Free Black Beauty by Anna Sewell

before he got
his eyes open; that's what I think," said John, with a very decided
jerk of his head.
    James laughed at this; but there was a thickness in his voice
when he said, "You have been my best friend except my 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 forget me."
    The next day Joe came to the stables to learn all he could
before James left. He learned to sweep the stable, to bring in the
straw and hay; he began to clean the harness, and helped to wash
the carriage. As he was quite too short to do anything in the way
of grooming Ginger and me, James taught him upon Merrylegs, for he
was to have full charge of him, under John. He was a nice little
bright fellow, and always came whistling to his work.
    Merrylegs was a good deal put out at being "mauled about," as he
said, "by a boy who knew nothing;" but toward the end of the second
week he told me confidentially that he thought the boy would turn
out well.
    At last the day came when James had to leave us; cheerful as he
always was, he looked quite down-hearted that morning.
    "You see," he said to John, "I am leaving a great deal behind;
my mother and Betsy, and you, and a good master and mistress, and
then the horses, and my old Merrylegs. 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, and 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, James, 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 it. 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 mother, and she will be
proud enough that you have got into such a good place as that."
    So John cheered him up, but every one was sorry to lose James;
as for Merrylegs, he pined after him for several days, and went
quite off his appetite. So John took him out several mornings with
a leading rein, when he exercised me, and, trotting and galloping
by my side, got up the little fellow's spirits again, and he was
soon all right.
    Joe's father would often come in and give a little help, as he
understood the work; and Joe took a great deal of pains to learn,
and John was quite encouraged about him.

Chapter 18 Going for the Doctor
    One night, a few days after James had left, I had eaten my hay
and was lying down in my straw fast asleep, when I was suddenly
roused by the stable bell ringing very loud. I heard the door of
John's house open, and his feet running up to the hall. He was back
again in no time; he unlocked the stable door, and came in, calling
out, "Wake up, Beauty! You must go well now, if ever you did;" and
almost before I could think he had got 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 to the hall door. The squire stood
there, with a lamp in his hand.
    "Now, John," he said, "ride for your life—that is, for your
mistress' life; there is not a moment to lose. Give this note to
Dr. White; give your horse a rest at the inn, and be back as soon
as you can."
    John said, "Yes, sir," and was on my back in a minute. The
gardener who lived at the lodge had heard the bell ring, and was
ready with the gate open, and away we went through the park, and
through the village, and down the hill till we came to the
toll-gate. John called very loud and thumped upon the door; the man
was soon out and flung open the gate.
    "Now," said John, "do you keep the gate open for the doctor;
here's the money," and off he went again.
    There was before us a long piece of level road by the river
side; John said to me, "Now, Beauty, do your best," and so I did; I
wanted no whip nor spur, and for two miles I galloped as fast as I
could lay my feet to the ground; I don't believe that my old
grandfather, who won the race at Newmarket, could have gone