ANNA SEWELL
Level 2
R etold by Jo hn Davage Series Ediwrs: Andy Hopkins and Jocelyn Potter Poanon Education Umlted Edinburgh (;ace. Harl ISBN O 582 42121 7 This edition first published 2000 NEW EDITION 57910864 Copyright © Penguin Bool Typeset hy Pantck Arts Ltd, Ma1ds1one, Kent Sci 111 I l/14pt Dembo l'rmted m Ch1na SWT<:104 All rigl,ts rtStrvtd; tlO ,,art 1~1 tlw puM1 Puhlu,hr,d hy Pc.11 ,011 bllll .uwo Lmutcd m auochmou wuh l',·n1111111 Books Ltd. both rnmpan"'' hc1111( 1ub1idiarift of Pea11tm l'lt For a complete list or titles available In the Penguin Readers series. pleu,c wrllo lo ynur 10011 Pearson Education office or to: Penguin Readers Marketing llcparlmanl. Pearson Education. Edinburgh Gate. Harlow. r:.sscx CM20 2Jll. Contents page I ntroduct1011 V Chapter l My Mother Clupter 2 Ll'\\Olh j Chapter 3 Birtw1ck Park 4 Chapter 4 I lkglll Well (> Chapter 5 My Ncw Friend, 8 Chapter<> J.1mc, Howard 9 Chapter 7 The Fire 11 Chapter 8 Littlc Joe Green 14 Chapter 9 I ,llll Ill 15 Chapter 1(1 I Move Again 18 Chapter 11 E.1rls Hall 20 Chapter 12 Ginger is Angry 22 Chapter 13 Reuben Smith 23 Chapter l 4 An Accident 24 Chapter 15 A London C.1b Hor<;e 27 Chapter 16 Jerry Barker 30 Chapter 17 More Changes 32 Chapter 18 My Last Home 34 Activities 38 I11 trod11 ction 'A/111a ys lw .1!011d, so Jll'()Jlll' 111ill l<>l'I' yo 11 . A /1111111s worf..· /1 ,ml n,11/ tlo yo11r bcsr. · T hese were thL· word~ ofUb :k 13e.wty's 1110thcr to her ~011 w hen he was o nly a young horse. At that Li111 e, 1hey li ved w nh 1::irrncr G rey. l3uL w hen Ulack Ueauty got older, this was so111etimes very d ill-icult for him. N ot evcrybo c.l y was as kind as F.1r111er Crcy. Ann:t Sewell was born in (;rcat Y:mnouch, in N orfolk, England, in 1820. ShL· h;id an accident w hen she was about fourteen years o ld. After this she could not walk w ithout help. Blr1ck tkaw y was her only book. She w ro te it because she loved ho rse~. It hurt her w hcn so111ebody wa~ unkind to a ho rsc. T here were no cars or buses in those days. T here were trains between the towns :ind cities. In town o r in the coumry you walked, or used a ho rse. T he ho rse c:irried you, or pulled you in a carriage, c:1rt o r bus. It brought milk, bread and other thinbri. to your ho use. T here were m any thousands of ho rses at work in Europe, America and othn countries. Some worked for good , kind people, but some did not. Often the animals had to pull very lwavy things, and they had ro work for ho urs and ho urs. Anna Sewell knew this, and she wanted to tell o ther people. So she wrote her book. She was o ften ill, and i11 187 1 a doctor told her mo ther,· Anna has o nly eighteen 111 onths now.' Soon after this, Anna started writing her book. She finished it in 1877 and died in I !,!78, only a year after Black Beauty went into the booksho ps. Uut many people were kinder to ho rses after they read Anna's book. V Chapter 1 My Mother I don't remember everyching about che fi rst months of my lifr. I remember a big field of green grass with one or two trees in it. O n hot days my mother stood under a tree and I drank her milk. That was before I got bigger. Then I started to cat the grass. There were other young ho rses in the fiel d. We ran and jumped round and round the fidd. We fell on our backs in the grass and kicked our legs happil y. When I stopped drinking her milk, my mother went to work every day. T hen, in the evening, I cold her abour my day. ' I' m luppy bl·Cal1se y,1 11 arc happy,' she sa id.' But remember - you aren't the same as these o ther young ho rses.They are going to be farm ho rses. They're good horses, but we arc different. People know ytiur father, ,111d Ill)' father was Lo rd Westl.111d's best horse. When you're older, you' ll learn to carry people on your back. Or you ·11 take them from place to place in their carriages.' ' Is that your work, M other ?· I asked. ' D o you do that for Farmer G rey?' · Yes,' said my mo ther. · Farmer Grey sometimes rides me, and sometimes I pull his carri:1ge. H erc he is now.' Farmer Grey came into the field. He was a good, kind man , and he likt:d 111y mother. ' Well, my dear,' he said to her. ' here's something for you.' H e gave her some sugar.· And how is your little son ?' H e put a hand o n my back and gave me some bread. It was very nice. We couldn't answer him. He put a hand on my mother's back, then he went away. ' H e's very kind,' my mother said. ' Al ways do your work happily. Never bite or kick. T hen he'll always be nice to you.' ·--- . •·'" I Vi.• m11 and j11111ped """"' ,wd rc>1111d 11,ejield. C hapter 2 Lesso ns I got o kkr .rnd my co:it started lO ,him;. It was bl,1rk. but I h.1 3 w ith m e, but I w.1s afraid. T h1.• 111.111 rook my lt.'l'l i11 tu~ h.111,k T h l'11 ht' cut away som e of th,· i1Jrd foot. It did n 'r h11n me. I stood 0 11 three kgs w hen he did the other fi.)O l. Then the man made shoes fo r my feet. It didn't hurt w hen lw put them o n. Uut I couldn't move my lt'et easily. Uut later I srartt:d to hkt: the shot:s. and tht' hard roads didn't hurt 111y feet. N ext I lea rned to go in carriage harness. There was a very s111Jl1 saddle, but there was a big collar. f=:mnl:!r Crey told 111e co pull a carriage with my mother.· You ' II learn a lo t from her,' he said, w hen he put the harnt:ss 0 11 me. I did learn. Shi:! showed 111e tht! way to 1110w, and she ta ught rm: to listen to the driver. ' But tht're are good drivers and bad drivn s.' she sa id. · And the re.: arc good people and bad pcoplc. Farmer C rcy is kind, and bc thinks about his horses. l3ut some men are bad, or stupid. Always be good, so people w ill love you. Always work hard and do your best.' Chapter 3 Birtwick Park In May a m an came and took rne away co Mr Gordo n's ho me :i t l3 irtwick Park. ' Ue a good ho rse,' Farmer G rey said to me. ·and wo rk hard.' I couldn't say anything, so I put my nose in his hand. H e put a hand o n my back and smiled kindly. l3irtwick Park was big. T hcre was a large ho use. And there were a lo t o f scabies fo r ho rses, and places for many carriages. I wem to a stable for fo ur horses. T hey gave me som e food , and then I looked ro und. There was a horse near m e in the stable. H e was sm all and fa t, w it h a pretty head and happy eyes. 4 . . 'My 11a11/C' is /\lfrrrylels. /'111 ,,ery be1111t[{11/.' · Who ,lfl' you ?' I askt·d. ' My 11,111w is Mnrylcb>"S,' he said. 'I'm very bt\1utift1I. I carry the girls 0 11 my back. Everybody love~ me.You are hvmg in this stable with me, ~o you will have to be good now. I hope you do n'L bite.' A ho rse looked at Merrylegs from across the ~table. She had a very beautiful red- brown coat, but she had :rngry eyes. She put her ears back. ' I )id I bite you ?' she ;1sked ,mgrily. ' N o, 11 0 ! ' Mcrrylq,,,i; said quickly. Wh1:11 the red-brown ho rse went out to work that .1ftl·rnoon, Merrylegs told me about her. 'Ginger does bite,' he said.· One day she bit James in the arm and hurt him. Miss Flora and Miss Jessie, Mr Gordon's little girls, arc afraid of her. They don't bring rm: nice food now. because Ginger is here.' ' Why docs she bite?' I asked.' 1.~ she bad?' 'Oh, no! I think she was very unhappy. She says," N obody was kind to me before I came here." She'll change here. 1'111 twelve years o ld, and I know about life. There isn't a better place lor ,1 horse than this, anywhere. John is the best groom in thl' country and James is the kindest boy. Mr Gordon is a very nict' man.Yes, Cinger will change here.' Chapter 4 I Begin Well The head groom's name was John Manly. H e lived with his wife and one little child in a very small house near the scabies. The next morning he took me outside the stable and groomed me. He worked hard, and he made my coat clean and beautiful.Then Mr Gordon came and loo ked at me. ' H e looks very good,' he said. ' I wanted to try him this morning, but I have some other work. You ride him, John, and chen tell me about him.' 6 John put .1 ~addk 0 11 111y h.1rk , but it was to<> ~lll.1ll. I k c:h:m gcd 1t. I k got :rnm hcr ~;iddk·, not too big and no t mo ~mall, :md we went out. H e was a very good rider and I understood his wo rds. O n 1he road w1.· walke ♦ The next day, John groo med 111c a11d put the saddle o n m e;;. Then he took me fro m the stables to the ho use. I remembered my m other's wo rds and I tried to m ake Mr Gordo n happy with me. He was a very good rider, and he was kind to me. H is wife was at the door o f the big house w hen he finished riding.' Well, my dear,' -she -said,· h ow do you like him?' ' H e's black and very beautiful,' said Mr Gordo n.' What can we call him ?' ' We can call him 13!ack Beauty! ' said his wife. • 13lack Beauty - yes - yes,' said Mr Gordon. ' I think that's a very good name.' Jo hn came and rook me to the stables. ' We've got a name for him. Jo hn,' said Mr Gordo n. •·My w ife tho ught ofic. He's going to be Ulack 13eauty.' Jo hn was very happy. • Com e w ith m e, my 13lack l3eauty.' he said. ' You are a beauty - and it's a good Engljsh name.' 7 Chapter 5 My N ew Friends Joh11 liked 111c. I le wa~ ,1 wry good groo111 ..111d 111y bl,1ck co.1l always ~hont· be:illlifully. He lookl·d ,11 my feet t·very day. I le knew when one or them hurt. Then he put \Ot11ething on to it. He often talked to me. I didn't know cvcry word, btll I soon understood him. I likcd John Manly more Ll1.111 a11ybody. l liked rhe stable boy,J:1111cs Howard, too.John taught him to be kind ro horses, and ht· helped John to groom me. After nvo or three days, I pulled a carriage with Ginger. I was afraid of her. She put her cars back when they took me across to her. But she clidn ·c move when they harnessed mc next ro her. John drove us. and we workt·d very well. Ginger worked well. She pulled as hard as me, and she also liked going more quickly. M:my horses only go fast when the driver hies them with his whip. Ginger and I went fast when the driver ,vanccd us to go fast. We went as fast as we could. John didn't like the whip, and he never whipped us. We worked hard for him. After Ginger and I went out t\vo or three times with the carriage, we were good friends. We liked little Merrylegs very much. H e was never afraid and always happy. Mr Gordon's little girls loved riding him, and they were never afraid. Mrs Gordon loved all three of us, and we loved her. Mr Gordon liked his people to have one day without work every week. His horses also had a day without work. On Sunday they cook us co a field of good grass, and we stayed there all day, wichout reins or harness. We ran and jumped. We played, and we were happy. Then we stood under some trees and told stories. 