ANNA SEWELL Black Beauty

Adapted by H. Q. Mitchell - Marileni Malkogianni

Black Beauty
Student’s Book
by Anna Sewell adapted by H. Q. Mitchell - Marileni Malkogianni

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ISBN: 978-618-05-0892-5 C1806007032-14804
Introduction

Anna Sewell’s classic story of a kind and well-born horse was the only book she ever wrote, but it became a best-seller and it continues to be a favourite with readers. It has sold more than 50 million copies and has been translated into many languages making it one of the most popular books ever written.

The story of Black Beauty, a beautiful horse who suffered through hard times, was inspired by a horse called Bess that was owned by the author’s brother. Another horse in the book, Merrylegs, was probably based on the character of the pony that pulled the author’s carriage when she was young; Anna had to depend on horses and carriages to move from place to place, as, at the age of 14, she had an accident that destroyed her ankles and left her disabled for life.

Sewell started writing Black Beauty in 1871 at the age of 50, when she was no longer able to leave the house. The book took her almost seven years to write; it was sold for only 20 pounds and published in 1877, just in time for Anna to enjoy before she died five months later.

Contents
  1. Chapter 1............................................................. 4
  2. Chapter 2............................................................. 8
  3. Chapter 3........................................................... 13
  4. Chapter 4........................................................... 18
  5. Chapter 5........................................................... 24
  6. Chapter 6........................................................... 29
  7. Chapter 7........................................................... 34
  8. Chapter 8........................................................... 39
  9. Chapter 9........................................................... 42
  10. Chapter 10.......................................................... 46
  11. Activity Section
  12. Chapter 1........................................................... 52
  13. Chapter 2........................................................... 54
  14. Chapter 3........................................................... 56
  15. Chapter 4........................................................... 58
  16. Chapter 5........................................................... 60
  17. Chapter 6........................................................... 62
  18. Chapter 7........................................................... 64
  19. Chapter 8........................................................... 66
  20. Chapter 9........................................................... 68
  21. Chapter 10.......................................................... 70
chapter 1

My first home was a large farm with a pond in the middle of it. There were tall trees for shade and enough space for me to run around in. I played in a green field with lots of grass. At first, I was too little to eat grass so I drank my mother's milk. Later when I started to eat grass, my mother was able to go to work every day. She pulled a carriage for my master and I played in the field with the other young colts while she was away with him. I had fun as I galloped with the other young horses. We used to run round and round as fast as we could go. Some of the colts liked to kick and bite as they played. One day, my mother saw us and called me to go to her. ‘The young colts that kick and bite are going to be carthorses when they grow up,’ she said. ‘I hope you will be a good horse that has manners like the other horses in our family. You have never seen me kick or bite and I want you to do the same.’ I have never forgotten my mother’s advice. My mother's name was Duchess and she was good and gentle. She loved our master and ran to him whenever she saw him. ‘Hello, Duchess. How is your little Darkie?’ he asked my mother with a smile every time he saw us together. He called me Darkie because I was a dull black colour. As I grew older, my fluffy hair became a shiny coat and, with the white star on my forehead and my one white foot, it made me look very handsome. When I was four years old, Squire Gordon came to the field to look at me. He looked at my mouth and eyes. He felt my legs and then I had to walk, trot and gallop for him. Then Squire Gordon turned to my master and said, ‘I want to buy him!’ ‘I will break him in for you first,’ said my master. I knew what that meant! It isn't easy for a horse to be broken in. A young horse needs to learn how to wear a saddle, how to carry a rider and how to pull a carriage in the way his master wants. I had never carried a rider on my back before so I had a lot to get used to. My master gently put a bridle round my neck and a metal bar that is called a ‘bit’ into my mouth. The bit felt uncomfortable

between my teeth as it pushed my tongue to the back of my mouth, but my master's kind words and nice oats helped me get used to it. Next, my master put a saddle on my back. He gave me more oats and spoke softly to me while he put the saddle on. It didn't feel so bad, and I soon got used to that, too. In the following days, I would look for the oats as my master came with the saddle. One morning, my master got on my back and rode me around the field. I didn't mind at all because it made me feel proud to carry my master on my back. Every day, he would come and ride me a little and I soon got so used to it that I even liked it. Next, I had to get iron shoes from the blacksmith in the village. He cut out some of my hoof and nailed a metal shoe onto each of my hooves. It didn't hurt, but the iron shoes were heavy at first. However, I knew that they were necessary to protect my hooves. After learning so many new things, my master brought me a harness. It was a leather strap with pieces for the side of my eyes called ‘blinkers’. When I wore the harness with the blinkers I was only able to look straight ahead. The harness was heavy and had a strap under my tail that I hated. It made me want to kick but, of course, I could not kick such a good master so I slowly got used to the harness as well. My master sometimes took me for a walk beside my mother because she was a good horse and she could teach me how to walk properly; I soon got used to pulling a carriage with another horse next to me. ‘Work hard so you can be treated well,’ she said to me. ‘Some men are kind and know how to treat a horse, like our master; but other men are bad and cruel, and they are difficult to work for. And there are also foolish men; they don't know how to take care of a horse and they can be very dangerous… they can destroy a horse without knowing it! You never know who might buy you, but you must always try your best and keep your good name!’

chapter 2

Squire Gordon and his family lived at Birtwick Park. His groom led me past a large iron gate and we went down a long road with tall trees on both sides. The house was surrounded by lovely gardens filled with pretty flowers. We went past the apple trees and the pens until we arrived at the stables. Once we were there, the groom jumped off my back, took off my saddle and bridle and led me inside the stables. Squire Gordon kept many horses and carriages in beautiful stalls that were large and clean. The groom led me to the first stall; it was very large and there was lots of room for me to move around freely. He did not tie me up and I liked it very much. He brushed my coat and then gave me some fresh water to drink and nice oats. He patted me and said kind words before he went away to continue his work. I ate my nice oats and then I looked around. In the stall next to mine there was a fat, grey pony with a thick mane and tail and a pretty head. ‘How do you do?’ I said. ‘What's your name?’ ‘My name is Merrylegs,’ he said. ‘I am very handsome as you can see! The children ride me, and Miss Jessie and Miss Flora love me very much. I'm their favourite! Are you going to live next door to me?’ ‘Yes; I think so,’ I said. ‘I hope you have good manners,’ he said. ‘I don't like horses that bite!’ Just then, I heard a neigh. It came from a tall reddish-brown mare near Merrylegs. She was very pretty but seemed angry. ‘It isn't good manners to take the stall of another horse,’ she said as she looked at me over the stall. ‘I'm sorry,’ I said. ‘Is this your stall?’ ‘Yes, it is,’ she said. ‘They moved me so that you could take it!’ ‘I'm sorry, but I didn't ask anyone to do that; the groom put me here,’ I said. In the afternoon, when she went out, Merrylegs told me about

her. ‘The thing is that Ginger has a bad habit. She bites people,’ he said. ‘She bit James, the stable boy, on the arm and now the children are afraid to come to the stables. They used to bring me nice apples and carrots to eat. I miss them!’ ‘Why does she bite people?’ I asked. ‘Ginger's old master was unkind to her, and that's why she bites,’ said Merrylegs. ‘But everyone here is very kind. There is no reason to bite! Squire Gordon doesn't use whips; John Manly is an excellent groom and James the stable boy is very kind too! Ginger has no reason to bite.’ The next day I met the groom, John Manly, again. He brushed my coat and made me look very handsome. He put a saddle and bridle on my back and took me for a ride. He was a very good and careful rider, and I enjoyed galloping with him. As we were returning to the stables, we met the Squire and Mrs Gordon, who were walking together. John pulled the reins and we stopped. ‘Well, John, how is he?’ asked the squire. ‘He is a good horse, Squire! He is fast, obedient and gentle, too,’ said John. ‘He isn't scared of sudden noises and he is careful and quiet. From what it seems, they taught him well and treated him with kindness.’ ‘Very well,’ said Squire Gordon. ‘I'll ride him tomorrow.’ The next day Squire Gordon rode me just as he promised. I remembered my mother's important advice and tried hard to please my new master. He was a good rider and thoughtful about me, too. When we got home, Mrs Gordon was waiting for us. ‘What is he like, dear? Did you enjoy your ride?’ she asked. ‘He’s exactly as John says,’ said Squire Gordon. ‘I couldn't hope for a better horse.’ ‘What shall we call him?’ he asked. Mrs Gordon looked at me. ‘Well, he is really very handsome,’ she said. ‘Let's call him Beauty. And look at his shiny black colour. Why don't we call him Black Beauty?’ ‘Yes, that's a very good name,’ he said. A few days later, I had to pull the large carriage with Ginger. I was worried about how we would work together, but I was surprised to

find that she was a hard worker. We both trotted well and it was easy for us to pull the carriage together. We soon became great friends. She told me all about her difficult past and the years she spent at the hands of cruel people. It was no wonder that she was angry all the time. But with the passing of time Ginger stopped biting. She was becoming kinder. The master said that it was ‘Birtwick kindness’. There was no reason for her to bite or show bad manners because she was treated with kindness. I guess old Merrylegs is right when he says, ‘Good places make good horses’.

