Black Beauty (An Adaptation)

Using the United States Voice of America Special (VOA) English's 1,500 core vocabulary words, the adaptation of the classic by Anna Sewell is written in in the form of "captions" for 88 illustrations. Primarily intended for students of English as a Second Language (ESL), the adaptation has an approximate count of 3,000 to 4,000 words. Also featured in http://www.easyenglishlearning.com

Black Beauty

1. My name is Black Beauty. I live with my family in a large meadow by a clear pond. Our master, Farmer Grey was a good, kind man. He lived by the road on the other side of the field where I used to run together with my six older brothers and sisters.

2. As a young colt, I loved playing in the meadow, running around the field as fast as I can. It was even more fun when I got to play with older horses. Sometimes we liked rough sport and even played games like biting and kicking as we galloped.

3. My mother did not like it when we played rough. She had a kind spirit and was good-mannered. Mother always told me, “You have been well-bred and well-born, not like the other colts.” I promised her I will always be gentle and good.

4. I believe my mother is wise for she has seen a lot of things in her days. However, she admits there are things she does not understand --- such as men and their sport. I wondered, “Who wants to be in games where people and horses often hurt themselves?”

5. I never forgot my mother’s story nor what we saw at the hunt that day. A young man and a good horse were lost in that hunting accident. It must have affected my mother too. She never returned to that part of the field again.

6. When I turned four years old, my new master had me trained to wear a saddle and bridle. I needed these to carry a man, woman or child on my back. At first too, I thought it was unpleasant to put on iron shoes and blinkers on the sides of my eyes. And yet, I got used to wearing
these new things soon enough.

7. I learned to stay calm when I see and hear things that make loud noises, such as a steam engine passing by. My mother told me that often, when a horse behaved better, it too will be treated well. However, mother warned of men who did not know better than to treat dogs and horses badly.

8. A year or two later, I moved to my new home. I lived in a stable behind the master’s home, in a place with a long smooth road, and old orchard, a few gardens and big old trees.

9. My new home was a big box next to Merrylegs, a little fat gray pony with a pert little nose. I thought he and I would get along just fine. On the box by my other side was tall chestnut mare with a long neck. Elegant as she was, Ginger was a horse with a bad temper, Merrylegs said.

10. I was happy in my new home. The coachman, John Manly, cared for us well. He talked to me a lot and did a wonderful job making my mane and tail as smooth as a lady's hair. My master, Squire Gordon and his wife were just as kind and gentle as John.

11. Merrylegs and I became great friends. We enjoyed our days with Justice and Sir Oliver, two other horses in the next stable. And then there was Ginger. At first, I was not sure if Ginger and I would get along well. Slowly I found out she can be good company. I started to like her more and more.

12. Some Sundays in summer we were allowed to run in the old orchard. We like the feel of cool soft grass in our feet and the freedom to do as we pleased. Times like these were great for talking under the shade of the large chestnut tree.

13. I dreamt of my early days as a young horse full of strength and spirit. I look back to the days when I felt the wind in my face as I galloped at full speed. It is hard not to have as much freedom as one would want.

14. One time Ginger told me why she became the way she was. "I never had any one, horse or man, that was kind to me” she said. From young boys to adult men, Ginger thought of them all as her enemies. It saddened me hear of her first experience of man’s kindness.

15. Ginger shared with me stories of an old master’s son named Samson. He was not like his father who was a gentle man. How it angered Ginger so to remember Samson’s cruel ways! 'Horseflesh'! Yes, that is all that he thought about!” she said.

16. “What right had they to make me suffer like that?” Ginger asked me once. You see, from one master to another Ginger had been ill treated and hurt. “I made up my mind that men were my natural enemies and that I must defend myself,” she neighed. I think I understood Ginger a little bit more after hearing her stories.

17. And yet I always felt John and James could change Ginger’s mind. After all, the men who took care of us now were good men. They always said a cure for Ginger was “gentleness, firmness and care, one pound of each to be mixed up with half a pint of common sense”.

18. Of all the horses in our stable, Merrylegs was closest to the children. He was often with Miss Jessie and Flora, the governess. They visited Merrylegs at the stable and brought him nice things to eat: apples, carrots or a piece of bread.

19. But Merrylegs had a vicious side to him as well. Once, he refused to let the vicar’s children ride him when they came to visit. He said, “ Boys, think a horse or pony is like a steam-engine and can go on as long and as fast as they please. They never think that a pony can get tired, or have any emotions”.