8 Chapter 6 Jam es Howard Mr Gordon c:1111e 10 the stables one day and spoke 10 John Manly.• How is James working, John?• he asked. • Very well,' John answered.· He lt•arns quickly. He is kind to the horses, and the horses like him. He's learning to drive, and he'll soon be a good driver.' Then James came in. 'James,' Mr Gordon said. ' I have a letter from my friend, Sir Clifford Williams of Clifford Hall. He wants to find a good young groom. He pays well, and the young man will soon be head groom. He will have a room, stable clothes and driving clothes, and boys will help him. I don't want to lose you, and John wiU be sad.' ' I will.Yes, I will.' John said. ' But I won't try to stop him.' 'Yes, we'll all be sad,' Mr Gordon said. '13ut we want you to do well, James. Do you want to go? Speak to your mother ac dinner-time, James, and then give me your answer. Then I can ceU Sir Clifford.' Ginger and Merrylegs and I were sad, too, when we heard James's answer. He wanted co go. But ic was a better job for him. We knew chat. For six weeks before James went, we worked hard. He wanted co be a very good driver, and Mr Gordon and John M anly wanted to help him. So the carriage went out every day. G inger and I pulled it, and James drove. James learnt very quickly. For the first three weeks John sat next to him, but after that James drove without him. One day in autumn, after two or three days of heavy rain, Mr Gordon wanted John to take him to the city. There was a strong wind that day. We came to the river. The water was very high under the bridge, and there was water across the fields. We arrived without a problem. But it was lace in the afternoon before we started for home again. 9 l'lw wi11d \\',t~ ,1ru11gn tll>W, .111d 11 111.,dl' .1 11u"c 111 the trl'c,. Suddl'lily, otK' o( rl1t· trt·t·, frll ,tt-ro~~ tl1t· ro.1d wit It., ( ' R/\S! I! I \V.l~ .1fr.1id, but I dtdll't rt111 .1w;iy. Joh11 _1u111pnl lllll or tltl' c.1rrt.lgl' .1nd c.1111e to llll'. 'Wt.' c11l't gn p.1,1 tl1 t· 1rn·.' Johll s.1id to Mr ( :nrdrni. · Wt·'ll have to go 0 11 tht· othn ro.,d tu thl.' bridgl.'. It\ .1 lnngn ro.1 d :ind we'll ht· late. But the horsl' t'lt 't tired.' It was ne:irly t.brk w hen we arriwd .11 the l>ridgt·. Wt.· could ,t·c w.ttl.'r 011 it. This so1ueti111l'S happl'nl'd w hl'll thl' rtvn w.1~ l11gh. I startt.·d to walk across the bridgl' - but I stopped. Son1 c1 h111g w:i~ wrong. I could fi:d it. · Mow, Ul':tuty ! · said Mr Cordoll. I didn't 1110w, .111d hl' put tht· w hip .icmss 111y back. 'Co 110w ! 'hl' ~aid. Uut I clidn 't go. 'Thnc's .1 pmbk111: said John. I IL- j u111pt.·d down from the carri..igl' .rnd tril'd to mow llll'. • Wh.tt's tht· probk-111, Ut·auty ?' hl' :iskcd. There was :1 houst· ,1crms the bridge, and a 111.1n rail out of the door. 'Stop! Stop!' he shoutt.•d. 'Thl' bridgt.' is lm·ak ing ill the 111iddk. Don't come across ic. or you'll fall in till' river! · John looked at me and slllikd. · Thank you, Ucauty,' he ~aid. We went home on :i diffen:nt ro:id. It was late when we got ho111t'. Mrs Cordon r;rn out of the house. · You're late!' she said.' Did you have an accident?' · We nearly did.' said her husband.· Uut Beauty is cll'vcrcr than LIS.I' ♦ ' I have co go to the city .1g.11n.' Mr Cordon often said. And we always went wht·n rl1nl.' wnt· .1 101 oi" c irri:igcs and ridl.'rs on the road. Peop!t· wert· on t !il.'tr \\',I)' to tl1t.· l r.1111. o r they wcrt.' on their way hcrnlt' .1cro~, the hrtdgc .tltl'r wnrk. Tht'II llllt· d.1y M1 C:u1do11 ,.ml 10 .J u l111 M.111l y. · Mrs Clmlo11 .11,cl I h:,w to go to l hl<1rd tu11101-row. Wt''H h.1ve t:,nga .111d lll.1ck lk.Hll)' wid1 dw big c.i rri.1gt· ..111d J.1 n1t·, will driw u~: It w.1s .1 JOLlrlll'Y ot' .,holll Sl'Vl'IHy- liw krlo111 l·trl's to ( )xfiHd. We went .1hout lifry kilo111etrt·s 111 lllll' d.1y :111d d1l·n wt· ~topped fc1r the 11ight .lt 1ht: higgl'\l ho ld in Aykshury. J.1111t·~ drow wry wdl. Wt' pulkd rlit· r.1rri:1ge up .111d down ..111d ht· .rlways stoppt'd on thl' w.,y up. I k m·vn drovl' us 1:1st when wt· wl'nr down. Wl' h.1d ro go qui<·kly wht·n the ro.1d w.1, good. bu1 11 01 l>II h.,d m.,d,. These things hl'lp ., horsl'. And when he gl'IS kind words. too. hl' i, h:1ppy. They groo111nl u, in the hotd st:ibk.. ,nd gaw us SO llll' gond ltlOd . Ja111t·s s.1id. 'CoO(l night. my bc:n1t1es. Sleep well. C:inger. Slet·p wdl. Black lk.1ury.'Tht:11 he went lo hi~ hL·d. Chapter 7 T he Fire An hour btL'r, :1 111:m c.1111c to the hotel on :1 horse. One of the hotel grooms brought the horse to the st:ihle. At Binw ick Park nobody srnoked in the stables, but chis 111:111 did. There w:1s Ill> food in th<.: stable lc>r the new horse, so the groom went to get son1t·. The food for the horses was 011 the Aoor .1bow thL' scabll'. The groo111 ,wnr up therl' .ind found sornL' food. I k threw it 0 11 the Aoor for the horse. :111d he went away. I skpt, but I soon woke up :igain. I wa~ wry unhappy. Uut why? I didn't know. I heard Ginger. She was unhappy. too. Then I saw rhc sm oke. Very s0011 thne was smoke cvcrywhl're. There wert· noises from abow my head - the sounds of a fire. The other horses in the stable woke up. They moved their feet and tried ro ~et away from the ~mokt·. 11 I w:is v,.:ry .1fraid. Thl.'11 till' hotd groo111 cunt· inlo thL' \l.1hk .111d trit·d lo t.1kt· tl1t· horn.:\ out. But h t· w;1~ .1fraid. wo, .1ml hi.' tnt·d w work quickly. Thar 111.1dc us 111ort· .1fr.1id. and tl 1L' othl'r hor~L'S didn't w:int to gn with him. Whl'n ht· c:11111.: to mt·. ht' trit'd to pull lllt' out f:1~t. I k pulled ,111d pulled. I couldn't go wllh hi1n . Wt' WL'rt' stupid YL'~ 1 But Wt' didn't know him, and lw wa, v,.:ry afraid. Tht'rL' was morl' .ind lllOrl' ,mokl'. A11d thl'II wl' ~aw thl' rt·d light of firl' fro111 tilt' f-loor abov,.: our hl.'ads. So111dlody ~hollll'd · Firl' ! · mn,idL', .md 111ort· rnl'n c lllll' illlo the ,t.1bk. Thi.' \ou11d of chi.' firl' was loudl.'r .111d loudn. And rh t·11 .)amt'~ was ,1t my ht'ad. I k spokl' to lllt' quil'tly: 'Co111t·. my Ul.'aury. We hav,.: to go 110w. Wakl' up .u1d co111t' with 111e. We'll ~oon gl't out of this ~111okt'.' He put a roat round 111y he.1cl and owr 111y eyl'\. Then I couldn't ~l'e the tire, .111 12 He spoke I<> 111c ki11dly a11d 111c ,,,11/ked <>Ill Chapter 8 Little Joe Green J;11m·~ .111d Cingt·r Wl'l't' ill I hl' nt·xt d.,y. Thl' slllokl' w.,~ h.1d for thl'lll. So Wt' srayt·d i11 Ayksbury for rh.11 d.,y. llut .1ti t·r :1110\hl'r night rhnc. tht·y Wl'l"l.' lx·ttcr. In thl' morning ,w ,will to Oxfi.ml. J.111ws did t·wryll1ing for Cingcr. Hc ,poke to oldn g-roo111, .111 d they told hi111 the best ways. Whl't1 ,w .irrivnl l111111e .ll llirtwick !'ark. we were all tint·. John heard J:1111cs I low.ird's scory, and ht· looked .tl ( :i11gn .llld lilt'. 'You did wcll.J:i,m·s,' hc sa id .' A lot of pL'opk c:111 't gt·t lmr~c~ nut nf a stabk whcn thcrc's a firt·. Why don't thcy want tn mow? Nobody knows. ( )nly a fril'nd c1n take thl'lll out. ThL'y h.,vt· to know :ind lovc hi111.' lkti.>rc hc kft us for his new job,J:1111cs .1skcd. · Wlw's going to do my job) Do you knm,y)' · Yes,' Joh11 said.· Little Joe Grt·en.' ' Little Joe Crt·cn ! 'said Ja111t·s.' He's only :1 child!· 'He's fourtce11 ,'Jol111 s:1id. ' But he's very small,' said J:imcs. 'Yes, he's small, bur he's quick,' said Jo hn. 'A11d he wants to ll'arn, and he's kind. His father will be happy, :111d Mr Cordon wants to have hilll here.' James wasn't wry happy :ibouc it.· He's a good boy,' he said. · Uut you ·11 haw a lot of work because he's small.' · Well,' Jo hn said,' work and I art· good friends. l '111 n ot afraid of work.' 14 · 1 know th:11: s.11d J.11m·s. · And I· 11 try h.1rd lo hl· thl' s.um·." The lll'Xt d.,y, Jol· r.111,l· 111 1hc ,t.1hk~. J.1111l", w.111Lnl Lu ll'.ldt hi 11, lwfore hl· ,w11t.JnL' k·.1rn1 10 ck .111 Ilic ,t.1hk.. 111d IO hring 111 our li.1od. I le l·k.111l'd tl1L· h.,rncs,L·s, .111d hdpnl to wash the r arri.,ges. 1---k co11ld11 ·1 groo111 ( ;ingl·r ur 11 w hl"ClllSl" ht· wa, too ,111.,II. So J.1 111cs lwlpL·d h1111 groo111 Mt·rrylq~~- Mnrylq ..