chapter 3

One Autumn Day, John Manly tied me to the small carriage. Squire Gordon came out of the house and John helped him to his seat so that we could take him into town for business. I usually enjoyed pulling the small carriage but on that day it wasn't much fun; the ground was muddy and the wind had blown leaves in front of us, making it even more difficult to walk. It began to rain again as we came to a little wooden bridge. The river was almost at the height of the bridge. ‘Be careful,’ said a man at the bridge. ‘The weather is getting worse and the water in the river is rising very quickly.’ ‘I'll try and finish my business quickly,’ said Squire Gordon as we arrived in the town. He left us outside an office as he went inside to do his business. We waited in the rain and cold wind. ‘I'm sorry my business took me so long, John,’ he said when he finally came outside. ‘Come on, Beauty; let's go home as fast as we can.’ The weather was worse now. In the woods it was scary because the wind blew around big tree branches. The sound was terrifying. ‘We must get out of these woods fast,’ said Squire Gordon. ‘Yes, sir,’ said John. ‘These branches seem very dangerous!’ Just then, we heard a crack and a crashing sound as one of the trees fell right in front of us. I stood still, even though I was frightened because I knew that I should not run away. ‘That was close!’ said Squire Gordon. ‘What should we do now?’ ‘Well, sir, we can’t go over the tree and we can’t go round it; we must go back and try crossing the bridge again,’ said John. ‘We will be late, but it is the only thing we can do.’ Once we got to the bridge we saw that the water had reached the height of the bridge. ‘Come on Beauty,’ said John. ‘Let's cross over fast!’ As soon as my hoof touched the first part of the bridge, I knew that something was wrong. I stood still. John touched me with the whip but I still refused to move.

‘Go on, Beauty,’ said Squire Gordon. John got off the cart and tried to pull me, but again I did not move. ‘Come on, Beauty. What’s the matter?’ he asked. Just then, a man ran to us. ‘Stop! Stop!’ he called, jumping up and down. ‘That bridge is broken in the middle. If you cross it, you'll fall in the river!’ Both Squire Gordon and John turned the cart around and we continued on our way back home along another road which meant the journey was much longer, but safer. For a while, nobody spoke as I trotted quietly in the dark. All we could hear were the wheels of the cart sliding on the soft road. After a while, Squire Gordon spoke. ‘People are smart, John. They can learn how things work, and make things,’ he said. ‘But animals are more clever! They can feel things and understand them in ways that can save people's lives.’ When we got home, Mrs Gordon ran to the gates of Birtwick Park immediately. ‘My dear, I was so worried,’ she said. ‘Why are you late? Did you have an accident?’

‘No, my dear,’ said Mr Gordon. ‘We are safe. Black Beauty saved our lives.’ John led me to the stables; he dried me, gave me a wonderful dinner and made my bed of straw thick and comfortable. I was so tired that I fell asleep instantly. Another time, James Howard, Ginger and I took Squire Gordon and Mrs Gordon on a long journey to visit some friends. Squire Gordon wanted to test James so that he could become the new groom at Clifford Hall, so he didn’t ask John to drive him that day. ‘Sir Clifford is a good master, and it is a great opportunity for James to work as a groom,’ said Squire Gordon to John before we left. ‘I'm sure he can do the job,’ said John. ‘He is the best stable boy I know.’ Ginger and I found that James was a great carriage driver. He made sure that we kept our hooves on the smooth part of the road so that we would be comfortable. When we went uphill, he moved the carriage to the side so it was easier for us, and when we went

downhill, he never forgot to put on the brake. James knew that these little things helped us save our energy and we were very thankful to him. On the first day of the journey we travelled a great distance but it was getting dark so we had to stay at a hotel. James took us to the stables and made sure we were comfortable for the night. Later, another young stable boy brought in a horse. He had a pipe in his mouth and talked to the other stable boys for a while. The next thing I can remember was a burning smell that woke me up. It was dark and the stable was full of thick smoke. I could hardly breathe. I heard Ginger coughing and the other horses stamping their hooves uneasily. As I looked up, I saw flames. ‘Fire!’ I heard a man shouting as he came into the stables. He ran around untying the horses and then he pulled one horse with a rope. The horse did not move. He tried to pull out another horse but it didn’t move either. He came to me, but I was so frightened that I could not follow him. An older man came in. He was calm and this made us feel more relaxed so he was able to pull three horses out of the stables. Then I heard a voice I knew. ‘Come on, Beauty,’ said James and covered my eyes with a scarf. This made me feel more comfortable because I couldn't see the flames. He patted me and talked quietly to me as we walked out of the burning stables. James gave the rope to a man outside and ran back in to get Ginger. Suddenly I heard Squire Gordon's voice. ‘James Howard! James Howard! Are you there?’ he called. A long time passed before James came out of the burning stables with Ginger. ‘You brave boy! James, you saved my best horses! Are you OK?’ said Squire Gordon. James couldn't talk and he just nodded his head. The next day everybody was talking about the fire. ‘How did the fire start?’ asked a man, and another answered. ‘One of the stable boys went into the stables with a pipe in his mouth.’ ‘John Manly always says that pipes are not allowed in the stables,’ said James. Everyone agreed that this was a wise rule.

Chapter 4

Little Joe Green took James' place as the new stable boy at Birtwick Park. He was only fourteen years old but was a very quick learner. He loved horses and tried hard to learn about us. Even so, he nearly killed me one night. It was dark outside when John rode me as fast as he could to Doctor White's house because our mistress was very sick. ‘Can I ride your horse?’ asked Doctor White. ‘Mine is tired and slow.’ ‘Black Beauty is tired too,’ said John. ‘But you won't find a faster and more willing horse.’ Doctor White was a heavy man and not a good rider. Still, I ran as fast as I could because I knew that Mrs Gordon needed the doctor as quickly as possible. When we came to Birtwick Park, Joe was waiting at the gate. The doctor jumped off and rushed to my mistress. My legs were shaking and I was sweating. Joe took me to the stables. ‘Let me give you a rub,’ he said and rubbed my legs and chest. Then he gave me some fresh hay and cold water. ‘You're so hot. I won't put a rug on you tonight,’ he said and left.

A little while later, I felt very cold without a rug on my back so I lay down and tried to sleep on the hay. In the morning I was very ill and couldn't stand up. ‘You silly boy!’ said John. You gave Beauty cold water and didn't put a rug on his back, even though he was sweating.’ Joe felt very bad and he tried hard to make me well again. With warm food, medicine and lots of love I soon got better. Unfortunately, Mrs Gordon's health was getting worse. One morning, Merrylegs came to the stables with some sad news after a ride with the children. ‘Mrs Gordon is very ill again,’ he said. ‘The doctor says she should move to a warmer country. Squire Gordon is going to sell all the horses and they are going to leave.’ Not long after that, Merrylegs went to live with a friend of Squire Gordon, and Ginger and I were sold to Lord Westerly of Earlshall Park. John took us to our new home. It was larger than Birtwick but not as pleasant as our old home. Mr York, the coachman, led us to the stables and put us together with the other horses. We each had a stall and the stables were nice and clean. Mr York rubbed us down and fed us. ‘Tell me about these horses, John,’ said Mr York. ‘Well, they are the best horses in the land, but they are different in character,’ said John. ‘The black one is calm, gentle and will do anything you ask. The brown one is quite stubborn. I think she was treated badly when she was younger. She was happy at Birtwick Park and learnt to work well with us. We treat our horses with kindness, you see, and we never use bearing reins.’ ‘Well, they must both wear a bearing rein now,’ said Mr York. ‘Fashion is very important to Lady Westerly. She wants the horses to look good and hold their heads up high with a bearing rein.’ John shook his head and said nothing, but I could see that he wasn’t happy. The next morning, we were tied to Lady Westerly's carriage. Mr York used a bearing rein but he did not put it on too tight. When Lady Westerly came to the carriage she did not look very happy. ‘Those horses!’ she said. ‘They are different colours! And why is the bearing rein not tight?’ ‘This is the first time with a bearing rein for them,’ said Mr York.