20. Of the many things we do in Birtwick Park, we enjoyed riding parties best. Squire Gordon rode on Ginger while the young ladies went with Merrylegs and Sir Oliver. I had no trouble carrying the mistress. She was light on my back, had a sweet voice and always treated me well.

21. One day, while on holiday at the orchard, we started talking about Sir Oliver came to have such a short tail. In his younger days, Sir Oliver’s long elegant tail was cut off because many people used to think horses looked better that way.

22. Still, the longer I lived at Birtwick Park the happier I felt. Squire Gordon’s family was liked by all. They were good not only to men and women, but animals as well. The master always felt sad to see other horses badly treated. He always said, “we shall all be judged by our acts, whether they be toward man or toward animals."

23. I will never forget one incident with my master and John. The day started as any other. We master went to town to attend to some business. It had been raining all day and the riverbanks were rather high.

24. We did not leave town till late afternoon. By then the wind was much stronger. I heard the master say to John that he had never been out in such bad weather. Trees were shaking in the wind and the sound hurt my ears. "I wish we were well out of this woods," said my master.

25. The men could not see nor hear the man shouting a warning from the other side of the bridge. But I did. That night I saved Squire Gordon and coachman John’s lives when I saw the broken bridge when no one else did.

26. Thank God, Beauty!" cried my master as John treated me to a special meal of crushed beans and a thick bed of straw to sleep in.

27. John also taught me a lot of things. Once, while we were out on business for the master, we saw Farmer Bushby’s boy striking and kicking a pony, because it would not jump through a fence that was too high.

28. The pony threw the boy over the fence, then left to gallop home. I remember John saying, “cruelty is a evil mark but someone who is kind to man and animals, wears the sign of God."

29. Luck was on my side as everyone in Birtwick Park had a special love for animals. Even the stable boy who once risked his life to save me and Ginger from a big stable fire.

30. “Oh that fire!” Many tried to save the two poor horses that burned alive that night. And yet they couldn’t. John said Ginger and I stayed calm in the fire because we trusted that James Howard would not lead us to any harm.

31. Yes, life was good for us all at Birtwick Park. Until the evening the master worriedly sent John to call the doctor. The master said the mistress was very sick. That night, John and I rode like we never did before. The master’s voice kept ringing in our ears, "ride for your life—ride for your mistress!”

32. I think any other animal in Birtwick Park would have done the same thing for the mistress. And yet, it worried John so when I got sick after that. I would have been well had Joe the stable boy taken care of me better after my run to the doctor.

33. I could hear John talking to himself, “Ignorance! Only ignorance!” He was very angry with Joe for not knowing how to care for me while he was away. But do not be mistaken. John is a good man. He just felt that connection with the horses I suppose.

34. Truly, John liked Joe Green. Many felt he was rather small for his age, but Joe learned quickly and is attentive and careful. People at Birtwick Park believed that in many ways, John was proud of Joe’s work at the stable.

35. Above all, Joe had a heart that loved animals too. Once, he saw a man hurting his two horses without mercy. Joe brought the case before the country magistrates and the unkind man was later punished.

36. I was sure Joe pleased John for he even said, “Many folks would have ridden by and said it was not their business to interfere”. I believe one special day at the master’s place made a man out of Joe Green.

37. It was no surprise that all felt deep sadness when the master gave news that the mistress had to go away. He told John she needed to go to a warm country for two or three years.

38. I lived in at Squire Gordon’s for three happy years. I didn’t want to leave. But to all of us, with the master and his wife gone, Birtwick Park would never be home again.

39. And so, we all went our separate ways. Merrylegs moved in with the vicar and his family, who wanted him for Mrs. Blomefield. John brought Ginger and I to our new home, Earlshall Park.

40. Earlshall Park is three times as big as Birtwick Park. It’s master, the Earl of W--- owned a very fine house and a very big stable. It pleased me to hear him say, I heard him say, "I have great confidence in these horses."

41. If only his wife did not force her ways upon us. She thinks reins pulled too short make horses look good, but it causes pain in our head and our legs. One day, when it proved too much, Ginger felt it right to fight back.

42. The whole matter angered our coachman, Mr. York. Though he was usually respectful, he said the accident could have been avoided, had York not given in to his wife, keeping Ginger and I from getting injured.

43. One early spring, Lady Anne came along to a trip to the doctor’s place. She would have ridden me as always except she wanted to try out Lizzie, whom Blantyre, a gentleman from the hall, had praised before her quite often.