~ was11 't w ry h.,ppy. · The hoy know, 1wthi11g: he ,.,id. But .1til'r ., wn·k or 1wo hl· ,.,id.' I think thl' hoy will hL· good. 1"11 hdp hi11, to learn LJUlckly.' Littll' J<>L· (;n:t·11 wa, ., h.1ppy boy. I k s.111g wlll'11 lw worknl. Wl' soon liked hi111. Chapter 9 I am Ill One night, :1frcr J:1111L'S \Wilt .1\v:iy, I he:ird John our~idl'. I It- r.111 rn thL· ho u~c, then hL' r.111 ro rhc ,r.,hle. I k opennl rlw door .111d t'.lllle to llll". ' W:,h· 11p, lkauty ! ' he ,.1id. · You haw to run now!· 1-k p11t a s.,ddk 011 11w wry lJllickl y. .111d hl' _j11111pcd on 111 y h.1 ck. Then hl' rotk• lllL' quickl y ro thl' hou,e. Mr Conlon w,1s there. with a light in hi~ h.111d. ' Now, John," he ,.1id,' yo11 h.,w to ride .1s r:,st as yo11 c:111. M y witi.· is very ill. Give this kttn to I )ortor Whirl' in 1--krtford. I w:im hi111 to conic quickly. Yo11 c:1 11 ro111e ho111c when Black lk 111 ry is re:1dy for thl' journey.' John took rhc letter, :ind Wl' went away. ' Now, lkaury,' said John. · Do your best!' It was night, but I knew thl· road. TherL' WL'l'L' no peopk o n it because they were all in bed and asleep. I wenr very "fast - faster than every journey before rhat night. When we came ro the bridge, Jo hn pulled thl' reins. I ,wnt across it morl' slowly. · ( :t1nd. lk.1111 y ! ' l1l' ,.aid . Wllt'n \Vl' wcrl' .1crm, 11 . I Wl' llt fast .1gai11. Wl' \Vl'lll 11p .111d down. past f-il'lds .111d lmust'S, :111d tht'II through the ~trl't't~ or I ll'rtliird. M y shot·s 111.1tk .1 11ni~c 011 the road wht'n I stnppcd .1t lilt' doctor·~ donr. 11 w.l\ thrt·t· o'dnck 111 th1.· 111orni11g. Tht' doctor\ window opcnnl, .111d I )octor Whilt: looked olll of it. · Wh.ll do you w;111t ? ' he askl'd. · Mrs (:ordon is wry ill,' John w ld hi111 . 'Mr C:ordon wrnt~ you to go quickly, or sh1.·'II dit'. I krc's a ll'ttt:r li-0 111 hi111 .' • I 'II ro1111.• down,' s:1id tll\.' doctor. I It- shut d11.· window and ht· w.1~ mon .1r thl' door. I k read rh t.· kut:r.' Yt·s,' he said.· 1·11 haw ro i-;n. But lllY old horse was Olli all day, .111d he ·s w ry tirl'd JH)W. My 0Ll1er horse is ill. Wh:ir can I do ? ( ::111 I h.1w your horse ?' ' I le r:111 fast 011 tht: way hnl',' John said.' l3ut think lw can t.lkl' ytHI.' ' I'll be ready soon,' tht: doctor s:1id, and ht: Wt.'lll imo Llw house :1g:1in. John ~rood 111.•x t to 1111.: and put his h:111d 011 111y head. I was wry hot. The don or r;1 rnt: oul in his riding dotht:s and with a riding whip. ' You won't want a whip,' John said.' 131;1 r k llt::rnty will go ,1s fast as ht: can.' 'Thank you,' tht: d octor said. He gaw the whip to Jo hn and spoke to 1111.:: · N ow, l31ac k Lkauty ! ' The doctor was a bigger man than John, and ht> wasn't a very good ridt: r. Uut I r:rn for him. I was wry tirt>d, but Wt' arrived at Uirtwick Park very quickly. Then I nearly fell down. Mr Cordon ht>ard us. H e ran to tht: door and cook the doctor into the house. Little J oe Crt:en was outside the door, and he took mt: to tht: stable. I was happy now. but I was very. very hot. M y coat was hot, and water r:111 down my legs. 16 Jo<.: wa~ young .111d w ry , 111:ill, IH ll ht· trit·d. I It- dl'.llll'd 111y lq!;\ ,111d 111y back. hut ht· didn't put .111yd1i11 g owr llll'. I k tl1o ugl1t, ' T h<.: ho rs<.: i, hot .111d h<.: wo11 't likl' it.' I IL' brought 111L' a lot of water. It was cold a11d very nin·. :llld I drank it.Then he gave 1llL' ~om c food. · Now ~lcep, lkam y,' he ~ai d ..111d he went away. Soon I sta rtl'd to feel cold and ill. I tri <.:d to ~lc <.: p, but I couldn't. I wa~ very ill wh<.: 11 Jo hn c:1111 c. I IL' walked from Hertford, but he carnt: to me. I was 0 11 the Aoor. · O h, lk:111ty ! ' he said. ' Wh:it did we do to you ?' I couldn't tell him, but hL· knew. I le put Lhin g~ over me and made 111e warrn.The 11 ht: ran to his house and bro ught hot water. He 111ade a good drink fo r me. He was angry. I heard him with the other men. 'A swpid boy 1' he said. 'A stupid boy ! He puts nothing 0 11 a ho t horse! He gives him cold Weller! O h, lk,1uty ! . I was very ill fo r a wt:ek. John was with rne fo r hours every day, and IK c:m1 e to me two o r threl' times every night. Mr Gordon c:1me every day, too. ' D <.:ar Beauty,' h<.: said on <.: day. ' My good horse ! My wi f<.: didn ·r di<.:, and we can thank you for that! Yes, we have to th:1nk you !' I was very happy about th:it. We all loved Mrs Gordon. I )ocror White came o ne clay when he was at Uirtwick Park. He put a hand o n my head :ind cold John, ' Mrs Go rdon is here today because this beautiful horse brought 111e here quickl y.' Jo hn said to Mr Gordo n, • Ul ack Ueauty went very fast that night. Do you think chat he knew?' I did know. Jo hn and I had to go fast fo r dear Mrs.C ordo n. I knew that very well. 17 C hapte r IO I Move A gain I w.,s l1.1ppy .,t Binw1ck l'.irk for .1110tltl'r yl',tr. 0 11ly 011l' tltillg 1n.,dl· u~ s.id: Mr~ Cordo11 got hl'tll'I', hut sht· w:is oltt·n ill .1g:1i11 . Tltl'n tltt· d\lctor ,.,id. ' You .1 11d your wifi: h.tw to go :1w.1y .tnd liw i11 tltl' so111lt of' Fr:111 n·. Mr Cordon.' ' We' ll go.' s.1id Mr Conlo11. · We'll 1n;tkl' .t nl'W lmnlL' thl'l'l'.' We \Vl'l"L' wry s.1d. Mr ( ;onion w.1s unlt.1ppy, 100, hut hl' sc.ined to )!;l't rl':1dy. Wl' hl'.1rd a lot oft.ilk about it in thl' stabk. .Jol111 w.1~ wry s.td .j ol' lll'arly stopped singing wht·n hl· workl'd. Mr Cordon's little girls c.1n1t· to thL' st.1bk. Thl·y visitl·d Ml'rrykgs for the I.1st tinll'. They cried. but thl'y told Mt·rryll'gs: · You ' ll bl' h:ippy. old friend. F:ithcr is g iving you ro Mr Cood. tltL' kind old d1urd1 1n.1 11 .You'II t,lkL· his wit~· ti-0111 pl.KL' to pl.in·. but you will m·wr work hard.jot' will go with you. I k \ going to hl' the groo1n :u1d hL• 's going co hdp i11 rlw1r house next to tht· d1urrh. You' ll ~L'l' your frit·nd, 131:Kk lk:iury .ind (;ingl'r ~0111eri111l's. F:11hn is st·lli11g tl!l'lll to Lord Wl'~tland at E.1rls H.111. Tint is11 'r :i long way.' Mr Cordo11 w,111tnl to timl a job for Joh11 , wo. Bur John wantl·d to opi:n a school a11d tl'aclt young horses thL·ir work. · A lot of young horses .ire :ifr:iid when tht·y k:irn 11cw thin!-,>s,' he said. ' H orst's arc 111y friends, :i11d they like me. I chink thl'y'II karn bcttL'r from a ki11d person. I want to tt·ach chem.' ' Nobody can do it bettn than you, Joh11,' Mr Cordon said. ' Horses love you. And 1'111 very sad because I won't see you.' The last day came. Ginger and I took rhe carriage co the door of the house for the bsc time. People c:1111e to the door whrn Mr Gordon brought his wifr down in his arms. Many people cried when we moved away. 18 Mr Cord(>//:, /i11/c ,{!iris 11isi1crf Mcrryh;{!sjiir tltc last 1im<'. Chapter 11 Earls H all Tlw l lL'X l 111orni11g, .Jot· c1111c :111d he took Mnrylq,r:; away to Mr :ind Mr, C:oml\ IHH1,c. John ro(k ( :ingn and look 111c lO E.1 rls 11.tll. It was ,1 very big house with :i lot of.~ubks. At the ~t.1bks,John askl'd for Mr York, the bms of the driver\ .incl grooms. Mr York ca111e and looked at m . · Very good,' he said. • They look wry good, but horses arc very Jifforem. You and I know chat. What can you cell me about these two ?' · Well,' John said, ' there arcn't any bl'ttcr horses than the~c in thl· cuumry. Uut they arc clifforent. L31ack Ucauty is never angry or afraid because nobody was unki11d to him. When she ca111 l' to us, Ginger was very unhappy. She often bit and kicked people. She changed at Birtwick Park. We wcrL' kind to her, and site's very good now. Uut people will have to bt: kind to ha, or sht: will bt: bad again.' ' I' II rt:mrn1ber that,' Mr York said. ' But there arc a lot or driver~ and groollls here. I can't watch ,1II or them.' Before tht:y went out of the stabk, John said, ' I have to tell you something. Not om· of our horses at Uirtwick Park used a bearing rein.' 'Well, they' ll h.1w to have a bearing rein here,' said Mr York. · Oh,' said John. • 1 don't like bearing reins, and Lord Westl:rnd is very kind to horses,' said Mr York. '13ut Lady Westland - she's different. Fo r her, everything has to look good. H er carriage horses haw to have their heads up. So they have to have bearing reins.' John spoke co us for the last time. Then he wem, and we were wry sad. Lord Westland came to us the next day. • Mr Gordo n says they are good horses. I think he's right.' ht• sa id. · Uut we can't have one black horse and one brown horse in 20 li-0111 ()r ,I l ,1rri.1gl' in I 0 11do 11 . 'l'hl'Y l',111 pull till' l ,1rri.1ge hl'l'l' Ill thl' l lllllltry. .111d 111 I 011dn11 \Vl' r.111 rail- tl1l·111 .' 'Thl'y didn't l1.1vl' hl',1nng rl'111, .1t Mr C:ordon\.'\,lld MrYork. 'John told llll'.' · Wl'II.' Lon! Wt·\tl.1m! s.11d. · put ll1t· hl'arn1g n: in~ oi1. hlll 011!y pull thl'111 up ~lowly. I'll SJ)l',1k to L.1dy Wntl.rnd about it .' l II tht..· .1ti:ernoo11 :1 gn,0111 h.irnt·s~nl ( ;i11ger and 111e ro .1 carriage, .111d tl1t·11 thl' gmo111 rook u~ to the front or the houst·. It w,1s v1._• ry big - bigger th:111 Hinwick 1':1rk - but I didn't likl' it wry 111uch. Lady Westland c.1111e o ut or the housl'. Shl' wa~ :1 t:1 11 won1:111. She w:1lkl·d round m :md !ookt·d at u~. She wasn't happy about so1m·Ll1ing, but \he didn't ,.1y anything. Shl' got inl Lady Wl'stl:ind c:1111L' out :ind s:1id: · York, pull those horSl'S· ht·ads up.' York got down and s:1id, · Pkasc don'L be :rngry with me, Lady Westland. These horses didn't use a be:iring rein before now. .ind Lord Westland said, " Pull their heads up slowly." Do you want me ro pull them higher now?' ' Yes!