Black Beauty

1/6 Black Beauty.that I should have good food, and when the cravkig came onI used to get a cup of coffee, or some peppermint, or read abit in my book, and that was a help to me ; sometimes I hadto say over to myself, Give up the drink or ' lose your soul i'Give up the drink or break Polly's heart ! But thanks be toGod, and my dear wife, my chains were broken, and now for"ten years I have not tasted a drop, and never wish for it."I've a great mind to try at it," said Grant, "for 'tis apoor thing not to be one's own master,"" Do, Govenor, do, you'll never repent it, and what a helpit would be to some of the poor fellows in our rank if they sawyou do without it. I know there is two or three would like tokeep out of that tavern if they could."At first Captain seemed to do well, but he was a very oldhorse, and it was only his wonderful constitution, and Jerry'scare, that had kept him up at the cab work so long ; now hebroke down very much. The farrier said he might mend upenough to sell for a few pounds, but Jerry said, no ! a fewpounds got by selling a good old servant into hard work andmisery would canker all the rest of his money, and he thoughtthe kindest thing he could do for the fine old fellow would beto put a sure bullet through his head, and then he wouldnever suffer more, for he did not know where to find a kindmaster for the rest of his days.The day after this was decided, Harry took me to theforge for some new shoes ; when I returned. Captain wasgone. I and the family all felt it very much.Jerry had now to look out for another horse, and he soonheard of one through an acquaintance who was under-groom ina nobleman's stables. He was a valuable young horse, but hehad run away, smashed into another carriage, flung his lordshipout, and so cut and blemished himself that he was nolonger fit for a gentleman's stables, and the coachman hadorders to look round, and sell him as well as he could.