44. It proved to be a wrong move. Ginger, who knew more of Lizzie than most, always thought the bright bay mare was rather a nervous sort. That day, Lizzie appeared more fearful than usual.

45. I will never forget how long that chase lasted. I ran with all the spirit in me. I wanted to reach Lady Anne quickly so it helped that Blantyre was an expert horseman.

46. When we caught up with them, she lay on the ground, motionless. I could sense Blantyre’s concern as he cried to her, "Annie, dear Annie, do speak!"

47. Everyone hoped for the best. Two days later, the doctor announced Lady Anne was out of danger. Blantyre and I were most thankful she was going to be OK. I was even happier to find out she would soon be back to ride me again.

48. Now, when York was away at times, the horses and I were left in the care of a well-mannered man named Reuben Smith. Reuben was well liked by the folks and horses of Earlshall Park.

49. However, there were times when Reuben drank heavily. Many wished he didn’t because this affected his work badly. His poor wife and little children are sure to suffer should he lose his job again.

50. One night, Reuben’s drinking went too far. We met a terrible accident three miles from home. My knees were badly injured from running with one lost shoe. Reuben was thrown off by my fall and died.

51. I was sent to a meadow for a month or two after my accident. The quiet freedom in the meadow helped my knees heel. It was also a chance to see Ginger again. She and I have remained friends through the years.

52. Ginger was there as she too fell to bad use by Lord George, whom York always said was careless in riding horses. Though she won her last steeplechase for him, Ginger’s back was injured by his weight.

53. I wanted to stay with Ginger, but the Earl felt I was no longer fit for his stables. Yet since he had promised Squire Gordon a home for me, he still tried to find a good livery stable in Bath.

54. And so after Birthwick Park came my job as a horse-for-hire. True, I was well fed and the stable boys at the livery took good care of me after a long hard day. However, working with a different rider every day was not always easy for me.

55. One rider grew fond of me that he asked the stable owner if he could purchase me for a friend of his. That summer, I was sold to a businessman named Mr. Barry. He may not know much about horses, but he had a heart to care for them.

56. Now Mr. Barry hired a groom named Filcher to care for me in a stable near his home. At first, Filcher fed me the rye grass and the best hay with plenty of oats, beans, and bran. All was just as my master ordered for me.

57. But days came when I received less care and food. This got Mr. Barry’s friend wondering. “How do you feed your horse?”, he asked. “He does not look so well as he did when you first had him.” Mr. Barry then suspected Filcher had robbed him of his money’s worth.

58. And yet, the same thing happened with Alfred Smirk, my next groom. Smirk was a humbug, interested only in keeping himself looking good. Instead of his work, he spent more time before a looking glass, fixing his hair, whiskers and necktie.

59. This time it was my stable that was never kept clean. Once again, I was not fed well. As can be expected, my health failed in the care of the thief and the humbug. It was another sad and difficult time for me.

60. Not long after, while walking into town, I took another hard fall and was taken to a farrier in Lansdown. “Your horse has got the ‘thrush’ and badly too!”, he confirmed before my master.

61. I now understand why, even after my health improved, Mr. Barry sold me at the next horse fair. Tired of being tricked twice, he felt it was too much trouble to keep a horse.

62. I had never been to a horse fair in my life. But I do know a good master when I see one. I liked one best. His touch was light and gentle. He had a clean, fresh smell to him. No smell of old beer and tobacco.

63. I was sold for twenty-three pounds to my new master, Jeremiah Barker of London. Although he did not own much, he had a warm and happy family. I loved them the minute I saw them.

64. Jerry had a cab he drove around London. He also owned two other horses. One of whom he called Captain. I have never worked as a cab horse before. Neither have I worked with an army horse either.

65. Captain often shared with me his memories of the Crimean War he served in with his master, a young, high-spirited cavalry officer who led a regiment. At first, Captain spoke clearly, “for a long time, my master and I felt no fear at all”.

66. But his voice weakened to a whisper, “…and then, one autumn morning, my master and I took one last charge together.” He shook as if wanting to escape the thought, “I lost my master in the middle of the sound of heavy guns and the rattle of musket fire.

67. When I finally spoke, I said, "but I have hear people talk about war as if it was a very fine thing..." To which Captain sighed and said, “not when thousands of good brave men and horses are killed or crippled for life...”

68. But that was then, and things are a lot better now. Everyday is a joy for us because being with the Barkers makes us feel like a part of a great happy family!

69. The same went for when we were at work. Jerry is not one to ruin his horses just for an extra shilling or two. I heard him once declare, “a shilling would not pay for that sort of thing, would it, old boy?" How lucky I felt!