· she said. York came ro our heads .111d made the reins shorter. When we cli1nbed to higher ground, we wanrcd to put our heads down. We had to pull harder. The bearing rein stopped us, and our k gs and backs had to work harder. Ginger said co me, 'This isn't too bad. I won't say anything because they arc kind to us here in every other way. I don't want to be bad, but lx·aring reins make me very angry.' 21 C hapter 12 Ginger is Angry ( )ne d.1 y L.1dy we~tl.111d C lllll' OUl in VL·ry L'Xl'l'll~IVl' clothe~. · Driw ll> L.1dy H.irhn1011d\ housL·.' ,hl' ~.1id. llut ~he did11'1 gt·t inw the r.11T1,1ge. · Whl.·11 ,lrl.' you going to gl't d1o~t· hor~l.'s· hl'.1d~ up. York ? l'ull thl.'111 up now!· Ynrk l'.11ne lO inc first. I k pullcd 1ny lll'.1d b.1ek with llll' hl'.1ring rein. It hurt 111c, .111tl tl1t· hit cut 111 y 1noutl1. Then he ,wnt ro (;inger and he bq.?;all to pull hn ht·ad b.Kk. Gi11gn scoml up on hn b.ick lq...~. I kr t'.lr~ ,w,11 h.ick. and hcr eycs Wt-re wry .rngry. Sht· bq!;,111 to kick .111d ~hl.' tried to gt·t .1w.1y ti-0111 the c.1rri.1gc. York and tl1t· groolll couldn't srup lwr. Thcn ~he c ,uglll ht·r k gs in rhc h.1mess and fi:11. York s:ir on Gi11gn's hc,1d. I k role! the groo111 ro get .1 k111ti: .111d cm the h.,rness. Lady Westl.111d we11t into the homt·. Nobody h.1d tillll' fill· llll', I ~rood with 111y he.id h.1ck.Tht· bit hurr 111y 111outh. Thc11 Yo rk c 1111t· .111d took .1w,1y rl1c he:1ri11g rl'in. 1 k said. · Why do ,w h.1w to haw tht:st' bl·aring rt·ins? Tht·y lll,1kt· good hor~L'~ had, .111d thl'y 111akc our work h:mkr. Lord Wl'stl.rnd wi ll hc angry. But how c.111 I ,.1y 110 to his wifi: whl'11 f,c lll'Vl.T dol.•~? · Thcy never put Cingt:r into c 1rriagL' h.1n1t·s~ .1gai11 ,ll E.1r!, 1-1:111. When she was well again after hn fol l. onc of Lord Wcstbnd's you11gt•r sons cook her for his ridi11g horsl'. I worked with the carriag<:, and for four months tht· bt•:iring rcin hurt Ille cvery day. I worked with Max ..111 older horst:. He c:1n1e from Lord Wesrland's stable in London. ' Why do they have co hurt us with bearing reins?' I ask<:d hi 111. ' They do thi116,s that way in London,' he said.' I11 London the rich pt:opk's horses have to have their he:ids up. It m;ide 111<: ill,so 1·111 here now. I' ll die soon.' He looked at me sadly. · 1 hope you don't have to havt: the be;iring rein every d:1y. Yoll 'II die before you'rt· o ld, coo. People are very stupid.' 22 C hapter 13 Re uben Sm ith 111 April. I ord .111d I :1dy Wl'sll.111d Wl'IH to llit·ir I omlo11 IHHl~t· .111d took York w11h 1lw111. (;111gt·r .111d I .,ml thrl'l' or llHlr l>thn horsl'S s1.1 ynl .ll E.1rls I I.di. Their so11~ a11d their som' frie11d~ rod,.: us. R t· ubl'n S111i1h was tht· hms ot" tl1e stahk·, wht•11 York w:1, .l\v,1y. I le wa, .1 wry good driw r .111d .1 good groo111. I le liked horst·, , .111d horses lih·d hi111 . Why w.,~ he only dit· groo111? Why wasn·1 he .1 boss, too' Max \Old 1111: .1bm11 hi111. Rn1be11 S111ith so111eti111es got dru11k. Whe11 he w,1s11't dn111k, hl' was wry good .1t his work. Ewrybody likl'd hi111. But whl'11 hl' was dru11k, hl' was11't the ,a111e 111:111. · I'll m·wr g1: t dru11k .1g.1i11,' Ill' wk! York . A11d so York w.1,11't .1fr:1id to k.1Vl' thl' horses with Smith whl'n ht'. York . was away. ♦ 011l' 1hy Lord Westland's yo1111gcr so11 wanted to go lO Lo11do11. · I'll gl't 011 tht· 1rai11 .11 1--lertfi.ml,' lw told S,nith. ' I wa11t you ro driv1.· 1111.• there in 111y carriagl'. It c.111 st.1y in tlw c.irri.1gt·- m.1kn\ i11 I lertford, bl'c1use I w:111t him to do some work 011 it. So bring ,1 saddle and ride Ul.ick lk :wry homl' to Earls Hall.' R eubl'11 Smith drove me to thl' clrriage-111:iker's. Then Ill' put the saddle 011 111e and rodl' llll' to thl' White Horse hotel. There ht· asked the hotd groo111 for SO llll' good food for nil'. · Haw him ready for me .it four o'cloc.:k,' he said. He went to the hoed, and he llll't some men at the door. He c 1111e out again at fiw o 'c.:loc.:k and told the hotel groom,' I don't want to go before six. 1'111 with some old frirnds.' The groom showed Smith one of my from shoes.' That shoe will fall off ~oon.' he told Smith. · Do you wane Ill<.' to do som ething .1hot1t it ?' 23 · Nu.' S11llth ,.11d.' It ('.111 '1 1:dl offlll'forl' \Vl' j.;l'l l1u11H·.' Thn\l' Wl'l'l" , 1r:111 gl' wonk R c ulK• IJ S11111h "'·" 11\11.dly t·.1rl'lul .1hout our \ hOl''· • I k didn't ronll' m1t ,ll , ix u'dul k or .11 \l'Vl'll o r .ll t· igln. A1 nilll' o'tlod, lil' Clllll' Olli ortl1t· hotl'I with a lot 01°1101w. · You! ' h l· sh outl'd tlJ the hoLL·I groo1n. · Bring llll' 111y hor,l' ! · I k w,1s wry .111gry w ith Lhc grornn w1Ll1 l'Wrybody I ll thl' hotl'I.Why? I didn't know. Wl· Wl' rl'n't o ut or I krtford w hl'll he \ l.lrll'd lO Int llll' \Vlth hi\ w hip. I ,wnl .,, fo\l ,I \ I could. I k w hippi:d lltt· .1g.1i 11 . IL W.t\ dark, and I couldn't ~l'l' wry wdl. Tht' m:1d w.i, w ry hard, and b:1d in placl'\, and 111y sll Chapter 14 An Accident I waited there for a long time. It was nearly m idnight when I heard a ho rse's feet. Then I saw Max and a cart. They cam e down the road. I called to Max, and he answered me. There were two grooms in the cart. They wanted to find R euben. One of them jumped down from the cart and ran across to the man on the road. 24 I thrt•11, Smith over 111y head 0 11 to the road. · It\ l~ndw11 . .111d ht· 1,11'1 n10vi11 g,' ht· ,.11d. · 1 k ht·\ dl'.1d cold .ind (k.1d ! ' The other groon1 got out of tlw c trt .111d c.11tll' 10 lltt·. I k u,l'd Olll' of I he c.1rt :, liglu, .rnd looked .11 the had cuts Oil my ll'g,. '131.tck lk:mry fcll ! . lw ,aid . 'Black Bcaucy ! Wh:n h.1ppencd ?. I k 1rinl to 1:1kc nll' to the c;1rt, .111d I ne.1rly fdl .1g;iin. ·Oh!' lw said. · Bl.ick lk.n1ty\ 1<.)ot is h.1d, 100. /\nd loo k - rlwre \ nn shoe! Why did R.euben ridl· a horsl· withnut ,1 shoe ?· I k lookl·d .1t thl· other g roo1n, rhe11 said,· 1-k w:is drunk .1gain ! · Tlwy put Rl·uben Slllith imo tlw earl. and tl1t'll om· of tlw groo 111s drovl' it to Earls Hall. The other 111.111 put son1cthing round my b.1d foot .111d Wl' walked on thl' gr.1ss nl'.H Lhl' ro.1d. The cues 0 11 my kgs and 111y b:td fimt hurt n1 e, but .1ftn so1nc tillll' Wl' gm hontl'. ♦ \V:IS ill for \Vl'l'ks .tlrn thar. Thl· grooms did l'Wryrhing for Ill(', hut thl· cuts Wl' rl' wry b:1d. Whcn I could walk, tlll'Y put ntl' into .1 , m.tll tidd. My le.mt .ind 111y khrs got hl'Ltl'f, but only :tfrl.' r n1.111y wel·ks. ( )11l' day Lord Westb11d c:1111e to the fidd with York. I le lookl'd at my k gs .111d was ,111 gry. · We'll havc to sd l hi111 ,' he sa id. ' (' 111 wry sad. because 1ny fril'nd Mr Gordon wantl·d 13lack lkaury to havl' a happy ho1nc hcre. But you'll haw to send hi111 to HJmpstead.' And so I went to Hampstead. One day each week thcy sdl ho rscs there. A lot of pcopll' camc and looked at 111e. Thl.' richcr pl·opk went away when they saw my legs. Other peopk looked at my teeth and eyes, and they felt my khJ';· I had to walk fo r chem. Some people's hands wcrL' hard .111d cold. To tht'111 I was o nly :i ho rsL' for work. 13ut soml' h.1d J...111d h.111ds. and tht'y spoke to 111e kindly. They learnt morl' .1hrn 11 llll' th.111 the ocher pcopk. ( likl'd Oll t· or the ki11d lllt' l l.. , C. 111 lw h.1ppy W illi hi111 .' J dwugh1. · 1 k likt·\ hm,l", .111d ht·'s ki11d tn d1t· 111 .' I k w.1s .1 s11 1.1II m.111 . bur hl' 111owd well .111d 11111ckl y.. 11 1d l11s h.111d~ .11 1d hi~ l'Yl'~ Wl'l'l.' fril't1dly. · I' ll giw twl'my-thrcc pounds for this ho rsl',' ht· s.11d. · Say c,w11 ty- ti w po u11ds, Mr Uarkl'r, :1 11d you GIil k1w him,' .111otht·r 111.111 said. I k sold thl' horst·s - it wa~ his job. · Twl'nty- tcn1r :111d 110 mort·.' the little 111.1n s:1id. · All right, I'll t.1 kc rwe11ty- fo ur pounds,' ~.,id tht· otht-r 111.111. · You'w got a w ry good horsl' for your 1110 111:y, jl'rry Uarkl'r. I k 'II bl' w ry good for cab work. Yo u'll be w ry happy with hi111 .' Thl· little man paid thc 111 0 11ey, then he took me .1way to a hotel. There was a saddlc thac for mc. Hc gaw me some w ry good food, ,llld soon wc werc 0 11 our way to London. Chapter 15 A London Cab H orse Then· wcrc a lot ofhorscs :llld carriages and ca rts in the streets of the great city. Ir was 11ight, bur there were .1 lot of people 0 11 thl' roads and u11dcr the street lights. T ht'rl' were streets and streets and streets. Then Jerry Uarker ca llcd to somebody, 'Good night, George.' Cabs w:1itcd in this street. · Hello, Jerry!' came chc answer.' Have you goc a goo 27 · I k ilo I I kilo! I kllu ! · tlll'Y , ho utl·d h:1ppily. M y rtdl'! g,ll d11w11 fi-0111 Lh1· ,.,ddk. · 1kilo !· ht· ,.11d. · Now. I 1.irry. Djll'll I he ,1.,hlt- door .111d I'll br111g hin1 111,id1·.' Snn11 Wl' Wl'l'l' .di i11 1h1· lntk s1.1bk.Th1· wo1 11 .111 h.,d ., li µ,ln 111 her h.111d ..111d dll'Y lnokn l .1l lll L', · b lw good, F:1thn? . :i,knl c lil' little girl. · Yl's, I )oily.. ,~ good .is you .1n.. •. Co1t1l' .111d put .1 h:md on h1111 .' T he li11k girl w.1s11't. afi-.1id. 'Shl''s 11 ice.. l!ld ,ht·\ ki11d.' I thought.· 1'111 going t1l low lwr.' · I'll gt·r hin1 s< >111 t· 11icl' ti,od.Jt·rry.' tl1 L' wn11 1.111 ,:11tl. · Yt·s, .ill rigln. l'olly.' ,:llll Jt-rry. Jerry loved hi~ wik l\illy. .111d hi, s011 :111d d.n1ghtn. I Ii , ,011 . 