‘They must get used to it.’ Lady Westerly said nothing but she looked angry. The bearing rein hurt my neck as it kept my head held up high and didn't let me stretch. When we went uphill, we couldn’t put our head down and the strain on our neck and legs was awful. It was difficult for both Ginger and I but we tried to do a good job. The next day, Mr York pulled the bearing rein even tighter. ‘They are cruel!’ said Ginger. ‘They will be sorry if they make the bearing rein any tighter!’ Lady Westerly came to see us the next day. ‘Their heads must be higher. I want you to make the bearing reign tighter! Do it at once!’ she said. Mr York pulled my bearing rein so much that it hurt me. It was very painful but I stood still. When they tried to do the same to Ginger she jumped up, kicked her legs and then she kicked over the carriage and fell down. York and two grooms jumped on her to hold her still. They untied us from the carriage, and took us back to the stables. ‘Why do some people insist on using bearing reins when they do more harm than good?’ whispered Mr York under his breath as he walked us to the stables. Ginger never pulled Lady Westerly's carriage again. Instead, they brought a new horse to work with me. Together, Max and I pulled Lady Westerly's carriage with the bearing reins. It was very difficult and painful, but Max and I accepted it quietly. Ginger became Lord George's horse. He was a bad rider and careless with his horse. ‘It's better than wearing a bearing rein,’ said Ginger. At some point, Mr York went to London for some work. While he was away, Reuben Smith looked after the stables. Reuben was a good man and careful with the horses, but every now and then he would spend time with some friends at the inn and change his behaviour. One day Lord Westerly asked Reuben to take the carriage to town to be painted. I had a loose shoe and the carriage maker noticed it too. ‘I'll take Beauty to the blacksmith later,’ said Reuben. ‘Just take care of him for me while I go to see some friends. I won’t be long.’ He came back to pick me up very late at night. He jumped on my

back and began to ride me as fast as he could. My shoe was so loose, but I ran even though it hurt. Reuben whipped me to go faster. We rode on rough ground covered in stones and my shoe came off. My hoof was cut and I was in pain, but Reuben kept whipping me to go faster. I tripped and we both fell to the ground. For a while I could heard Reuben breathing, then there was silence. In the morning, some people found us. ‘It’s Reuben,’ said one of them. ‘He isn't moving!’ ‘He is dead,’ said someone else. I was shocked to hear that, but the pain made me think of myself more. The men carried Reuben’s body away and took me home. ‘Poor horse,’ they said. ‘His knees are ruined.’ It took a long time for my hoof and legs to get better. My owner decided that I should get some rest in the fields. There, I saw Ginger. ‘What are you doing here?’ I asked. ‘Lord George is a very bad rider,’ she said. ‘He rode so hard that he ruined my back and they brought me to the field for some rest!’ Ginger and I enjoyed lying in the fields and eating sweet grass all day. ‘Look at us!’ she said one day. ‘We are both ruined! You have been destroyed by a careless man and I by a fool.’ She was right. It was very hard, but there was nothing we could do. One day, Lord Westerly came to see us. ‘My friend Squire Gordon thought these two healthy horses would find a good home here, but instead they are ruined,’ he said to Mr York. ‘The brown one may be healthy again after a year, but the black one will be sold. I can't have knees like that in my stables.’

Chapter 5

Mr York found me a new home far away. ‘Goodbye,’ said Ginger as Mr York led me away to my new life as a job horse at a livery stable. My new stall was comfortable and clean, and I was happy because I had all I needed. The food was good and the people of the livery stables took good care of me. A job horse is a horse that people can rent. Each rider treated me in a different way; some of them liked to hold my reins tight and pulled so hard at my mouth that it hurt. Other riders did the opposite and left the reins too loose. Other riders had never owned an animal of their own and treated the horse they rented like machines. They would whip me because they thought that I could go as fast as a train, even if the roads were muddy or we were going uphill. My favourite riders were the experienced ones because they made sure that I was on the smooth parts of the road. They were careful and encouraged me to do my best. At the livery stables there were many different horses and each had a story to tell. I was often put to work with a mare named Peggy. She wasn't from a good family as I was, but she was sweet and tried very hard to keep up with me when we pulled the carriage. ‘I notice that you trot and then jump. Why do you do that?’ I asked her one day. ‘Well, you see, my legs are short; not long like yours,’ she said. ‘Men want to go fast and when one horse can't keep up with the others the riders whip, whip, whip all the time… but I can't stand the whip so I try to do my best to keep up with you, even if it's difficult.’ The ladies liked Peggy because she was so gentle and kind. One day, two ladies bought her because they wanted a good, safe horse and I was very happy for her. Not long after Peggy left, two gentlemen came to the stables. The taller of the two looked at me carefully. ‘Why is he wearing a bearing rein?’ he asked. ‘We find that people like it,’ said the stable boy. ‘I don't like it,’ said the gentleman. ‘Please take it off; a horse

that feels comfortable is easier to ride on a long journey, isn't it, my friend?’ he said and patted my back. He was a careful rider and reminded me of John Manly and this made me happy. The gentleman came back to the stables several times and always asked for me to be his horse. At the end of summer, the gentleman convinced the master of the livery stables to sell me to a friend of his. And so I was sold to Mr Barry. Mr Barry didn't know much about horses but he was a kind man and gave me a good place to live. His groom, Filcher, looked after me well and at first I was comfortable. But one day, Filcher stopped giving me the good oats that Mr Barry was paying for and instead, he put bran in my food. He did the same thing the next day and the next. This went on for about two months during which time I began to feel weaker and weaker. One day, Mr Barry visited an old farmer friend of his. ‘What's wrong with your horse?’ asked the man when he saw me. ‘His skin isn't as shiny as it was, and he looks skinny.’ ‘I don't know,’ said Mr Barry. ‘I give him the best oats!’ ‘Are you sure?’ asked the farmer, and that made Mr Barry very suspicious. He decided to hide and see what Mr Filcher was feeding me. When he realised that he had been tricked, he was very angry. A few days later, a new groom came, Alfred Smirk. But he was not much better. Smirk was lazy and didn't do much work; he preferred to look in the mirror all day and comb his hair instead of cleaning the stables. My hooves began to hurt from all the dirt and I stumbled all the time. ‘Alfred, these stables are smelly,’ said Mr Barry one day. ‘Do something about it, please.’ ‘Well, sir, I clean them all the time, but there may be something wrong with the drains,’ said Mr Smirk. Workers came to fix the drains, but of course they found nothing wrong. Then one morning as we were going to the city, I almost fell twice. My master took me to the vet to have a look at me. When he

examined my legs and hooves, he found them in bad shape. He gave orders to keep the floor of the stables very clean, to give me special food and take me out for exercise every day. He also told Mr Barry that his groom was not doing a good job. My hooves were soon well again and I felt strong, but my life was about to change once more; Mr Barry decided to sell me because he didn't want to be tricked by others anymore.

