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 mead ow was a field and on the other was the house of our master(主人), 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 Gordon. He lived with his family in a big house.
" You' re a beautiful horse, he said." You have a beautiful black 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 ware reins(缆绳) and a bit (马嚼子) in my mouth, 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 and I pulled a coach together. The coachman's name was John Ginger and I worked very hard. We became friends.
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 and his men felt sorry for Ginger. They were always kind to her. She stopped biting and kicking people. She became a happy horse.
One day in autumn Squire Gordon went on a long journey, John went with him and I pulled the coach. The weather was rainy and windy. Mr. Gordon and John could not see well in the rain. We came to a bridgeI 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 the Squire.
" The bridge is broken in the middle, he answered." If you go on to it, you are all going to drown(溺死) in the river."
" Thank God!" said the 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, the Squire told Mrs. Gordon:" We are all safe, thanks to Black Beauty!"
That night I was glad, although I was very tired.
—— from Anna Sewell Black Beauty