11.,rry, w.1s twdve )'l',1r, old. I Ii, d.111 gl11n. I >oil y. w.,, L' lght.Tht·y loved him. roo. I llt'Vl'r k11 t·w l1.1ppit·r pl'opk.Th1·y didn't h,,vl' ., lo t nf111nm·y. hn·.111Sl' pt·opk d1d11 't p.1y c.1b dr1 vt-rs wry wdl. Blll Llwy \\lt'rt· :1lw.1r kind. and tlit·ir loVl' Clllll' OUl of the li11k IHHl\l' ({) the s1.1bk. Jt·1-ry h.,d ., t".th .111d two hor,c~. Till· ntlwr horw \\·.,, ,1 h1 g o ld whitl' horse ca lled <:aptai n. That night, ( '..1pt.1i11 told lllt' :ihout rhc work of ,1 l 011do 11 r.1h horse. · Only one horst· pulls tht· rah,' lw s.1id. · Mr B.,rkl'r works for :1bour sixtl't'II hour~ c;1ch d:1y from Monday ro S:mmby. but you and I will onl y work for l'ight hours. It\ hard work, but Jt•1-ry is nevl'r u11ki11d.A lot ofcab11tl'II arc u11ki11d , but 11otJnry. You' ll low hi111 .' And hl' was right. Captain went o ut with thl' cab in the morning. I larry caml' into the stabk aftn school and gave me food and water. Whe 11 Jerry came home for his dinner, Polly cle:int·d rhe c:ib. H:irry helped Jerry to put the harness 0 11 llll'. T ht·y did it slowly because rhl'y didn't want to hurt me. There was 110 61:aring rein. and the bit didn't hurt. • 1 tl1i11k lw'll hl' h.1ppy w11h tl1.t1 .'Jl'rry ~.ud. · Wli.11\ h i~ 11.1111c ? · !'oily .,~kl·d . · T hl' 111.111 111 I l:1111pstl·.1d did11 ·1 kuow,' ~. ,id Jl·rry. · Wl· ran c dl h1111 J.1ck . We c ,lkd our last hor~l' Jack. Wh.1t do you think, Polly?· ' Yl'~ ..di rig ht.' ~.,id his wire.' It's .I good 11 :1111e.' So J.1rk was 111y lll'W 11,lllll', .111d I ~Llrtl'd work. I was :1 London rab horsl' ! Chapter 16 Jerry Barker Wl· wt·m down thl' strl'l't :llld Jerry cook me to a pbc e lwhi11d thl.'. othn cabs. A big c.1h111:i11 c:1111e to 111e with other driwrs. I k w:,s thl' o ldest cabman thne. I IL' looked at me and put :i hand 011 111y bac k and legs. · Yl·s,' he s:iid, ' he:~ thl· best horse for you, J erry lhrker. You paid :i lot or111011ey for him, but you did well. He's :i good horse. and hl''II work hard for you.' My work was wry hard. The great city w:1s :, nl'w pl.tee for 111l'. I wasn't happy with the noise. the thousands or pl·oplc, the horses, carriages and carts in the streets. 13ut Jerry was a wry good drive r, and I wanted to m :ike him happy. We did well. Jerry never whipped me. Sometimes he put the whip 011 my back. That meant •Go!' IJut he usually only moved thl· re ins when he w:t11ted me to go. He and Harry groomed us well. and Captain and I always had good food, clean water :md a ckan stable. H arry was clever with stabk- work, and Po lly and Dolly cleaned the cab in the mornings.They laug hed and talked.They wen:: a happy family. One morning an old cab stopped next to o urs. The horse was tired and thin. She was a brown ho rse and she lookl·d at me with tired eyes. 30 · Bl.tck lk.1uty ! · ~Ill' ~. 11ll. • I, 1t rl•,1lly you ?' · ( ;i,ign?' I \,1lll. 11 111,1s Ci11gn. li11t ,1 Vl'ry diflL-rL·11t Ci11ger. Sl1L· told 111l· he r story. It w:1~ :1 Vl'ry ,;,1d story. · Alia .1 yc:tr .11 E.1rb I I.ill. thcy sold 111t·: ,,11d ( :111 gcr. · But I w,1s ill :1g.1in ,llld .1 hor~l·- doctor c 11nt·. Thc 11 a r.1h111:111 bou ght till'. I k\ got :1 lot o( r.1h~ .111d othn c:1b111t·11 u,t· tht·111.'l'hl·y pay hi111 for 1hc 111. The,;e 111 t· 11 .lrl·n't alway,; c 1refu l or kind. 'l'ht·y whip llll' and I h,,vt· to work seVl' II d,1ys .1 week. M y lit~ is hard. 1·111 Vl'ry tired 11 0w. 1'11 lw h.1ppy whcn I dic.' · 1'111 vcry mrry. Ci11gl'I',' I ,.nd. I p 111 m y nosc ne:i r h L· rs. I thi11k shc w:1\ h.1ppy. · You Wt'tT :1 good fril·nd: ~hc s:1id. Sonic wt·cb .tfin this. :1 c.1rt Wl'lll p.1,t us. Tht·rc w:1s .1 de.id hor~L· in tht· bac k. It w;1s a brown hor\t'. I think it was (;ingt·r. Son1t·ti111cs .1 pnson w,imcd Jl-rry to go t:1st in thc c.1b. ( )!ten Jcrry s.1id, · No. Yo u want to go fast hccau,c you gor up l.1tc. You have to ~t:1n your journL'Y early. :ind then you c 111 g1.·t there more slowly.' So111eti111es peopk w;uned to giVl' hi111 n1rnT 11101tl·y. but he did no t go faster. But after I learnt to go throug h the Lo ndon streets. we could go f:l,tcr than 111ost c 1bs. · We'll go fost whl'll so 111 cbody h:is to gn so 111 ewhcre 4uic kl y, Jack .'J l'l'ry s:1id to 111c. We k1ww the ttuic.: kest roads to the h ospitals i11 London. and so111cti111cs we made very quick journeys to them. ♦ Om· wet day we took a man to his hote l. Aftn he.: went inside, a young woman spoke to Jerry. She had a little boy i11 her arms, and he was very ill. ' Where is St Thornas's Hospital ?' she asked.' Can you tt'II m e? I'm from the country, and I do n 't know Lo ndo n. The doctor 31 g.1w 111c .1 k 1tn l ' C oml.' the woman s:i id. ' I cw 't find a cab today. 111 this weather. and I h:ivc to c 1td 1 ,1 train.' 'I'll takl' you,' said Jl'r ry.'Whc:rl' do you want to go?' · Paddington Station,' said the wo111a 11 . Chapter 17 More Changes Wl' took the woman to her train. Hl'r name was Mrs Fowler and shl' knew !'o il y. She asked a lot of qul'stio ns about Poll y and the two childrl'tl. Then she s:tid:'And how :m: you, Jcrry?' 32 · 1·111 .,II right 1111w, Mr, 1=mvkr.' ,.11d Jl'rry. · llut I w;a, wry ill l.1,1 J.u111.iry. l'olly dol's11 '1 likl' till' lo wurk i11 h.1d WL',tlhn , hut I l,,w<' to work.' ' Thl· cnld Wl',11 hn i~ h:1d for you. Jnry.' ~.11d Mr~ h,wln. · You'll h.1vc lo li11d difli..-rl'tll work. You c:1 11't bl' .1 c.1h111.111 11ow.' · I 'cl likl' to fi11d work i11 till' cou111ry.' ,.,id jl·rry. · l'olly .1ml till' chddrl'n likl· thl· country. Um tl1crl' isn't .111y work fix till' then:.' lldi1n· ~hl· c ,uglll her 1r:ii11. Mrs Fowler g:1w Jerry sonw 111011l'y for the c hildrl'll. · l'l'opk i11 the country w.11H good grooms and dnvcrs,' shc ~aid.· Whl'11 you ~top c.,b work. wrilL' to 111L·.' · Th:111k you.' ~.11d Jerry. livery yl'.1r Jc.:rry was di 111 till· willtlT. But hl· didn't .~top working.. ind hl' got din .md tlln . ♦ 011l' yL1r.. II Chris1111.1s. WL' took two 111e11 to ,1 homc. and rhcy ~.,id to JL-rry.' Co111l' line .1g.1i11 .It ekwn o'clock.' Jerry arrived :n thc right ti111c. but rhc mcn did11 't cotllL' out of rhc hmtSl'. We w:111cd .md w.1itcd. It w:is :1 wry n)ld night, .,nd it snowcd.Jcrry put :111 old coat OVl'r nw. thl.·n hL· tril·d to ~ray warm. At 01 1c o'clock thc t,vo 111c11 Clllll.' our of thl' hou~c .111d got into thc c:1h. ThL·y didn't ~ay 'Sorry, wc 'rc late.' Thcy didn't say ,lllything. Whl.'11 we arriwd horn<.', Jerry w.,s ill. He couldn't work the next day, or thl' next day. Po ll y cril'd about it.' Wh.n ca 11 I do ?' shl' said. Thcn, onl' day, a lcttn caml' for l'ully. It was from Mrs Fowkr: Dl'ar Pt>//)', J\ ly groo111 is le,111i11,1t. /--fr is ,l!oi11g 1,1 do orlll'r 111or/.i, ,11,d l,c 111a111s /1> ,I!<> 111•x1 1111>////,. I {is 1/l[f<' 111il/ J!.CI 111itl, l,i,11, a111f shC' is my wok. 1'14n,/d )'Cit/ like I<> 111ark.fin Ill<'? Jerry cm, be my 33 .l!r,,,,,,, ,11,tl ti,;,,,.,·. ,111d / lr1rry 1,111 lw/1, /1i111. ) j,,, "'" f,c 11111 111,1/..•. '/'/,ar is,, li11/c /1,,11s,'Jc>r ,,,,,,. l'lcasr s,1y )'11/1 111ill tome. i\ l,,ry [ ,,,,,,/er Jerry and Polly t.ilked .1hm1t il fi>r two day~. Thl'll l'olly wroll' .111 :111swl'r. I kr klll'r s.1id. · Yt·~.Jnry :ind I w:111l to work ft>r you. Mrs 1:owkr.' I was wry happy for che111, buc I ,v:1~ s.1d. too. I loved Jerry ,1 11 d l'olly and the two children. Some ofJerry's c:1b111t·11 frit·11tb wanted to h:1w 111e, but Jerry wa11tl'd 111e to h.1vt· .1 hl'lll'I' lm111c. 'Jack's gt·tting old.' he said,' and tht· work of a cab horse is too hard.' Ikfore Jerry. l'olly and tht· c hildren welll away, Jerry sold 111e to a farnier. H i~ 11a111e was Mr Thoroughgood, and he knew about hor~t·s. ' I'll take Jac k. your horse.' he sa id.' I'll give hi111 the best food .111d so111t· weeks in a good field. T hen I' ll find a new ho111e for hi111 - with a good, kind person.' Mr Thoroughgood rook 111e away. It was April. Jerry was ill after a bad tinie in January and February, but he ca111e outside, with l'olly and Harry and Dolly. He saw me for the last time. • You 'II be happy, dear old Jack.' Dolly said.' I 'II always remember you.' Chapter 18 My Last H o m e Mr Thoroughgood was very kind to me, and I had a very happy time on his farm. ' I feel younger,' I thought. But I wasn't a young horse now. 34 ( )nl' day Mr Thoroughgood w ld thl' µ.roon1 , ' Wl· h.1vc to li11d ,1 good ho111l' l<>r J.1 ck. I le c.111 work. I think. hut uo l too h:1rd.' 'Tlw wolltl'll .1t ltosl' I I.di .m· looki11g for .1 good hor~t· for tht"ir s111.dl c 1rri.1ge.' s.1id tltt· gmolll. · Thl·y don't w.1111 .1 young ho rsl·. Yo ung horso ~0 111c ti111t'\ go too 1:1s1 or run ,1way.' Mr Thomt1ghgood thought .1lHHlt th.tl. T ht· 11 he s:1id. ·ru tak1.· J.1ck to thc111. I k \ die..· horst· for thc..·111. lhn will illl'y lw .1fraid w hen they set· his legs? I k hurt 1hrn1 so111 l·wht-re. I' ll 1.1kl' hi111 to Rost· I I.ill to111ormw.Tlwy c.111 look .tl hi111.' The lll'Xt morning thl' grnon1 c k :111l·d n1 y hi.ir k ro:it. ,111d rlll'll MrThoroughgood took 1111.· to R ose 1 lal\. The wo111e 11 Wl' n.' .tl ho111 l', but their drivl'r w.,s :1w;1y. 0111.' o( tht· wo111l'll. Miss Ellc11, liked n1 l' w h1.· 11 ~hl' saw llll'. ' I k h.1, :i w ry good, kind face,' \ ht· said.' Wt•'II soon low him.' ' I k \ w ry good.' Mr Thoroughgood said.· llut h t• (di down. Look :it his legs.' ·Oh!' Mi\\ Elle n\ older \ istl'r \:iid. Sl11.· was Mis\ Uloo111fidd. ' Will he foll again?' ' I don't think he will,' the farmer said.· I k fi:11 because he had a bad driw r. Try him. Mi~s Ul oo111fidd . St'nd your driver for him ro111orrow. I le can try Jack for a day or two.' Miss Uloomfidd was happier.' Yo u alw:iys sell us very good ho rses, Mr T horo ughgood ,' she said. 