Chapter 6

My new owner, Jerry Barker, a cab driver, bought me at a horse fair. Many buyers came to look at me but most of them turned away as soon as they saw my knees. Jerry was different. ‘You're a gentle horse, aren't you?’ he whispered to me. ‘Well, I don't think that your injured knees were really your fault.’ He did not look like a rich man but I could tell that he knew about horses. I, in turn, especially liked him because he looked cheerful and kind, and he smelt nice and clean. However, when the salesman asked him for twenty-three pounds, Jerry said that it was very expensive. A while later, another man came and examined me. He looked hard and strict and I did not like him at all. He told the salesman that he would pay twenty-three pounds. Jerry was passing by at that very moment. I turned my head to him, and he looked at me and smiled. ‘OK, you,’ he said. ‘I'll give you twenty-four. Not a pound more.’ And that's how I became his horse. He took me home to meet his lovely wife, Polly. She was a very

nice woman with dark hair, dark eyes and a big smile on her face. He had a son called Harry who was twelve years old, and he also had a daughter. Dolly was eight and looked just like her mother. Dolly gave me an apple and we became friends. ‘What shall we call the new horse?’ she asked. ‘Let's call him Jack, like our old horse,’ said Jerry. ‘Yes, it's good to keep a good name,’ said Polly. At the stables there was another horse called Captain. He pulled Jerry's cab in the morning and I pulled it in the afternoon. And we were very lucky because we did not have to wear a bearing rein! On my first afternoon, Jerry tied me to the front of the carriage and took me to the cab stand. We stood at the end of the line and waited for customers. In front of us were the other drivers; some of them laughed at me because they thought I looked too good for a cab horse. Others said that Jerry was silly to buy a horse with knees like mine. ‘He's very black,’ said another man. ‘That's not very cheerful!’ The oldest driver was Grant, but the other drivers called him Governor. They all respected him very much. He looked at me very carefully. ‘He's a fine horse, Jerry!’ he said. ‘I don't care what you paid for him. I can tell he'll be worth it!’ ‘I think so too!’ said Jerry. He was very proud of me and took great care of both me and Captain. Jerry and Harry brushed us every day, gave us good food and made sure we were comfortable in the stables. Jerry was as good a driver as John Manly. He never used his whip on me and never made me work too much. He made sure that I went at just the right pace and never made me rush for extra money. One day, two young men ran to Jerry. ‘Cabbie! Cabbie! We're late!’ one of them said. ‘We must be at the station before five. Whip your horse to make him go faster and we'll give you an extra shilling.’ ‘I will gladly take you to the station,’ said Jerry. ‘But I will not whip my horse. It is cruel!’ Another cab driver, Larry, heard the young men. ‘I will take you to the station quickly for an extra shilling,’ he said. The men hopped into his cab and Larry sped off, whipping his horse. ‘You'll never be a rich man, Jerry,’ called out Larry as he drove off. ‘Probably not,’ said Jerry, but Larry had already disappeared. Another day we were waiting at the cab stand when a man with

a large suitcase slipped on the road. Jerry helped the man and took him into a shop so some people could look after him. Ten minutes later, the man came to Jerry. ‘Can you help me? I am in a hurry to get to the South-Eastern Railway station,’ he said. ‘My accident has made me late and I really need to get to the station in ten minutes; it is very important. I'll pay you twice as much!’ Jerry felt sorry for the man and really wanted to help him. I ran as fast as I could and the man didn't miss his train, but Jerry didn't want the extra money. ‘Jack looked like a race horse,’ said the other cab drivers when we went back to the cab stand. ‘We thought you didn't like speeding for extra money.’ ‘I didn't get any extra money,’ said Jerry. ‘You'll never be a rich man,’ said Larry again. ‘I don't know if he'll ever be rich,’ said Governor Grant. ‘He deserves to be rich, though!’ Jerry didn't rush, but most customers preferred to use his cab because he was gentle and responsible. One day a gentleman knocked on our door. ‘Mrs Briggs would like you to drive her to her daughter's house every Sunday,’ said the gentleman. ‘I'm sorry,’ said Jerry. ‘I only work six days a week; I want to spend some time with my family.’ The customer left shaking his head. The next Sunday, Polly walked into the stables. ‘Poor Dinah Brown's mother is very sick. She must go to her quickly!’ she said. ‘Will you be able to take her?’ ‘Of course I will,’ said Jerry. ‘It is Sunday today, but this is a different thing!’ We rode all day but it was a lovely ride in the country and Jerry stopped on the way back to pick some flowers for Polly. When we came home at night, Polly was waiting at the door. ‘Oh Jerry, you must be so tired!’ she said. Jerry smiled and gave her the flowers. ‘Well, Polly, I didn't lose my Sunday, you know; the birds were singing and Jack enjoyed his day,’ he said. ‘We had a lovely time.’

Chapter 7

Jerry knew that the more he took care of me, the better I would work. So, he covered me with rugs while we waited for customers in the cold, and always made sure that Captain and I had good food and plenty of rest. Other drivers whipped the poor animals so that they could go faster in order to get more money out of them. One day, a cab driver called Seedy Sam came to the cab stand. Both he and his horse looked very cold and tired. ‘Look at your poor horse. He looks so tired!’ shouted Governor Grant. ‘Don't you care about him at all?’ ‘I pay eighteen shillings a day to rent the cab and the horse,’ said Seedy Sam. ‘I have to earn that money and try to make some money for myself. I need to work very hard to pay Skinner, the owner of the horse, before I can make any money to feed my children. I have to work fourteen hours a day. You have your own horse, Grant, so it is easier for you than it is for me.’ I couldn't hear the rest of the conversation because a customer wanted us to drive him home. But the man was right. A cab driver's job wasn't easy and it was even more difficult if he didn't have his own horse. One day, a dirty old cab stopped beside ours. An old, tired horse with a red coat was pulling the cab. She looked very sick and tired, but also familiar. When she looked at me, her eyes shone with surprise. ‘Black Beauty? Is it really you?’ she asked. It was Ginger! Her beautiful neck was now hanging down; her legs were bent from all the hard work, her coat wasn't shiny anymore and her eyes were dull and full of pain. ‘What happened to you?’ I asked. ‘People bought and sold me many times,’ she said. ‘Each owner was worse than the one before. They all wanted to make as much money from me as they could. They whipped me and mistreated me and didn't care when I suffered.’ ‘I don't remember you letting people treat you badly,’ I said. ‘Why didn't you teach them a lesson?’ ‘I did once,’ she said. ‘But men are stronger and very cruel. There

is nothing we can do when they make us suffer. All I want now is for my life to end.’ Just as she left, she said, ‘You are the only friend I ever had.’ I was sad to see her leave. A few days later a wagon passed by carrying a dead horse with a red coat that looked like Ginger. ‘If it is her,’ I thought, ‘I am happy her pain is over.’ One cold afternoon, two men asked us to take them to a party in a large, beautiful house. ‘Wait here,’ they said and went in. It was very cold and windy that day and after a while it began to snow. Jerry put a rug over me and he walked around to keep himself warm. After midnight the men were still in the house. Jerry knocked on the door and a servant told him to wait some more. Finally, hours later, the men came out of the house. When we went home, Jerry was ill and could hardly speak. He could not stop coughing. In the morning, Harry came to the stables to feed us. He was very quiet that morning and didn't say a word to us. I knew that something was wrong, because we did not go to work that day even though it was Wednesday. In the afternoon, Harry and Dolly came to the stables to clean and feed us. ‘Do you think father will die, Harry?’ asked Dolly. ‘I don't know, Dolly,’ said the boy quietly. ‘The doctor said that we will know tonight or tomorrow.’ Three days later, the doctor told Jerry that he was out of danger but he should not work as a cab driver anymore. Then, one morning, Dolly came to the stables with news. ‘Harry, mother received a letter from Mrs Fowler, her old mistress. Her coachman is leaving,’ she said. ‘It's the perfect job for father, Harry! We're all going to live in the country! They've got a good school for me there, and you can work as a stable boy!’ I was happy that Jerry was feeling better, but I was very sad because I loved the family very much; now they would have to sell me. And so it was. The day came for going away and the family came to see me and say goodbye. ‘Poor Jack,’ said Polly and kissed me. ‘I'm sorry we can't take you with us!’ Little Dolly was crying and kissed me too. Harry and Jerry said nothing; they only looked very sad.

Chapter 8

Jerry found me a new home with a baker. He hoped that I would have good food and kindness, but my master was always away on business and left Jakes, his assistant, in charge of me. Jakes wanted to do everything quickly. He tried to save time by filling the cart as much as he could. He didn't care that it was very difficult and dangerous for me. One hot day, I had to pull a very heavy cart up a hill. The road was rough and Jakes had put the bearing rein on me. I tried hard to do my best but the cart wouldn't move. The bearing rein kept my head high so I couldn't use my neck to pull and the bit in my mouth hurt a lot. ‘Go on, you lazy horse!’ said Jakes and whipped me. ‘Stop! Don't whip your horse anymore,’ said a young lady who was watching the scene. ‘Can't you see that he is doing his best?’ The young lady came close to me and patted me gently. ‘The cart is very heavy,’ she said. ‘Give him a chance! Why don't you take off his bearing rein? I'm sure that would help.’ Jakes laughed. ‘I'll do it to please you,’ he said. ‘But I don't think it will help.’ Without the bearing rein it was easier for me to put my head down and pull. ‘You're such a good horse,’ said the young lady. ‘I know you can pull this cart.’ I put my head down and, without the bearing rein, pulled the heavy cart up the hill. ‘See!’ said the young lady. ‘I knew he could do it! Why don't you get rid of the bearing rein? It will make his life easier.’ Jakes thought for a moment. ‘Next time he has to pull the cart up a hill, I'll take off the bearing rein,’ he said. ‘But people will laugh at me if I don't use it. You see, Miss, it is the fashion!’ ‘I don't think it is a good idea to follow a bad fashion,’ said the young lady. After that, Jakes stopped using the bearing rein and that was a good thing; but the carts were still very heavy. All the hard work and bad food damaged my health. The baker saw that I could not pull his heavy carts anymore so he sold me.

