Black Beauty｜黑骏马

原著作者｜安娜·休厄尔

• Long long ago on a quiet country meadow a black foal was born
• His coat shone like the night and a small white star rested on his forehead
• His mother stood beside him looking down with calm steady eyes
• She taught him to be kind and to remember that gentleness was not fear
• The foal grew among grass and sunlight the world felt whole and safe
• He learned to run and to stand still when people came near
• People began to call him Black Beauty a name full of praise and hope
• His first home was Squire Gordons estate
• The people there never spoke in haste
• John the groom cared for him with steady gentle hands
• A young boy often watched quietly from the side
• He learned that human kindness could be learned
• Trust grew naturally in that place
• Black Beauty believed life would always be this way
• Then a quiet unease entered the house
• Mrs Gordon fell ill and had to leave for a warmer land
• Leaving meant farewell and some could not go along
• Black Beauty was led from the stable
• He looked back once not understanding
• The new house was grand and neat
• The new master cared more for looks than feeling
• The mistress loved to be admired
• She ordered a tight rein to hold his head high
• Black Beauty did not know why only that pain slowly grew
• He endured in silence remembering how to be good
• He pulled the carriage steadily though breathing was heavy
• No one noticed his suffering
• One stormy night the stable door was left open
• Hungry and tired he wandered out
• He slipped on wet stones and fell hard
• Pain held him down as rain washed over him
• In the morning only the scars were seen
• The master said he was no longer perfect
• Black Beauty was sold again
• This time he learned to be silent
• He came to London loud and crowded
• His owner Jerry was honest and kind
• Life was hard but never cruel
• Black Beauty felt safe again
• He saw horses beaten in the streets
• He met Ginger once gentle like himself
• Now she was angry and broken
• She said humans break us then blame us
• Black Beauty remembered his mothers voice
• Winter came and Jerry fell ill
• Without work horses are quickly sold
• Black Beauty was sold once more
• This master was harsh and impatient
• Food was poor rest was rare
• His strength slowly left him
• One day he collapsed in the street
• He thought this was the end
• A farrier stopped and looked closely
• He said this is a good horse worn out
• The farrier bought him and gave him care
• Strength returned little by little
• One day a gentleman came to buy a horse
• His eyes rested on the white star
• Memory returned it was Joe
• The boy who learned kindness long ago
• Black Beauty returned to the countryside
• He did not understand human good or evil
• But he remembered how to trust
• And that trust was not wasted