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1And now having got so far, my master went on to break me to harness; there were more new things to wear. First, a stiff
2heavy collar just on my neck, and a bridle with great side-pieces against my eyes called blinkers, and blinkers indeed
3they were, for I could not see on either side, but only straight in front of me; next, there was a small saddle with a
4nasty stiff strap that went right under my tail; that was the crupper. I hated the crupper; to have my long tail doubled
5up and poked through that strap was almost as bad as the bit. I never felt more like kicking, but of course I could not
6kick such a good master, and so in time I got used to everything, and could do my work as well as my mother. I must not
7forget to mention one part of my training, which I have always considered a very great advantage. My master sent me for
8a fortnight to a neighboring farmer's, who had a meadow which was skirted on one side by the railway. Here were some
9sheep and cows, and I was turned in among them. I shall never forget the first train that ran by. I was feeding quietly
10near the pales which separated the meadow from the railway, when I heard a strange sound at a distance, and before I
11knew whence it came--with a rush and a clatter, and a puffing out of smoke--a long black train of something flew by, and
12was gone almost before I could draw my breath. I turned and galloped to the further side of the meadow as fast as I
13could go, and there I stood snorting with astonishment and fear. In the course of the day many other trains went by,
14some more slowly; these drew up at the station close by, and sometimes made an awful shriek and groan before they
15stopped. I thought it very dreadful, but the cows went on eating very quietly, and hardly raised their heads as the
16black frightful thing came puffing and grinding past. For the first few days I could not feed in peace; but as I found
17that this terrible creature never came into the field, or did me any harm, I began to disregard it, and very soon I
18cared as little about the passing of a train as the cows and sheep did. Since then I have seen many horses much alarmed
19and restive at the sight or sound of a steam engine; but thanks to my good master's care, I am as fearless at railway
20stations as in my own stable. Now if any one wants to break in a young horse well, that is the way. My master often
21drove me in double harness with my mother, because she was steady and could teach me how to go better than a strange
22horse. She told me the better I behaved the better I should be treated, and that it was wisest always to do my best to
23please my master; "but," said she, "there are a great many kinds of men; there are good thoughtful men like our master,
24that any horse may be proud to serve; and there are bad, cruel men, who never ought to have a horse or dog to call their
25own. Besides, there are a great many foolish men, vain, ignorant, and careless, who never trouble themselves to think;
26these spoil more horses than all, just for want of sense; they don't mean it, but they do it for all that. I hope you
27will fall into good hands; but a horse never knows who may buy him, or who may drive him; it is all a chance for us; but
28still I say, do your best wherever it is, and keep up your good name." 04 Birtwick Park At this time I used to stand in
29the stable and my coat was brushed every day till it shone like a rook's wing. It was early in May, when there came a
30man from Squire Gordon's, who took me away to the hall. My master said, "Good-by, Darkie; be a good horse, and always do
31your best." I could not say "good-by", so I put my nose into his hand; he patted me kindly, and I left my first home. As
32I lived some years with Squire Gordon, I may as well tell something about the place. Squire Gordon's park skirted the
33village of Birtwick. It was entered by a large iron gate, at which stood the first lodge, and then you trotted along on
34a smooth road between clumps of large old trees; then another lodge and another gate, which brought you to the house and
35the gardens. Beyond this lay the home paddock, the old orchard, and the stables. There was accommodation for many horses
36and carriages; but I need only describe the stable into which I was taken; this was very roomy, with four good stalls; a
37large swinging window opened into the yard, which made it pleasant and airy. The first stall was a large square one,
38shut in behind with a wooden gate; the others were common stalls, good stalls, but not nearly so large; it had a low
39rack for hay and a low manger for corn; it was called a loose box, because the horse that was put into it was not tied
40up, but left loose, to do as he liked. It is a great thing to have a loose box. Into this fine box the groom put me; it
41was clean, sweet, and airy. I never was in a better box than that, and the sides were not so high but that I could see
42all that went on through the iron rails that were at the top. He gave me some very nice oats, he patted me, spoke
43kindly, and then went away. When I had eaten my corn I looked round. In the stall next to mine stood a little fat gray
44pony, with a thick mane and tail, a very pretty head, and a pert little nose. I put my head up to the iron rails at the
45top of my box, and said, "How do you do? What is your name?" He turned round as far as his halter would allow, held up
46his head, and said, "My name is Merrylegs. I am very handsome; I carry the young ladies on my back, and sometimes I take
47our mistress out in the low chair. They think a great deal of me, and so does James. Are you going to live next door to
48me in the box?" I said, "Yes." "Well, then," he said, "I hope you are good-tempered; I do not like any one next door who
49bites." Just then a horse's head looked over from the stall beyond; the ears were laid back, and the eye looked rather
50ill-tempered. This was a tall chestnut mare, with a long handsome neck. She looked across to me and said: "So it is you
51who have turned me out of my box; it is a very strange thing for a colt like you to come and turn a lady out of her own
52home." "I beg your pardon," I said, "I have turned no one out; the man who brought me put me here, and I had nothing to
53do with it; and as to my being a colt, I am turned four years old and am a grown-up horse. I never had words yet with
54horse or mare, and it is my wish to live at peace." "Well," she said, "we shall see. Of course, I do not want to have
55words with a young thing like you." I said no more. In the afternoon, when she went out, Merrylegs told me all about it.
56"The thing is this," said Merrylegs. "Ginger has a bad habit of biting and snapping; that is why they call her Ginger,
57and when she was in the loose box she used to snap very much. One day she bit James in the arm and made it bleed, and so
58Miss Flora and Miss Jessie, who are very fond of me, were afraid to come into the stable. They used to bring me nice
59things to eat, an apple or a carrot, or a piece of bread, but after Ginger stood in that box they dared not come, and I
60missed them very much. I hope they will now come again, if you do not bite or snap." I told him I never bit anything but
61grass, hay, and corn, and could not think what pleasure Ginger found it.
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