Скотный двор

           Butiftherewerehardshipstobeborne,theywerepartlyoffsetbythefactthatlifenowadayshadagreaterdignitythanithadhadbefore. Thereweremoresongs,morespeeches,moreprocessions. NapoleonhadcommandedthatonceaweekthereshouldbeheldsomethingcalledaSpontaneousDemonstration,theobjectofwhichwastocelebratethestrugglesandtriumphsofAnimalFarm. Attheappointedtimetheanimalswouldleavetheirworkandmarchroundtheprecinctsofthefarminmilitaryformation,withthepigsleading,thenthehorses,thenthecows,thenthesheep,andthenthepoultry. ThedogsflankedtheprocessionandattheheadofallmarchedNapoleon’sblackcockerel. BoxerandCloveralwayscarriedbetweenthemagreenbannermarkedwiththehoofandthehornandthecaption,"LongliveComradeNapoleon!" AfterwardstherewererecitationsofpoemscomposedinNapoleon’shonour,andaspeechbySquealergivingparticularsofthelatestincreasesintheproductionoffoodstuffs,andonoccasionashotwasfiredfromthegun. ThesheepwerethegreatestdevoteesoftheSpontaneousDemonstration,andifanyonecomplained(asafewanimalssometimesdid,whennopigsordogswerenear)thattheywastedtimeandmeantalotofstandingaboutinthecold,thesheepweresuretosilencehimwithatremendousbleatingof"Fourlegsgood,twolegsbad!" Butbyandlargetheanimalsenjoyedthesecelebrations. Theyfounditcomfortingtoberemindedthat,afterall,theyweretrulytheirownmastersandthattheworktheydidwasfortheirownbenefit. Sothat,whatwiththesongs,theprocessions,Squealer’slistsoffigures,thethunderofthegun,thecrowingofthecockerel,andtheflutteringoftheflag,theywereabletoforgetthattheirbellieswereempty,atleastpartofthetime. 

           InApril,AnimalFarmwasproclaimedaRepublic,anditbecamenecessarytoelectaPresident. Therewasonlyonecandidate,Napoleon,whowaselectedunanimously.