'Thank you. We'll do chat.' The next morning a 111ce young man came to Mr Thoroughgood's farm. He looked at me and at my legs. T hen he asked Mr Thoroughgood, ' Why are you selling this horse? I' rn no t happy with his legs.' The farmer answered,' I won 't sell him before you try him. l3ut I think you' ll like him. Ride him, and then telJ !11e. Say yes, and you can have him. Say no, and he can com e ho me here.' The groom took m e to Rose Hall. That evening he began to groom m e. Whe n my face was clean, he stopped. H e looked at the white star. 35 · 1 n·1t1(·111lwr lll.1ck lk.111ty\ whlll' ,t.1r,' lw ~.11d. · 1 k w,1, .1 wondnfi.d lmr,l'. /\nd whl'II I look .ll thi~ l10m·\ hl';1d. I rL·111l'111hn Bl.1ck lk.111ty\ hl',1d wo. Wht-rl' is Bl.irk lk.1uty now ? I'd likl· to know.' Whl'11 hl' C.lllll' 1n 111y hack. hl' swppnl .1g.1i11. · t krl''s so111 l' whill' on his h.1ck,' hl' ~aid. 'That's str.rngl'. Whl'n I lonk .1t it. I fl'llH.'111l1l'r thl' whitl' 0 11 lll.1ck lkauty\ b.1 ck ! · Tiu: groo111 ~rood .111d loo kl·d at lllt'. · 131.ick IJL'.lllly's \tar! 111:ick lk.1111y\ lrnc whitl' font! Thl' whitl' 011 Black lka111y·s b.1 ck ! It is Black IJL',HIIY! · hL· said.· Yo u ,m: lll.1ck lk.1uty, 111y old friend I IIL'aury ! Beauty ! I )o you know 111c ? I was littll' Joe Crl'l'II, .111d I nearl y killt·d you.' And hl' put hi~ :1rn1s round 111y hl'ad. I l'l'llll'lltbcrl'd a s111.dl boy, and this w.1s :1 111.111. But it was Jol' Crl'l'n, and I was wry h.1ppy. I put my nosl' up to hin1 in a fril'ndly way. And I nl'wr s;1w a happin man tk111 him. ' This is wonderful. Beauty.' hl' said.' WL·'ll try lo m.,kl' you happy hen:.' The lll'Xt day Jot· groo111l'd 111e .1gai11 and harnessed lllL' to .1 wry good s111all carriagl'. Miss Elk11 wanted to try llll', and Joe Grl'l'n went with hL·r. Shl· w:1s .1 good driver. and she was h:1ppy with llll'.Joe t:i lked to lwr about nil'. 'Ht':~ Mr Cordo n's o ld l3lack Licauty ! 'Joe said , happily.' rk's a wonderful ho rse!' Whl:'n WL' c:1111e back to ltosc H;11l, Miss l31oomfidd caml' to the door. ' He's a beautiful horse,' she said. ' Is he a good horse, too'' · Yes,' Miss Ellen said. · Very, very good. His naml' is l31ack Ueaury, :rnd he was at l3ircwick Park with Mr Cordon. Our dear friend Mrs Co rdon loved him.' · Ueauty nt'arly died wht'n ht' got the doctor for Mrs Cordon,' said Joe. And he told them the story. ' I'm going to write to Mrs Gordon. I'll tell her about Ulack Beauty,' said Miss Ellen.' She'll be very happy.' 36 I he next d.1y they h.1r11n~nl llll' to thl' c 1rr1.1µl', .111d Mi~, llloo111fidd dmw 111 it. Shl' ,.1id 10 Mi" l:lle11, · We'll haw tlw 0 hor\L' .111d Wl' ll 11,c hi~ old 11.1111l'. lll.1r k lk.uny.' ♦ It is ,1 yt·:1r l:itn now. _lol' i~ thl' hl'Sl .ind J...i11dl'q µroo111 . .111J cwrybody lnws 1m:. Miss Elll'll ,.1y,, · Wt·'ll 11t·vn ~di you, lk.1uty.' Sn ( 'II work luppily for d1n11. 1'111 llOl .1fr:11d or m yt hi11~. ACTIVITIES Chapters 1-6 Before you read 1 Read the Introduction to the story. What will happen to Black Beauty? Will the story be happy or sad? 2 Find the words in italics in your dictionary. They are all in the story. a Which animals: - wear these? bit collar harness reins saddle - can you ride ? - bite? b What do you find : - on a farm? - in a field? c Where do you usually find these? grass stable star d What do people do with these? carriage whip e What is the adjective from beauty? f What does a groom do? g You have to leave soon. Do you have to leave now or in a short time? After you read 3 Who says these words? Who or what are they talking about? a 'Always do your work happily. Never bite or kick. Then he'll always be nice to you.' b ' Now he'll have to learn to work. He'll be a very good horse then.' c 'One day she bit James in the arm and hurt him.' d ' He is kind to the horses, and the horses like him.' 4 Work with another student. Student A: You are Mrs Gordon. Your husband is late from the city. Ask him about his journey. Student 8: You are Mr Gordon. Tell your wife about your journey. Tel1 her about Black Beauty and the bridge. 39 Chapters 7- 12 Before you read 5 Black Beauty is going to leave Birtwick Park. Why? Whal do you think? AHer you read 6 Use the best question-word for these questions, then answer them. What Who Why a ... starts a fire after he smokes in the stable? b ... isn't Black Beauty afraid of the fire when James takes him out of the stable? c ... does John give a letter to at three o'clock in the morning? d ... is Black Beauty ill after the ride from the doctor's house? e ... does John Manly want to do after he leaves Birt wick Park? f ... does a bearing rein do? 7 Is Black Beauty's life better or worse with the Westlands? Talk about it. Chapters 13-18 Before you read 8 Will Black Beauty always work in the country? Whal do you think ? 9 Find the words in italics in your dictionary : a Who or what pulls a cart? b Who drives a cab these days? c How do people feel when they are drunk? After you read 1O Who or what: a gets drunk? . b dies in an accident? c does Lord Westland sell? d lives with Jerry Barker? e dies after a hard life in the city streets? f does Jerry sell Black Beauty to? g does Joe Green see on Black Beauty's face? 11 Will Black Beauty be happy at Rose Hall? Why (not)? ..H) Writing 12 How was Ginger's life different from Black Beauly's? How do you feel about Ginger's life? 13 Which person in the story do you like best? Which person do you not like? Why? 14 There was a lot of work for horses in Anna Sewell's time. What work do horses do in your country today? 15 Write a letter about Black Beauty to a friend. Did you enjoy it? Write about the story. What did you like? What did you not like? Answers for \he Ac1ivltk-s in th11°' book arc availt\blc rrom )'Our local omcc or ahcrn.iUvdy wrH\· lo Penguin Readers M;1rkctlng l)cp;1rtmcnt. Pc;1rso11 E n WI , f •I' • r I I Ill • fl, u r I.• I t. ~ ,t " • I I r• I 1' I I I •I " • I• • I I I• I\ " .,., I II I \ ~ n, Ill I . d t • it ' !, .. I 'I I ►, ' If j , t.J, ,,. r • 11 I II { ' Penguin Readers are simplified texts designed in association with Longman, the world famous educational publisher, to provide a step-by-step approach to the joys of reading for pleasure. Each book has an introduction and extensive activity material. They are published at seven levels from Easystarts (200 words) to Advanced (3000 words). Series Editors: Andy Hopkins and Jocelyn Potter NEW EDITION 6 Advanced (3000 words) Contemporary 5 Upper Intermediate (2300 words) Classics 4 Intermediate ( 1700 words) Originals 3 Pre-Intermediate ( 1200 words) ~ 2 Elementary (600 words) I Beginner (300 words) British English Easystarts (200 words) RAmerican English www.pengu1nreaders.co II ISBN 0-582-42121- 7 Published and distributed by 11 I I Pearson Education Limited 9 780582 42121 9 Penguin Readers Factsheets l e v e l E T e a c h e r’s n o t e s 1 2 3 Black Beauty 4 5 by Anna Sewell 6 ELEMENTARY S U M M A R Y ublished in 1877, Black Beauty is one of literature’s for those in less fortunate circumstances. This also included P best-loved classics and is the only book that Anna the animals that shared their lives. In Victorian England, Sewell ever wrote. Four films of the book have been horses were used in industry, and were often treated badly. made, the most recent in 1994. Anna and her mother were appalled if they saw a horse being In the book, Black Beauty, a horse, tells the story of his life mistreated and often showed their disapproval to the horse’s in his own words. It is a story of how he was treated with owner. kindness and love when he was young, but how his When she was fourteen, Anna suffered a fall in which she treatment changed at the hands of different owners: some injured her knee. This never healed and left her unable to were kind and cared for him properly, but others were walk without the help of a crutch. Over the following years, c:::c::, careless or unkind, and this led to illness and injury. Black she became increasingly disabled. However, she learnt to c Beauty spent his young life with his mother on Farmer Grey’s drive a horse-drawn carriage and took great pleasure in ::::c farm. Farmer Grey was a good, kind man and the horses had taking her father to and from the station on his way to work. a good life. His mother told him that not all people were good She was a very skilled driver and was known for her ability to ~ and she gave him some advice: Always be good so people control the horses by the sound of her voice alone. She often will love you. Always work hard and do your best. Black drove with a very loose rein and never used a whip. == c:::c::, Beauty tried to follow this advice all his life. Anna was very concerned about the humane treatment of First, he goes to live with Mr Gordon and his family, who animals and her Quaker beliefs meant that she was opposed f"T'1 treat their horses well. He becomes friends with two other to tormenting animals for pleasure and to hunting for sport. ::::c horses, Merrylegs and Ginger. He is cared for by a groom After reading an essay on animals by Horace Bushnell (a C: called John, who never uses a whip. Black Beauty saves Mrs leading American theologian), Anna declared that she wished Gordon’s life when he runs very fast to bring the doctor to ‘to induce kindness, sympathy, and an understanding ---I her. He becomes