My new master was called Skinner. He was tall with dark eyes and a crooked nose. He owned many horses that he rented to cab drivers. We worked hard without rest because Skinner was cruel to the drivers and the drivers were cruel to the horses. My life as a cab horse with Skinner was different to what it had been when I lived with Jerry. I was very unhappy. Nobody cared about me anymore and I lost all hope of a better life. And there were times I even wished that I was dead. One day, the cab driver picked up a family at the railway station. As the father told the driver where to load their bags, his little girl came and patted me. ‘Look, Father,’ she said. ‘This poor horse is so weak and exhausted. He can't pull all our bags. Can't we take two cabs?’ ‘It's all right,’ said the cab driver. ‘Blackie's a strong horse.’ The father ignored the little girl's advice. ‘Let the man do his job, Grace!’ he said and they got inside the cab. I tried hard to pull the cab, but it was too heavy. My hooves slipped and there was a loud crash as I fell to the ground. I could not move. I lay still with my eyes closed.

‘Oh, no, Father!’ said the little girl. ‘The poor horse! It's our fault!’ People ran to help. The cab driver took off the bearing rein. Someone else threw water on me. ‘I think he's dead!’ said another cab driver. I don't know how long I was on the ground. With a little bit of help, after a while, I was able to stand up and go to the stables. ‘This horse is exhausted,’ said the doctor. ‘He is thin and very weak. I don't think he will be able to work as a cab horse again.’ ‘I can't keep a sick horse,’ said Skinner. ‘What shall I do with a horse that can't work?’ ‘Give him a few days of rest so that he can get better,’ said the doctor. ‘There is a horse fair in ten days; you may be able to sell him after he's had some rest and good food.’ Skinner listened to the doctor and let me relax. I enjoyed my rest and hoped for the best. I knew that life in my new home would be better than living with Skinner.

Chapter 9

My second experience of a horse fair was very different from the first one. This time, I wasn't in a stall with the strong horses but in another stall surrounded by horses that looked tired, thin and sick. Most buyers walked by without even noticing me. Few people seemed interested in buying a horse from our stall. After all, what good is a horse with so many problems? Later in the day, a man with a kind face stood near us with his grandson. The man looked carefully at me. I still had a thick mane and nice tail that made me look quite handsome. I held my head high and stood as tall and still as I could while the man looked at me. ‘Do you see that horse, Willie?’ said the farmer. ‘He looks like he came from a good home. I am sure he was special when he was young.’ ‘Do you suppose that he was ever a carriage horse?’ asked young Willie. ‘Yes, my boy!’ said the grandfather. ‘Look at his nose, neck and shoulders. Look at the way he stands. He has manners. Horses like this one belong with squires and wealthy people.’ ‘He doesn't look like a rich man's horse now,’ said his grandson. ‘I wonder what happened to him.’ ‘I suppose he had some hard times,’ said the man. ‘Perhaps he was just unlucky.’ ‘Poor horse!’ said Willie. He put his hand on my neck and patted me. I put my nose in his hand. ‘Look, Grandpa! He understands kindness. Let's buy him and make him young again, just as we did with Ladybird!’ The horse seller walked to us. ‘Hello, Farmer Thoroughgood,’ he said. ‘You should listen to your grandson. That young boy knows what he is talking about!’ Farmer Thoroughgood laughed. Then opened my mouth and gently examined me. He lifted my tail and carefully patted my legs. ‘Please, will you buy him?’ asked Willie.

At the end of the day I left the horse fair with my new owners. Farmer Thoroughgood and Willie bought me for five pounds. I was so happy because they seemed kind and they knew all about horses. At my new home, life was wonderful. During the day, I ran around the farm and I felt like a young colt again. I remembered the days when I was little and played in the field while my mother went to work. I soon got better with plenty of rest, good food and gentle exercise. My legs improved and I felt and looked young again. Willie was in charge of me and did a great job taking care of me. He made sure I had everything I needed and, sometimes, he gave me carrots or other nice things to eat. He spoke to me with kindness and very soon I forgot the bad times with Skinner. I was glad to be alive! Farmer Thoroughgood was pleased with me. ‘Good job, Willie!’ he said. ‘Old Crony will be as good as Ladybird soon. He has a beautiful mouth and his legs are now strong enough to do some light work.’ ‘Aren't you glad we bought him?’ asked Willie. ‘I certainly am,’ said Farmer Thoroughgood. ‘Thanks to you, Willie, this horse is well again. All we need to do now is to find him a good home.’ ‘I'll be sad to see Old Crony go,’ said Willie. ‘He has been so good!’ ‘Don't worry, Willie!’ said Farmer Thoroughgood. ‘Old Crony will go to the home he deserves.’

Chapter 10

One day, during summer, I was cleaned and brushed with extra care. Willie was kinder than usual. I noticed a small tear running down his face. ‘Look at you!’ said Willie. ‘You look so handsome. I hope the ladies like you.’ ‘If the ladies like him, then he'll have a good home for the rest of his life,’ said Farmer Thoroughgood. They tied me to the front of the carriage and we rode out of the village until we came to a pretty house surrounded by flowers. The boy rang the doorbell. ‘Are the ladies home?’ he asked a servant. ‘Yes, they are here. I will call them,’ said the servant. We waited for a while until three ladies came to see us. One was tall and pale, and was wearing a white shawl. Her name was Lavinia; the lady next to her had rosy cheeks and a big smile. She was Miss Ellen. The third one was a very serious woman and looked very important. That was Miss Blomefield. ‘He is beautiful,’ said Miss Ellen. ‘I like him!’ ‘Look at his knees,’ said Miss Blomefield. Then a young man came to look at me. At first, he was as pleased, but then he too saw my knees. ‘Farmer Thoroughgood, I don't think this horse is suitable,’ he said. ‘Look at those knees!’ ‘Well, many horses have knees like that, but it’s not their fault,’ said Farmer Thoroughgood. ‘Try him for a week and you will see he is as safe as any other horse. You can send him back if you aren't happy.’ They all agreed that I would stay for a week to let the groom decide if I was good enough for the ladies. The groom took me to my stables and began to brush me. As he did that, he noticed the star on my face. ‘I've seen a star like that before,’ he said. ‘It is like the star that Black Beauty had.’ He looked at me again and examined me more carefully. ‘That white foot is like Black Beauty's foot… and the white hairs on his back… Black Beauty? It's you! Isn't it?’ I was surprised that he knew me. I looked at the groom but didn't

recognise him at all. ‘Black Beauty! Do you remember me? I'm Joe Green from Birtwick Park!’ he said. He put his arms around my neck and gave me a big hug and I put my nose up to him, to show him I understood. I felt happy to find an old friend and he looked very pleased too. The next day, Green told the ladies my story. ‘There was never a better horse than Black Beauty,’ he said. ‘I will write to Mrs Gordon and tell her that her favourite horse is with us,’ said Miss Blomefield. I now live with Joe Green. He is the kindest groom I could wish for. Farmer Thoroughgood and Willie visit me too and we are special friends. I feel stronger than ever thanks to the good food, fresh air and kindness. My work is easy and pleasant and I am very happy with the ladies. They are kind and gentle. My troubles are over and I am at home. And often, I dream that I am still a young horse at Birtwick, standing with my old friends under the apple trees.

chapter 1 Comprehension
1
Answer the following questions.

