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1The rest of our journey was very easy, and a little after sunset we reached the house of my master's friend. We were
2taken into a clean, snug stable; there was a kind coachman, who made us very comfortable, and who seemed to think a good
3deal of James when he heard about the fire. "There is one thing quite clear, young man," he said, "your horses know who
4they can trust; it is one of the hardest things in the world to get horses out of a stable when there is either fire or
5flood. I don't know why they won't come out, but they won't--not one in twenty." We stopped two or three days at this
6place and then returned home. All went well on the journey; we were glad to be in our own stable again, and John was
7equally glad to see us. Before he and James left us for the night James said, "I wonder who is coming in my place."
8"Little Joe Green at the lodge," said John. "Little Joe Green! why, he's a child!" "He is fourteen and a half," said
9John. "But he is such a little chap!" "Yes, he is small, but he is quick and willing, and kind-hearted, too, and then he
10wishes very much to come, and his father would like it; and I know the master would like to give him the chance. He said
11if I thought he would not do he would look out for a bigger boy; but I said I was quite agreeable to try him for six
12weeks." "Six weeks!" said James; "why, it will be six months before he can be of much use! It will make you a deal of
13work, John." "Well," said John with a laugh, "work and I are very good friends; I never was afraid of work yet." "You
14are a very good man," said James. "I wish I may ever be like you." "I don't often speak of myself," said John, "but as
15you are going away from us out into the world to shift for yourself I'll just tell you how I look on these things. I was
16just as old as Joseph when my father and mother died of the fever within ten days of each other, and left me and my
17cripple sister Nelly alone in the world, without a relation that we could look to for help. I was a farmer's boy, not
18earning enough to keep myself, much less both of us, and she must have gone to the workhouse but for our mistress (Nelly
19calls her her angel, and she has good right to do so). She went and hired a room for her with old Widow Mallet, and she
20gave her knitting and needlework when she was able to do it; and when she was ill she sent her dinners and many nice,
21comfortable things, and was like a mother to her. Then the master he took me into the stable under old Norman, the
22coachman that was then. I had my food at the house and my bed in the loft, and a suit of clothes, and three shillings a
23week, so that I could help Nelly. Then there was Norman; he might have turned round and said at his age he could not be
24troubled with a raw boy from the plow-tail, but he was like a father to me, and took no end of pains with me. When the
25old man died some years after I stepped into his place, and now of course I have top wages, and can lay by for a rainy
26day or a sunny day, as it may happen, and Nelly is as happy as a bird. So you see, James, I am not the man that should
27turn up his nose at a little boy and vex a good, kind master. No, no! I shall miss you very much, James, but we shall
28pull through, and there's nothing like doing a kindness when 'tis put in your way, and I am glad I can do it." "Then,"
29said James, "you don't hold with that saying, 'Everybody look after himself, and take care of number one'?" "No,
30indeed," said John, "where should I and Nelly have been if master and mistress and old Norman had only taken care of
31number one? Why, she in the workhouse and I hoeing turnips! Where would Black Beauty and Ginger have been if you had
32only thought of number one? why, roasted to death! No, Jim, no! that is a selfish, heathenish saying, whoever uses it;
33and any man who thinks he has nothing to do but take care of number one, why, it's a pity but what he had been drowned
34like a puppy or a kitten, before he got his eyes open; that's what I think," said John, with a very decided jerk of his
35head. James laughed at this; but there was a thickness in his voice when he said, "You have been my best friend except
36my mother; I hope you won't forget me." "No, lad, no!" said John, "and if ever I can do you a good turn I hope you won't
37forget me." The next day Joe came to the stables to learn all he could before James left. He learned to sweep the
38stable, to bring in the straw and hay; he began to clean the harness, and helped to wash the carriage. As he was quite
39too short to do anything in the way of grooming Ginger and me, James taught him upon Merrylegs, for he was to have full
40charge of him, under John. He was a nice little bright fellow, and always came whistling to his work. Merrylegs was a
41good deal put out at being "mauled about," as he said, "by a boy who knew nothing;" but toward the end of the second
42week he told me confidentially that he thought the boy would turn out well. At last the day came when James had to leave
43us; cheerful as he always was, he looked quite down-hearted that morning. "You see," he said to John, "I am leaving a
44great deal behind; my mother and Betsy, and you, and a good master and mistress, and then the horses, and my old
45Merrylegs. At the new place there will not be a soul that I shall know. If it were not that I shall get a higher place,
46and be able to help my mother better, I don't think I should have made up my mind to it; it is a real pinch, John." "Ay,
47James, lad, so it is; but I should not think much of you if you could leave your home for the first time and not feel
48it. Cheer up, you'll make friends there; and if you get on well, as I am sure you will, it will be a fine thing for your
49mother, and she will be proud enough that you have got into such a good place as that." So John cheered him up, but
50every one was sorry to lose James; as for Merrylegs, he pined after him for several days, and went quite off his
51appetite. So John took him out several mornings with a leading rein, when he exercised me, and, trotting and galloping
52by my side, got up the little fellow's spirits again, and he was soon all right. Joe's father would often come in and
53give a little help, as he understood the work; and Joe took a great deal of pains to learn, and John was quite
54encouraged about him. 18 Going for the Doctor One night, a few days after James had left, I had eaten my hay and was
55lying down in my straw fast asleep, when I was suddenly roused by the stable bell ringing very loud. I heard the door of
56John's house open, and his feet running up to the hall. He was back again in no time; he unlocked the stable door, and
57came in, calling out, "Wake up, Beauty! You must go well now, if ever you did;" and almost before I could think he had
58got the saddle on my back and the bridle on my head. He just ran round for his coat, and then took me at a quick trot up
59to the hall door. The squire stood there, with a lamp in his hand. "Now, John," he said, "ride for your life--that is,
60for your mistress' life; there is not a moment to lose. Give this note to Dr. White; give your horse a rest at the inn,
61and be back as soon as you can."
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