ill himself because a new groom doesn’t treatment of horses’. -c look after him properly. Sewell’s introduction to writing began in her youth when The Gordons move abroad and Black Beauty and Ginger she helped to edit her mother’s books. During the last seven are sold to Lord Westland at Earl’s Hall. They have a good or eight years of her life, Sewell was confined to her house groom, but Lady Westland is unkind and makes the horses due to her failing health. She spent this time writing Black wear bearing reins so that they hold their heads up high. One Beauty, a fictional autobiography of a gentle horse, which day, a groom called Reuben Smith is left in charge of the drew on all her memories of the abusive treatment she had horses. He is drunk and ndes Black Beauty very hard and seen. The book gave readers a unique insight into equine life. uses a whip. Black Beauty loses a shoe and eventually falls. The character of Beauty was based on her brother’s horse, Smith is killed in the accident and Black Beauty’s legs are Bessie, and Merrylegs was based on Sewell’s own much- badly cut. He survives but his legs are scarred and Lord loved grey pony. Although the book only earned Sewell Westland decides to sell him. twenty pounds at the time it was published, it was Black Beauty’s next home is with a London cab driver, instrumental in abolishing the cruel practice of using the Jerry Barker. Jerry and his family treat Black Beauty very bearing rein. It had a strong moral purpose and highlighted well, but the work is hard and the hours are long. Jerry the need for a more humane approach in the treatment of becomes ill and has to sell Black Beauty to a farmer, who animals. Unfort u n a t e l y, Sewell never saw the eventual promises to look after him and find him a good home. The success of her book. She died on April 25, 1878, only a year farmer takes him to some women at Rose Hall. There, Black after Black Beauty was published. Ironically, at Sewell’s Beauty is reunited with a young groom who used to look after funeral her mother noticed that all the horses in the funeral him at Mr Gordon’s home. The women want to keep Black procession were wearing bearing reins and she insisted that Beauty, so once again he has a kind and happy home. they be removed. Today some critics think that Black Beauty is too ABOUT ANNA SEWELL sentimental, but it has sold over thirty million copies since it was published and is a favourite with animal lovers. Anna Sewell was born on March 30, 1820 in Yarmouth, Norfolk, England. Her father was a bank manager and her mother was a well-known and popular writer of books for BACKGROUND AND THEMES young people. The family were Quakers and stro n g l y Society was unequal in nineteenth century England, and believed that they should show love for all and compassion © Pearson Education 2001 l e v e l Penguin Readers Factsheets 2 T e a c h e r’s n o t e s great poverty existed alongside the wealth of the aristocracy Chapters 7–12 and the middle classes. The Industrial Revolution led to the 1 Put students into groups of four. Divide each group into growth of towns and cities as the rural population moved into two pairs, A and B. Pair A writes four sentences telling urban slums to work in the factories and mills owned by the story for each chapter from 7–9. However, they put wealthy families. The horse played a vital role at this time. their sentences for each chapter in the wrong order. Pair Horses worked in coalmines, pulled barges along canals, B does the same for chapters 10–12. Each pair then ploughed fields and also provided transportation. hands their sentences to the other pair who have to put However, the horses were often mistreated. They were them in the right order beaten by their owners and made to pull over- l o a d e d 2 Ask students to work in pairs to discuss this question: wagons. Many died of exhaustion where they stood in their Why do Lady Westland’s carriage horses have to have h a rnesses. There were also some very cruel fashions, bearing reins? How are the reins bad for the horses? including the ‘docking’ (cutting short) of the horse’s tail to improve its appearance. This was extremely painful for the Chapters 13–18 horse and prevented them from swatting flies away, causing Put students into small groups. They make a list of the ten them to be stung and bitten. There was also the bearing rein, most important events in these chapters. Then, as a class which was used to pull the horse’s head in towards the chest activity, elicit these events from students and write them on in order to give a noticeable arch to the neck. This was the board. considered to be a very desirable look, much sought after in carriage horses, but it meant that the animal was unable to ACTIVITIES AFTER READING THE BOOK b reathe properly and would later develop re s p i r a t o ry 1 Put students into small groups and ask them to discuss problems. The method also meant that horses were unable each of Black Beauty’s owners. Then they choose which to look from side to side and found it difficult to pull their owner they like the best, and give reasons. Have a class loads properly. vote on the best owner. :.- In Black Beauty this mistreatment of horses is vividly 2 In small groups, students talk about the life of horses at the time of the story compared with now. What sort of 1-- portrayed and eventually led to the abolishment of the bearing rein. work do horses do now? Are horses ever treated badly ~ now? c:: L&.J c:c:I ( Communicative activities ) ( G l o s s a r y ) The following teacher-led activities cover the same sections It will be useful for your students to know these new words. They are ::c:: practised in the ‘Before You Read’sections of exercises at the back of C-..) of text as the exercises at the back of the Reader, and the book. (Definitions are based on those in the Longman Active Study supplement those exercises. For supplementary exercises Dictionary.) c:: covering shorter sections of the book, see the Chapters 1–6 ....::I photocopiable Student’s Activities pages of this Factsheet. beauty (n) the quality of being beautiful c:c:I These are primarily for use with class readers but, with the bit (n) a metal bar that is put in the mouth of a horse and used to exception of discussion and pair/groupwork questions, can control its movements also be used by students working alone in a self-access bite (v) to cut or crush something with your teeth centre. carriage (n) a vehicle with wheels that is pulled by a horse ACTIVITIES BEFORE READING THE BOOK collar (n) a leather band fastened around an animal’s neck farm (n) an area of land using for keeping animals or growing food 1 Ask students if any of them have seen the film ‘Black field (n) an area of land that is used for growing crops, keeping Beauty’. If so, ask them to tell the other students about animals, or playing a sport it. Did they like the film? Did they like the story? grass (n) a very common plant with thin green leaves that grows across 2 Ask students to work in pairs to discuss this question: fields, parks, etc. What jobs did horses do in the nineteenth century? Then groom (n) someone whose job is to take care of horses discuss ideas as a class. harness (n) a set of leather bands fastened with metal that is used to control a horse 3 Photocopy the pictures on pages 3, 5,13,19, 25 and 29 rein (n) a long narrow band of leather that is fastened around a horse’s as many times as necessar y. Cut off the captions. Put head in order to control it students into groups. Hand out a set of photocopies to ride (v) to sit on and control the movement of a horse, or bicycle each group. Ask the groups to match the pictures with saddle (n) a seat made of leather that is put on a horse’s back so you the captions. can ride it soon (adv) in a short time from now, or a short time after something ACTIVITIES AFTER READING A SECTION else happens Chapters 1–6 stable (n) a building where horses are kept Have a quiz! First look through the section and write 20 star (n) a shape with five or six points sticking out of it questions. For example: whip (n) a long thin piece of leather or rope with a handle, used for making animals move faster Who was Mr Gordon’s head groom? Chapters 13–18 Divide the class into two teams. Ask each team a question cab (n) a carriage pulled by horses in which you pay the driver to take in turn. Teams score two points if they get their own you somewhere question right. They score one point if the other team cart (n) a vehicle with two or four wheels, that is pulled by a horse cannot answer a question and they can. drunk (adj) unable to control your behaviour, speech, etc. because you have drunk too much alcohol P u blished and distributed by Pearson Education Factsheet written by Yvonne Harmer © Pearson Education 2001 Factsheet series developed by Louise James Penguin Readers Factsheets l e v e l 0E Student’s activities 01 Black Beauty 2 •03 Photocopiable 4 Students can do these exercises alone or with one or more 0 other students. Pair/group-only exercises are marked. 05 Activities before reading the book 06 1 Work with some other students. Look at picture on the (f) Who thought of the name ‘Black Beauty’? front of the book. Talk about these questions. ELEMENTARY 2 Work with another student. (a) Why is the horse called Black Beauty? Student A: You are Black Beauty. Ask Merrylegs about (b) What is Black Beauty like? life in Mr Gordon’s stables. 