My first home was a beautiful meadow (牧场) with a pond of clear water. There were some large trees near the pond. On one side of the meadow was a field and on the other was the house of our master, Farmer Grey. He was a kind man.
My mother and I had a happy life. She worked during the day. I played with the other young horses and had great fun. At night I lay next to her.
One day, my master sold me to Squire (乡绅) Gordon. He lived with his family in a big house.
"You are a beautiful horse," he said. "You have a beautiful coat. I shall call you Black Beauty."
I learned to carry my master on my back and pull a coach (马车). I learned to wear reins (疆绳) and a bit in my mouse. I did not like them, but all the horses had to wear them.
My master had two horses. One of them was Merrylegs. He was very friendly. The other was Ginger. She was not friendly. She bit and kicked people.
Ginger told me about her life when she was young. She told me, "My master was not kind to me. My reins and bit hurt me. My master did not care."
Squire Gordon went on a long journey. John went with him and I pulled the coach (马车). The weather was rainy and windy. Mr. Gordon and John could not see well in the rain. We came to a bridge. I stopped. "Something is wrong." I thought. I did not want to go on to the bridge. Mr. Gordon and John wanted me to go on to the bridge. I did not move. Just then a man saw us. "Hey there! Stop!" he cried.
"What is it?" shouted Squire.
"The bridge is broken in the middle," he answered. "If you go on to it, you are going to drown in the river."
"Thank God!" said Squire. "Thank you, Beauty!" said John. We turned around and went along the road by the river. For a long time no one said anything. Then John said, "Black Beauty saved our lives. He knew the bridge was dangerous."
When we returned home, Squire told Mrs. Gordon:
"We are all safe, thanks to Black Beauty!"
That night, I was glad, though I was very tired.
——Black Beauty