70. Once, the master even turned down business from his best customer. He refused, saying he wanted to keep Sundays free for God and family. “Every man must look after his own soul,” Jerry always said.

71. It was no wonder Dolly honored her father. And he loved her too, for he took time to teach her the right ways in life. From the golden rule to identifying a true gentleman, Jerry taught his daughter well.

72. Not all men at the cab stand had hard hearts. Some had to overwork their horses if only to earn a day’s wage enough to support their families. As Seedy Sam argued, “you can't help yourself—you must put your wife and children before the horse”.

73. When talks like these come up, it is difficult to take sides. Governor Grant deplored it all, “It is hard for both man and animals. How to settle it I don't know.” I could not agree with him more.

74. Sometimes a kind word is all one can give us horses. Many men knew this too. After all, there are still a lot of good men around. Now if only I could express these to Governor Grant, Seedy Sam and my master Jerry that we horses do understand.

75. One day, while our cab and many others were waiting outside one of the parks, a shabby old cab drove up beside ours. I couldn’t believe my eyes. The old worn-out chestnut horse was my long lost friend!

76. It was good to see Ginger again, even if for the last time. You see, not too long after, I saw her taken away in a cart. She died tired and quite sad, I think.

77. And so, I am often pleased to see many happy horses, still. One old pony, for example, loved the work he did for a kind young boy who carried potatoes and vegetables in his cart.

78. Even one old horse up the street was not at all affected by the hard work he did for his master. Jerry liked seeing the old horse with the kindhearted coal-heaver. This proved horses could be happy, even in a poor place.

79. I was the same way with my master, so it pleases me when Jerry’s kindness is recognized by the likes of Mrs. Fowler, who once sent five shillings each as a treat for Harry and Dolly.

80. But things are not always they way one would want them to be. The Captain, for one, met a bad accident. I knew it hurt Jerry to let go of our old friend. It saddened me too for I never had a chance to say goodbye to such a fine horse.

81. A young spirited horse took the Captain’s place. Hotspur is a handsome one, but I felt he was not too happy to leave his master’s stables to do cab work with Jerry and me.

82. Christmas and New Year came, and with it, a very cold winter. Although there was work for us, taking people to and from parties brought failing health to my master. I cheered when he accepted the offer to take his family and work for Mrs. Fowler.

83. Moving to the Fowlers was good for Jerry, Polly and the children. I was happy for them but just as sad for myself. I moved on to work for Nicholas Skinner. In all my years, I have never worked as hard as with this man.

84. Worse, my driver was just as cruel. One day, he loaded my carriage with too much that I could not take it any more. Skinner thought it best to sell me. Soon, I was once again to be at the mercy of a new master.

85. I had almost lost all hope. There was a time I believed it was better to die than work for another cruel master. Can you imagine my joy when a grandfather found me to be a fit gift for his grandson!?

86. Yes, luck was back on my side. Farmer Thoroughgood and young Willy cared for me in their home by a meadow. I grew stronger as if I was once again a young colt, with my mother, before I first moved to Birtwick Park.

87. One day that happy summer, as soon as I was good and healthy again, Mr. Thoroughgood took me to the Blomefields, where three sweet ladies welcomed me to my new and final home.

88. Why, this man excited to see me identified himself as Joe Green --- the young stable boy trained by my old friend, John Manly! I would not have known him till I felt his light, caring hand on me once more. How wonderful it felt to finally be home.