2 Read the Introduction in your book. Now close the Student B: You are Merrylegs. Tell Black Beauty about book. What can you remember about Anna Sewell? Mr Gordon’s stables, and about Ginger. (a) What year was she born in? (b) Where was she born? Chapters 5 & 6 (c) How old was she when she had an accident? These sentences are wrong. Make them right. (d) How many books did she write? (a) The stable boy’s name was John Manly. (b) Ginger and Black Beauty went fast when the driver (e) Why did she write Black Beauty? whipped them. (f) How did the book help horses? (c) On Sunday the horses stayed in the stable all day. (d) Sir Clifford wants to find a good horse. c::c:, Activities while reading the book (e) It was sunny when Mr Gordon went to the city. c (f) There was an accident because Black Beauty crossed ::::1:) the bridge. C"""") CHAPTERS 1–6 CHAPTERS 7–12 == Chapters 1 & 2 c::c:, 1 Match the words (a–e) with the meanings (i–v). Chapters 7 & 8 rT'1 (a) carriage 1 What happens first, second, third, fourth ...? Write 1–8 ::::1:) next to the sentences. (b) harness C: (c) bit (a) James helped Joe groom Merrylegs. __ --I (d) saddle (b) A groom smoked in the stables. __ -c (e) collar (c) James and Ginger came out through the (i) a seat made of leather that is put on a horse’s smoke. __ back (d) Joe came to the stables. __ (ii) a metal bar that is put in a horse’s mouth (e) Black Beauty woke up and was very unhappy. __ (iii) a leather band fastened around an animal’s neck (f) James put a coat round Black Beauty’s head. __ (iv) a set of leather bands fastened with metal (g) James and Ginger were ill. __ (v) a vehicle with wheels that is pulled by a horse (h) Black Beauty saw the smoke. __ 2 Write five things that a horse has to learn. 2 Talk with another student or write your answer. 3 What does Black Beauty’s mother tell him always to Black Beauty is very afraid in the fire. Talk about this. do? How does James help him? Chapters 3 & 4 Chapters 9 & 10 1 Answer these questions. 1 Who says these things? Who are they speaking to? (a) Who told Black Beauty to work hard? (a) ‘What did we do to you?’ (b) Who was small and fat? (b) ‘Give this letter to Doctor White in Hertford.’ (c) Who was afraid of Ginger? (c) ‘Yes, we have to thank you!’ (d) Who was the head groom? (d) ‘You have to run now!’ (e) Who wanted to try Black Beauty but had some (e) ‘Mrs Gordon is very ill.’ other work? © Pearson Education 2001 l e v e l Penguin Readers Factsheets 2 Student’s activities (f) ‘A stupid boy!’ Chapters 15 & 16 2 You are Jessie. Write a letter to a friend. Tell them 1 Answer these questions. where you are going and why, and about Merryleg’s (a) What was there a lot of in the streets of London? new home. (b) Who was Harry? What did he do for Black Chapters 11 & 12 Beauty? 1 This is what happens in Chapters 11 and 12. Complete (c) What was Black Beauty’s new name? the passage with the words in the box. (d) How many days did Black Beauty work? And how many hours each day? hurt bearing drivers hold Ginger slowly angry fell boss pull carriage caught shorter harness (e) Write four kind things that Jerry Barker did. 2 Work with another student. John took (a) ...... and Black Beauty to Earl’s Student A: You are Ginger. Tell Black Beauty your story. Hall. Mr York, the (b) ...... of the Student B: You are Black Beauty. Ask Ginger (c) ...... and grooms looked at them. He said questions. that Lady Westland’s (d) ...... horses have to Chapters 17 & 18 (e) ...... their heads up so they have Finish these sentences. (a) Polly didn’t like Jerry to work in bad weather (f) ...... reins. Lord Westland tells York to because ... (g) ...... their heads up (h) ...... Lady (b) Mrs Fowler wrote to Polly because ... Westland wants York to make the reins (i) ...... (c) Jerry sold Black Beauty to Mr Thoroughgood because ... Ginger was very (j) ...... She (k) ...... (d) The women at Rose Hall didn’t want a young horse her legs in the (I) ...... and (m) ...... because ... The reins (n) ...... Black Beauty every day. (e) Joe knew the horse was Black Beauty because ... 2 Talk with another student or write your answer. BEAUTY Is Lady Westland kind to horses? How do you feel Activities after reading the book about her? 1 Work in small groups. Look at the names of the CHAPTERS 13–18 chapters in the book. Write a different name for each chapter and write one sentence to say what happens Chapters 13 & 14 in that chapter. BLACH 1 Join these beginnings and ends of sentences with 2 Talk to two other students. because. Did you enjoy this story? Why/Why not? Write down (a) Reuben Smith wasn’t a boss what you think. Then read it to the class. Do other (b) Reuben stayed in the White horse hotel students think the same as you? (c) Reuben didn’t see Black Beauty’s shoe fall off 3 You are a newspaper writer. Write about the treatment of horses in the nineteenth century. (d) Black Beauty fell (e) Lord Westland was angry (f) Black Beauty liked Mr Barker (i) he was drunk. (ii) he had to sell Black Beauty. (iii) the bad road cut his foot. (iv) he sometimes got drunk. (v) he liked horses and was kind to them. (vi) he was with some old friends. 2 Talk with a partner or write your answer. What kind of life will Black Beauty have in London? Published and distributed by Pearson Education Factsheet written by Yvonne Harmer Factsheet series developed by Louise James @) © Pearson Education 2001 Penguin Readers Answer Key l e v e l Black Beauty ELEMENTARY 2 (b) Great Yarmouth, Norfolk, England. 1 (a) Ginger Answers to Book activities (c) Fourteen. (b) boss 1 Open answers. (d) One. (c) drivers 2 a horses horses dogs, horses, etc. (e) Because she wanted to tell people that (d) carriage b Open answers. some horses had to pull very heavy (e) have c On the ground/in a field/in the garden things and had to work for hours and (f) bearing On a farm/in the country. hours. (g) pull In the sky. (f) Many people were kinder to horses after (h) slowly d They go on a journey. they read Anna’s book. (i) shorter (j) angry They hit animals. Activities while reading the book e beautiful (k) caught CHAPTERS 1–6 f He/She works with horses. (I) harness Chapters 1 & 2 g In a short time. (m) fell 3 a Black Beauty’s mother. She is teaching 1 (a) (v) (n) hurt her son. She wants farmers to be kind to (b) (iv) 2 Open answers him. (c) (ii) CHAPTERS 13–18 b Mr Gordon is talking about Black Beauty. (d) (i) c Merrylegs is talking about Ginger. Ginger (e) (iii) Chapters 13 & 14 is an angry horse. She was very 2 Possible answers 1 (a) (iv) unhappy. not to move when a man puts a harness on (b) (vi) d John Manly is talking about James. him or a bit in his mouth (c) (i) 4–5 Open answers. to have a saddle on his back and to carry a (d) (iii) 6 a Who... A hotel groom. man, woman or child on his back (e) (ii) b Why ... Because James talks quietly to to walk, go a little faster, or go very fast (f) (v) him and puts a coat over his eyes. to walk with shoes on his feet 2 Open answer to go in carriage harness to pull a carriage c Who... Doctor White Chapters 15 &16 d Why ... Because he is very tired and hot. 3 Always be good, Always work hard and do 1 (a) horses, carriages, carts, people Then Joe gives him cold water and does your best. (b) Harry was Jerry Barker’s son. Harry not put anything over him. Chapters 3 & 4 groomed Black Beauty well. e What ... He wants to open a school for 1 (a) Farmer Grey. (c) Jack. young horses. (b) Merrylegs. (d) Black Beauty worked six days and eight f What ... It pulls a horse’s head up. (c) Jessie and Flora. hours each day. 7–8 Open answers. (d) John Manly. (e) He put the harness on slowly so it didn’t 9 a A horse. (e) Mr Gordon. hurt; he never whipped Black Beauty; he b A taxi-driver. (f) Mrs Gordon. didn’t put a bearing rein on Black Beauty; c They feel happy – or ill. 2 Open answers there was always good food, clean water 10 a Reuben Smith. Chapters 5 & 6 and a clean stable. b Reuben Smith c Black Beauty (a) The stable boy’s name was James Howard. Chapters 17 & 18 d His wife Polly, his son Harry and his (b) Ginger and Black Beauty went fast when the (a)... he was ill in the winter every year. daughter Dolly. driver wanted them to go fast. (b) ... she wanted Polly to work for her. e Ginger (c) On Sunday the horses stayed in a field all (c) ... he wanted Black Beauty to have a better f Mr Thoroughgood, a farmer. day. home. g The white star. (d) Sir Clifford wants to find a good young (d) ... young horses sometimes go too fast or 11–15 Open answers. groom. run away. (e) There was a strong wind when Mr Gordon (e) ... he had a white star, a white foot and white went to the city. on his back. (f) There wasn’t an accident because Black Answers to Factsheet activities Beauty didn’t cross the bridge. Activities after reading the book ■ Communicative activities CHAPTERS 7–12 Open answers Activities before reading the book Chapters 7 & 8 Open answers 1 (a) 8 (b)1 (c) 5 (d) 7 (e) 2 (f) 4 (g) 6 (h) 3 Activities after reading a section 2 Open answers Open answers Chapters 9 & 10 Activities after reading the book 1 (a) John to Black Beauty (b) Mr Gordon to John Open answers (c) Mr Gordon to Black Beauty (d) John to Black Beauty ■ Student’s activities (e) John to Dr White Activities before reading the book (f) John to the other men 1 Open answers 2 Open answer 2 (a) 1820. Chapters 11 & 12 ■ © Pearson Education 2001