1. Why did the master call the young horse Darkie?

2. What did Darkie look like?

3. Who wanted to buy Darkie?

4. What is a ‘bit’?

5. What did the blacksmith do to Darkie?

6. Why didn’t Darkie like the harness?

7. Why does Darkie’s mother tell him to work hard?

2
Match 1-5 with a-e to make sentences. Write 1-5 in the boxes.
1. Darkie only a. got used to the harness.
2. Duchess advised b. to break Darkie in for the squire.
3. Darkie’s master promised c. Darkie to work hard and have manners.
4. The young colts liked d. drank milk when he was very little.
5. Darkie slowly e. to kick and bite for fun.
Vocabulary
3
Complete the sentences using the words in the box.
back   manners   saddle   coat   oats   shade   gallop

1. Horses like to eat grass and .
2. The sun is very hot today; let’s sit in the .
3. My schoolbag is very heavy; my hurts.
4. Nobody likes rude people who have no .
5. A polar bear has a white .
6. Horses go very fast when they .
7. Jane’s bike is white with a blue .

4
Choose a, b or c to complete the sentences below.

1. You look so __________ in your new clothes!
a. kind b. handsome c. gentle

2. This chair is too __________ ; I can’t sit on it.
a. heavy b. difficult c. uncomfortable

3. You must never be __________ to animals.
a. cruel b. foolish c. necessary

4. Andrew has beautiful __________ white teeth.
a. shiny b. fluffy c. dull

5. I am __________ to say that I have never lost a game of tennis.
a. easy b. good c. proud

6. My mother bought me a new pair of black __________ shoes.
a. metal b. leather c. iron

Follow-up activities
5
Discuss.

1. Darkie’s mother gives him lots of advice. What advice do your mother and father give you?
2. For fun, Darkie runs around the field with the other young horses. What do you do for fun with your friends?
3. If you could have any animal in the world, which animal would you choose and why?
4. Darkie’s master says that a young horse needs to learn how to do many things. What, in your opinion, does a young person need to learn?
5. Have you ever visited a zoo? If yes, what did or didn’t you like about it? Why?

6
Imagine you are Squire Gordon. Write a letter to a friend of yours about the first time you saw Darkie. Describe him to your friend and say why you liked him and why you want to buy him. (60-80 words)
chapter 2 Comprehension
1
Decide if the following statements are True or False. Write "t" or "f" in the boxes.

1. Squire Gordon lived alone at Birtwick Park.
2. Everyone seemed to like Merrylegs.
3. The groom had put Darkie into the wrong stall.
4. The children believed that Ginger was dangerous.
5. Squire Gordon was very pleased with his new horse.
6. Mr Gordon gave Darkie a new name.

2
Choose the best answer.

1. Birtwick Park was __________ .
a. a stable b. a house c. a garden

2. Merrylegs was __________ .
a. a mare b. a colt c. a pony

3. John Manly was __________ .
a. a squire b. a groom c. a stable boy

4. Ginger’s colour was __________ .
a. grey b. black c. red

5. Black Beauty had to work with __________ .
a. Ginger b. Merrylegs c. James

3
Find the words in Chapter 2 to match the definitions below. The first letter has been given.

1. Person who takes care of horses g (page 8)
2. A building/place where horses live s (page 8)
3. Female horse m (page 8)
4. Somebody who follows commands and orders, and listens to others o (page 10)
5. Thinking and caring about others t (page 10)

Vocabulary
4
Complete the sentences using the prepositions in the box.
from   off   away   of   by   about   for   around   up   at

1. The garden is surrounded tall trees.
2. The farmers are hoping rain soon.
3. Kay is worried her maths exam.
4. Let’s go to the city centre and look the shops.
5. The boy jumped the wall and ran down the street.
6. I heard a noise but I didn’t know where it came .
7. Most people are scared snakes; they can be dangerous.
8. ‘Go ! I’m busy and cannot talk to you at the moment,’ Robin said to his sister.
9. We arrived the station just as the train was leaving.
10. The horses aren’t tied ; they’re running freely in the field.

Follow-up activities
5
Discuss.

1. How do you think Darkie felt when he first arrived at his new home? How do you feel when you do or start something new?
2. Do you think Merrylegs and Darkie will become good friends? Why/Why not?
3. Is it easy for you to make new friends? Why/Why not?
4. What is your opinion of Squire and Mrs Gordon? Why?
5. Merrylegs says that Ginger has a bad habit – biting. What bad habits can you think of that some people have? What annoys you the most?

6
Imagine that you are Mrs Gordon. Write a page in your diary about the day you saw Black Beauty. Describe him and say what made you give him that name. (60-80 words)
chapter 3 Comprehension
1
Correct the following statements.

1. It was a beautiful day when Black Beauty took Squire Gordon into town for business.


2. In town, John Manly went with Squire Gordon into an office.


3. As they went through the woods, a tree fell into the river.


4. Black Beauty crossed the bridge as fast as he could.


5. Squire Gordon told his wife that John Manly had saved Black Beauty’s life.


6. Ginger was the first horse to leave the stables during the fire.


7. The fire started because an older man lit his pipe in the stables


2
Put the following events in the order which they happened. Write 1-6 in the boxes.

a. James took Black Beauty and Ginger out of the burning stables.
b. James Howard drove Mr and Mrs Gordon to some friends.
c. The smell of smoke woke Black Beauty up.
d. The squire and Mrs Gordon decided to visit some friends.
e. A fire started in the stables.
f. On their way to Clifford Hall, they stopped for the night at a hotel.

Vocabulary
3
Complete the sentences with expressions in the box.
save energy   get dark   stand still   be allowed to   take long   make sure

1. Will we take photographs inside the museum?
2. Please turn the lights off when you leave the building. We must try to .
3. Can you wait for me here? I won’t .
4. My dad told me to while he took the photograph.
5. It’s raining again, so if you go out, you have an umbrella with you.
6. It’s beginning to ; we should go home.

4
Choose the correct word.

1. It’s not very brave / wise to use your phone when you are driving.
2. What’s the business / matter ? Why are you crying?
3. Take your shoes off. They’re muddy / scary from the garden.
4. It’s very hot in here. I can’t breathe / cough .
5. Will we have the accident / opportunity to visit the zoo when we go to London?
6. Linda thinks that this hotel is very expensive and I agree / nod .

Follow-up activities
5
Discuss.

1. The fire in the stables was dangerous for both the horses and the people. Can you think of any other situations where people’s lives can be in danger?
2. Bad weather caused a lot of problems for Black Beauty, Squire Gordon and John Manly. Has bad weather ever caused problems for you or someone you know?
3. Squire Gordon says that animals can be clever. Which animals do you think are clever and why?
4. James Howard was brave to go into the burning stables to save the horses. Have you, or anyone you know, done anything brave to help other people?
5. Everyone agreed that it was a wise rule that pipes are not allowed in the stables. What rules are there in your school, house or place of work? What are you allowed and not allowed to do?

6
Imagine that you are James Howard and that you have a diary. Write a page in your diary describing the fire. What happened and what did you do? (80-100 words)
chapter 4 Comprehension
1
Read Chapter 4 and match the two halves of the sentences. Write a–f in the boxes.
1. Black Beauty was tired when he returned to Birtwick Park because a. Black Beauty had to wear a bearing rein.
2. John rode Black Beauty to the doctor because b. the horses were not the same colour.
3. Black Beauty became ill because c. he had to run very fast.
4. Squire Gordon is going to sell Black Beauty because d. someone at home was ill.
5. John was not happy because e. the stable boy did not know he had to keep him warm.
6. The wife of Black Beauty’s new owner was not happy because f. he and his wife are going to leave the country.
2
Choose a, b or c to complete the following sentences.

1. Doctor White wanted to ride Black Beauty as __________ .
a. his own horse was sick
b. he didn’t have a horse
c. his horse was tired and slow

2. Black Beauty was sweating because __________ .
a. he didn’t have a rug on his back
b. the ride from the doctor’s house was long and hard
c. he tried to sleep on the hay

3. When Merrylegs came to the stables __________ .
a. he had bad news about the children
b. he told Black Beauty that he was going to live at Earlshall Park
c. he said that all their lives would change

4. Reuben went to town with Black Beauty because __________ .
a. Lord Westerly told him to go there
b. Black Beauty had a loose shoe
c. he was going to meet some friends

5. Lord Westerly decided that __________ .
a. he did not want to keep Black Beauty
b. both Ginger and Black Beauty were too unhealthy to keep
c. Black Beauty must go to a better home

Vocabulary
3
Find words in Chapter 4 which mean the same as:

1. wanting to do something w (page 18)
2. very nice and comfortable p (page 19)
3. the way somebody thinks and behaves; personality c (page 19)
4. hurting very much p (page 20)
5. not smooth r (page 22)
6. correct r (page 22)

4
Choose a, b or c to complete the sentences below.

1. Why are you __________ ? Are you cold?
a. sweating b. stretching c. shaking

2. It was very __________ of you to forget your house keys.
a. loose b. careless c. dark

3. There’s a branch there; be careful or you’ll __________ .
a. move b. paint c. trip

4. My shoes are very __________ . They’re hurting my feet.
a. quick b. stubborn c. tight

5. We’re late! We’ll have to __________ to get our train.
a. rush b. ruin c. insist

6. Please don’t __________ , girls. It’s not good manners.
a. notice b. whisper c. accept

Follow-up activities
5
Discuss.