THE END



ADDITIONAL VOCABULARY WORDS
autumn - the season of the year between summer and winter
beans - any of several related plants or their seeds
behaved - to act in a particular way; conduct; to act properly
blinkers - leather flaps on a bridle to shut off a horse’s side vision
bran - the partly ground husk of wheat or other grain, separated from flour meal by sifting.
bridle - part of the harness of a horse, consisting usually of a headstall, bit, and reins
cavalry – the part of a military force composed of troops that serve on horseback
chestnut - reddish brown
coachman - a man employed to drive a coach or carriage
colt - a male horse of not more than four years of age
confidence - full trust; belief in the powers, trustworthiness, or reliability of a person or thing
cripple - a person or animal that is partially or totally unable to use one or more limbs; disabled or impaired in any way
cruelty - the state or quality of willfully or knowingly causing pain or distress to others
elegant - luxurious in dress, style, design; gracefully refined and dignified
farrier - one who shoes horses
folks - people in general
gallop - to run rapidly by leaps, as a horse; ride at full speed
gardens - a plot of ground, usually near a house, where flowers, vegetables, fruits, shrubs or herbs are cultivated
governess - a woman who is employed to take charge of a child's education or upbringing
hay – grass cut and dried for use as food for horses or cattle
horse-for-hire – a horse that is used for different services for wages or other payment:
humbug - a person who is not what he or she claims or pretends to be
ignorance - lack of knowledge, learning, information, the condition of being uneducated, unaware, or uninformed
ill-treated – badly treated
livery stable - a stable where horses and vehicles are cared for or rented out for pay
looking glass - anything used as a mirror, as highly polished metal or a reflecting surface
magistrate - a minor judicial officer, as a justice of the peace or the judge of a police court, having jurisdiction to try minor criminal cases and to conduct preliminary examinations of persons charged with serious crimes
mane - the long hair growing on the back of or around the neck and neighboring parts of some animals, as the horse or lion
mare - a fully mature female horse
master - an owner of an animal or slave; an employer
mistress - a female owner of an animal ; a woman who has authority, control, or power, esp. the female head of a household, institution, or other establishment
musket - a heavy, large-caliber smoothbore gun for infantry soldiers, introduced in the 16th century: the predecessor of the modern rifle
necktie - a band of decorative fabric worn around the neck, under the collar, and tied in front to hang down the front of a shirt or to form a small bow
neigh -the cry of a horse; whinny
nervous – very excitable; highly excitable; unnaturally or acutely uneasy or apprehensive
oats - the seed of a plant, used as a food for humans and animals
orchard - an area of land devoted to growing or the cultivation of fruit or nut trees
pert - boldly forward in speech or behavior
pony - a small horse of any of several breeds
potato - a South American plant used as food; an edible tuber
regiment - a unit of military ground forces, consisting of two or more battalions or battle groups, a headquarters unit, and certain supporting units
rider - a person who rides a horse or other animal
riverbanks - the bank of a river; land by the side of a river
rye grass - any of several grasses having simple stems; used as animal food
saddle – a seat for a rider on the back of a horse or other animal
sigh - to let out one's breath and be heard, as from sorrow, weariness, or relief
stable - a place or building for the lodging and feeding of horses
steeplechase - a horse race over a turf course furnished with artificial ditches, hedges, and other obstacles over which the horses must jump
straw - a single stem, esp. of certain kinds of grain, mostly wheat, rye, oats, and barley
tail - the hindmost part of an animal
temper - a particular state of mind or feelings; habit of mind, esp. with respect to irritability or patience, outbursts of anger, or the like
thief - a person who steals, takes without permission esp. secretly or without open force; one guilty of theft or larceny
twice - two times, as in succession
vicar - a person acting as priest of a parish in place of the rector, or as representative of a religious community to which tithes belong
whiskers - a beard; a mustache
whisper- to speak with soft, hushed sounds; to talk softly and privately
woods - a large area or a thick collection of growing trees; a grove or forest

Anna Sewell


Anna Sewell was born in Great Yarmouth, Norfolk, England, in a Quaker family. At the age of 14, she fell while walking home from school in the rain, injuring both her ankles. Many believed she was a victim of mistreatment for her injury and as such became lame for the rest of her life.

She was unable to stand or walk for any length of time. For greater mobility, she frequently used horse-drawn carriages. This may have contributed to her love of horses and concern for the humane treatment of animals.

Anna never married nor had children. She lived mostly at home, and remained very close to her mother, Mary Wright Sewell. As Quakers, the Sewells, and her mother's family, the Wrights, were active in good works. Mary wrote evangelical children's books, several of which Anna helped to edit.

She wrote Black Beauty between 1871 and 1877. Anna once said she wrote Black Beauty aiming to “induce kindness, sympathy, and an understanding treatment of horses". However, though she wrote it for those who worked with horses, Black Beauty is now considered a children’s classic.

Black Beauty, Anna Sewell’s only publication, was written at a time when her health was declining. She was often so weak that she couldn't get out of bed and even writing was a challenge. It is said that there were times when she dictated the text to her mother and from 1876 began to write on slips of paper which her mother then transcribed.

Anna lived long enough to see the book's initial early success but died of hepatitis five months after its publication in 1876. Her birthplace in Church Plain, Great Yarmouth, is now a museum. For ten years, she lived at Blue Lodge, Wick, near Bath and Bristol. The local estate of Tracy Park, now a golf club, is said to be the inspiration for Black Beauty's Birtwick Park.