　if　we　could　act　a　little　more　according　to　common　sense；

and　a　good　deal　less　according　to　fashion；　we　should　find　many　things

work　easier；　besides；　you　know　as　well　as　I　that　if　a　horse　makes

a　false　step；　he　has　much　less　chance　of　recovering　himself

if　his　head　and　neck　are　fastened　back。　　And　now；〃　said　the　master；　laughing；

〃I　have　given　my　hobby　a　good　trot　out；　can't　you　make　up　your　mind

to　mount　him；　too；　captain？　　Your　example　would　go　a　long　way。〃



〃I　believe　you　are　right　in　theory；〃　said　the　other；

〃and　that's　rather　a　hard　hit　about　the　soldiers；　but　　well　

I'll　think　about　it；〃　and　so　they　parted。









12　　　　　　A　Stormy　Day







One　day　late　in　the　autumn　my　master　had　a　long　journey　to　go　on　business。

I　was　put　into　the　dog…cart；　and　John　went　with　his　master。

I　always　liked　to　go　in　the　dog…cart；　it　was　so　light　and　the　high　wheels

ran　along　so　pleasantly。　　There　had　been　a　great　deal　of　rain；

and　now　the　wind　was　very　high　and　blew　the　dry　leaves　across　the　road

in　a　shower。　　We　went　along　merrily　till　we　came　to　the　toll…bar

and　the　low　wooden　bridge。　　The　river　banks　were　rather　high；

and　the　bridge；　instead　of　rising；　went　across　just　level；

so　that　in　the　middle；　if　the　river　was　full；　the　water　would　be　nearly　up　to

the　woodwork　and　planks；　but　as　there　were　good　substantial　rails

on　each　side；　people　did　not　mind　it。



The　man　at　the　gate　said　the　river　was　rising　fast；　and　he　feared　it　would　be

a　bad　night。　　Many　of　the　meadows　were　under　water；　and　in　one　low　part

of　the　road　the　water　was　halfway　up　to　my　knees；　the　bottom　was　good；

and　master　drove　gently；　so　it　was　no　matter。



When　we　got　to　the　town　of　course　I　had　a　good　bait；

but　as　the　master's　business　engaged　him　a　long　time

we　did　not　start　for　home　till　rather　late　in　the　afternoon。

The　wind　was　then　much　higher；　and　I　heard　the　master　say　to　John

that　he　had　never　been