1. Black Beauty became sick after he got back to Birtwick Park. Have you ever been sick? What was wrong with you and what happened? Who or what helped you get better?
2. How do you think Black Beauty felt when he learnt that he was going to a new home? How would you feel in his place? Why?
3. Mr York says that fashion is very important to Lady Westerly. Is fashion important to you? Why/Why not?
4. Squire Gordon and his wife are going to move to another country. Would you like to live in a different country? Where, and why?

6
Imagine that you are Squire Gordon. Write a letter to a friend of yours, telling him about your decision to move to another country. (80-100 words)
chapter 5 Comprehension
1
Answer the following questions.

1. How did Black Beauty feel in his new home, and why?


2. Which riders did Black Beauty like the best?


3. What happened to Peggy, and why?


4. Why did the gentleman tell the stable boy to take off the bearing rein?


5. What did Mr Barry’s first groom do that was bad for Black Beauty?


6. What happened when Black Beauty went to the vet?


2
Complete the sentences with the correct name.
Black Beauty   Peggy   Mr York   John Manly   Alfred Smirk   Mr Filcher

1. took to his new home.
2. ’s legs were longer than ’s.
3. The gentleman was a good rider, and made think of .
4. worked as a groom for at first.
5. Both and were not very good grooms and they tricked .

Vocabulary
3
Complete the sentences with the words in the box.
reminded   preferred   rented   combed   held   encouraged

1. Last summer, my family a house by the sea for a month.
2. At first, my brother did not want to run in the race, but I him to try.
3. I went to the bathroom, cleaned my teeth, my hair and then left the house.
4. The little boy his father’s hand as we crossed the road.
5. The gentleman me of my uncle; he had the same colour hair and eyes.
6. Andy and his friend didn’t want to watch TV; they to go for a ride on their bikes.

4
Complete the sentences with words from Chapter 5. The first letter has been given.

1. Robert felt very w and tired after his long run.
2. Don’t walk so fast! I can’t k up with you.
3. My dad is a very e driver, and has never had an accident.
4. You need to eat more. You are so s !
5. I don’t know if I can help you, but I will try my b .
6. Left is the o of right.

Follow-up activities
5
Discuss.

1. How do you think Ginger felt when Black Beauty left for his new home? Why?
2. At first, Black Beauty found that the food in his new home was good. What food do you like and not like, and why?
3. Black Beauty lived in a time when there were no cars. What other things did people not have at that time? Would you like to have lived in that time?
4. Exercise is very important for both horses and people. What exercise do you get, and how often?
5. Mr Barry’s two grooms tricked him and he felt very bad about it. Do you think he was right to feel this way?

6
Imagine you are Mr Barry and you are having a conversation with the vet you have taken Black Beauty to see. Write an imaginary dialogue between you and the vet, with Mr Barry explaining the problem and the vet giving advice. (80-100 words)
chapter 6 Comprehension
1
Decide if the following statements are True or False. Write "t" or "f" in the boxes.

1. Only one person wanted to buy Black Beauty at the horse fair.
2. Jerry’s daughter wanted to give Black Beauty a new name.
3. Some drivers at the cab stand laughed at Black Beauty because of his colour.
4. Jerry did not want to take the two young men to the station.
5. The man with the suitcase gave some extra money to Jerry.
6. Jerry decided to go to Dinah Brown’s mother because it was a Sunday.

2
Complete the summary of Chapter 6 with words from the box.
wife   money   afternoon   mother   children   owner

Jerry Barker became Black Beauty’s new (1) . Jerry was a cab driver and Black Beauty pulled the cab every (2) . Jerry was a kind man and never made Black Beauty run faster for more (3) . Jerry did not work on Sundays, because he wanted to be with Polly and his (4) . One Sunday, Jerry took someone to see their (5) , who was not well. When he got home, Jerry gave some flowers to his (6) and said that it had been a lovely day.

Vocabulary
3
Choose the correct word.

1. A: How did you enjoy / injure your knee?
B: I slipped / smelt on the wet road.
2. The police stopped the driver because he was speeding / smiling .
3. I hopped / knocked on the door but nobody was at home.
4. Can you shake / smell something burning?
5. I can’t find my keys. They’ve disappeared / examined !

4
Complete the sentences with words from the box.
fault   worth   customer   extra   buyer   sorry

1. We paid a lot of money for this holiday, but I think it’s' it.
2. Mark wants to sell his house, but he can’t find a .
3. The accident wasn’t my . The road was very wet.
4. I feel so for Amy. She hasn’t got any friends.
5. The shop wasn’t empty; there was one .
6. If you want a better seat you have to pay money.

Follow-up activities
5
Discuss.

1. ‘Dolly was eight and looked just like her mother.’ Do you look like someone in your family? Who do you look like, and how are you similar?
2. The drivers called Grant ‘the governor’ because they respected him very much. Who do you respect, and why?
3. In the story, three men were in a hurry to go somewhere. Are people these days in a hurry? Why? What are their lives like?
4. Jerry did not want to take extra money from his customers. How important do you think money is?
5. Jerry liked to spend every Sunday with his family. How do you like to spend time with your family?

6
Imagine that you are Jerry’s wife, Polly, and that you are writing to your sister to tell her your news. Write your letter, telling her about the new horse and what happened on the Sunday when Jerry took Dinah Brown to see her mother. (80-100 words)
chapter 7 Comprehension
1
Correct the following statements.

1. Jerry was not kind to Black Beauty and Captain.


2. Seedy Sam rented his horse from Grant.


3. Ginger had not changed since Black Beauty last saw her.


4. Jerry put a rug on himself to keep warm.


5. When Harry went to the stables to feed the horses he couldn’t stop talking.


6. Dolly told Harry that he was going to school in the country.


2
Choose a, b or c.

1. Black Beauty worked better when .
a. he had enough food and sleep
b. he was covered with a rug
c. Captain was working with him

2. Seedy Sam needed to earn eighteen shillings a day .
a. to pay the rent for the cab and horse
b. to feed his family
c. to pay the rent and feed his family

3. Why was Ginger so unhappy?
a. Her owners wanted to sell her
b. Her owners did not treat her well
c. Her owners did not have enough money to look after her

4. How did Black Beauty feel when he saw the dead horse?
a. He was glad that she was not suffering anymore
b. He was sad that he did not say goodbye
c. He was angry that she died in pain

5. Why did the family have to sell Black Beauty?
a. Because Jerry was ill
b. Because Jerry’s wife was going to work for her old mistress
c. Because Jerry was going to change jobs

Vocabulary
3
Complete the sentences with expressions in the box.
out of danger   make some money   the rest of   hanging down   and so it was

1. John, you have to find a job. You have to .
2. I went to bed early, so I didn’t see the film.
3. Peter had a bad accident and is in hospital, but he’s now.
4. I knew that without a map I would get lost – ; I’m standing here and there’s no one to ask for directions.
5. Is Anna all right? Her eyes are closed and her head is .

4
Complete the sentences with words from Chapter 7. The first letter has been given.

1. How much did you p for your new bike?
2. Martin, what a nice s to see you!
3. Did you r my email?
4. I had a long c with Alan about his new job.
5. Look at the time! It’s nearly m . We must go to bed.
6. It’s wrong to m animals.
7. Don’t walk so fast! We have p of time to catch the bus.
8. Your hands are d . Go and wash them.

Follow-up activities
5
Discuss.

1. People work so that they can have some money. What other reasons do people have for working?
2. ‘A cab driver’s job wasn’t easy... ’ Which jobs do you think are easy, and which are hard? Why?
3. ‘Jerry knocked on the door and a servant told him to wait some more.’ What do you think life was like for a servant in those days?
4. ‘It’s the perfect job for father, Harry!’ says Dolly. What do you think is the perfect job for you, and why?
5. Dolly and Harry are going to move to the country. Which do you prefer, life in the city or life in the country? Why?

6
Imagine that you are either Dolly or Harry. Write a letter to one of your friends back in the city, telling them about your new life in the country. (80-100 words)
chapter 8 Comprehension
1
Decide if the following statements are True or False. Write T or F in the boxes

1. Black Beauty’s new master was very kind to him.
2. Jakes tried to make Black Beauty’s life easier.
3. At first, Black Beauty couldn’t pull the cart up the hill.
4. Black Beauty’s master sold him to a cab driver.
5. One customer’s daughter tried to help Black Beauty.
6. Black Beauty was glad to leave his home and life with Skinner.

2
Read Chapter 8 and match the two halves of the sentences. Write 1–6 in the boxes.
1. Black Beauty’s new master a. fell to the ground and couldn’t get up.
2. The baker’s assistant b. could not work as a cab horse again.
3. One day, Black Beauty’s work c. was never at home because of his work.
4. Black Beauty’s life as a cab horse d. became easier after someone spoke to Jakes.
5. Because he was so tired and weak, Black Beauty e. did not treat his master’s new horse well.
6. The doctor told Skinner that Black Beauty f. was worse than it had been with Jerry.
Vocabulary
3
Choose the correct word.

1. If you eat so many sweets, you will relax / damage your teeth.
2. My dad always comes home exhausted / crooked after a long day at work.
3. There was a funny rest / scene in the film on TV last night.
4. I tried to say hello to Helen at work today, but she ignored / wished me.
5. I filled / slipped and hurt my leg, because it was snowing and the ground was wet.
6. The boys were playing in the garden, throwing / loading water at one another.

4
Complete the sentences with expressions in the box.
get rid of   with a little bit of help   in charge of   laugh at   give a chance

1. This box is very heavy, but from you, I can move it into the garage. 2. Neal’s car is very old; he wants to it and buy a new one. 3. My teacher is twenty children. 4. Why did you Robert when he fell? That wasn’t very kind. 5. I‘ve never made a cake on my own, Mum, but if you me , I think I can do it.

Follow-up activities
5
Discuss.

1. In Chapter 8, a young lady tried to help Black Beauty. Have you ever helped anyone? How? What did you do?
2. Jakes tells the young lady that the bearing rein ‘is the fashion’. Fashion is important to some people. Is it important to you? How? What is in fashion now?
3. The doctor tells Skinner that Black Beauty needs rest and good food. What food do you like, and why? Do you think good food is important? Why?
4. Black Beauty ‘tried hard to pull the cab, but it was too heavy’. Have you ever tried hard to do something, but couldn’t? What did you try to do, and why couldn’t you do it?
5. ‘The father ignored the little girl’s advice.’ Have you ever ignored anyone’s advice? What happened? Were you right or wrong to ignore their advice?

6
Imagine that you are the young lady who wanted to help Black Beauty. Describe in detail what you saw, what you said to the driver, and how you felt. (80-100 words)
chapter 9 Comprehension
1
Answer the following questions.

1. How was Black Beauty’s second time at a horse fair different from the first?


2. Why did Farmer Thoroughgood think that Black Beauty was once a rich man’s horse?


3. How did Farmer Thoroughgood examine Black Beauty at the horse fair?


4. How did Willie take care of Black Beauty?


5. What did Farmer Thoroughgood plan to do with Black Beauty?


2
Complete the summary of Chapter 9 with the sentences a-e.
a. stood tall and still   b. wanted to buy the tired horse
c. were pleased with Black Beauty   d. came to the stall
e. he was strong enough to work

At the horse fair, Black Beauty was put in a stall with other horses that looked tired or sick. Buyers walked by without even noticing him until Farmer Thoroughgood and his grandson, Willie, (1) later that day. The old farmer looked at the horse while Black Beauty (2) . ‘I wonder what happened to him,’ said the young boy. Young Willie (3) and make him young again. This is exactly what happened. Black Beauty was happy at his new home because his owners were kind. He played in the field and ate nice things. Soon, Black Beauty was well again and his owners decided (4) again. Farmer Thoroughgood and Willie (5) . ‘All we need to do now is to find him a good home,’ said Farmer Thoroughgood.

Vocabulary
3
Choose a, b, or c to complete the sentences.

1. The young lion cub belongs __________ its mother, not in a cage at the zoo.
a. with b. in c. from

2. Mr Harris did not enjoy his __________ of travelling on the Chao Praya tourist boat, because his camera fell into the river.
a. problem b. work c. experience

3. The hairdresser __________ Jane’s long hair from her eyes. ‘You will look so nice when I cut it,’ she said.

a. patted b. examined c. lifted

4. He’s been going through some __________ times since he lost his job.
a. unlucky b. hard c. good

5. Yoshinori Ohsumi __________ the Nobel Prize for his work as a doctor, don’t you think?
a. gets b. deserves c. respects

6. Adult male lions have a thick __________ around their face.
a. tail b. stall c. mane

7. Martin injured his knee while playing tennis and can only do __________ work until he gets better.
a. no b. light c. soft

4
Find the words in Chapter 9 that mean the same as:

1. not ordinary, unusual in a good way (page 42)
2. think, believe (page 42)
3. rich (page 42)
4. touched lightly with an open hand (page 42)
5. got better (page 44)
6. surely (page 44)

Follow-up activities
5
Discuss.

1. What made Farmer Thoroughgood and Willie decide to buy Black Beauty rather than any of the other horses in his stall?
2. Farmer Thoroughgood notices Black Beauty for his appearance and for his manners. What is important to you when you first meet someone?
3. Are the lives of animals or people worth less as they get old, tired and sick?
4. What should we do with animals that are too old or injured to work?
5. What do you think will happen to Black Beauty now that he will be sold again?

6
Imagine you are Willie. Write a diary entry about the day you saw Black Beauty at the horse fair with your grandfather. (60-80 Words)
chapter 10 Comprehension
1
Put the following events in the order which they happened. Write 1-7 in the boxes.

a. Miss Lavinia, Miss Ellen and Miss Blomefield came out of the house to see Black Beauty.
b. Black Beauty was happy with Joe Green and the ladies.
c. Willie was kinder than usual when he cleaned and brushed Black Beauty one day.
d. The ladies decided to keep Black Beauty when they heard his story.
e. Miss Ellen liked Black Beauty, but Miss Blomefield did not like the horse’s knees.
f. Farmer Thoroughgood took Black Beauty to a pretty house surrounded by flowers.
g. The groom, Joe Green, recognised the star on Black Beauty’s forehead.

2
Who said what? Complete with the correct name from the box.
Miss Ellen   Joe Green   Miss Blomefield   Farmer Thoroughgood   Willie

1. : ‘There was never a better horse than Black Beauty.’
2. : ‘Well, many horses have knees like that, but it’s not their fault.’
3. : ‘Look at you. You look so handsome.’
4. : ‘He is beautiful. I like him!’
5. : ‘I will write to Mrs Gordon and tell her that her favourite horse is with us.’

Vocabulary
3
Match the two columns to make expressions and use these to fill the gaps in the sentences below:

1. extra     a. cheeks
2. rosy     b. a hug
3. ring     c. air
4. give     d. care
5. fresh     e. the doorbell

1. Did you to see if anybody was at home?
2. ‘Come here and me ,’ said his grandfather to the little boy.
3. The postman took with the letter because he knew it was important.
4. We knew Nina was not sick anymore when we saw her .
5. The in the country will soon make you feel better.

4
Complete the crossword puzzle.

1. a light colour
2. something that is right and appropriate for a situation
3. a piece of cloth that women use to cover their head and shoulders
4. to have the same opinion
5. a drop of liquid that comes out of your eyes when you are sad or in pain
6. a person who is paid to cook, clean and do other jobs in the house.

1
2
3
4
5
6
Follow-up activities
5
Discuss.

1. What do you think the mystery surrounding Oliver’s true identity is? Why did Monks want to hide it?
2. Why does Nancy still consider these horrible people her family?
3. What do you think Rose will do now that she has all that information?

6
Imagine you are Nancy overhearing Monks and Fagin talking. Taking into consideration the information Nancy gave Rose, make a dialogue of what they probably said. (60-80 words)