Скотный двор

           Apartfromtheregularworkofthefarm,andtherebuildingofthewindmill,therewastheschoolhousefortheyoungpigs,whichwasstartedinMarch. Sometimesthelonghoursoninsufficientfoodwerehardtobear,butBoxerneverfaltered. Innothingthathesaidordidwasthereanysignthathisstrengthwasnotwhatithadbeen. Itwasonlyhisappearancethatwasalittlealtered;hishidewaslessshinythanithadusedtobe,andhisgreathaunchesseemedtohaveshrunken. Theotherssaid,"Boxerwillpickupwhenthespringgrasscomeson";butthespringcameandBoxergrewnofatter. Sometimesontheslopeleadingtothetopofthequarry,whenhebracedhismusclesagainsttheweightofsomevastboulder,itseemedthatnothingkepthimonhisfeetexceptthewilltocontinue. Atsuchtimeshislipswereseentoformthewords,"Iwillworkharder";hehadnovoiceleft. OnceagainCloverandBenjaminwarnedhimtotakecareofhishealth,butBoxerpaidnoattention. Histwelfthbirthdaywasapproaching. Hedidnotcarewhathappenedsolongasagoodstoreofstonewasaccumulatedbeforehewentonpension. 

           Lateoneeveninginthesummer,asuddenrumourranroundthefarmthatsomethinghadhappenedtoBoxer. Hehadgoneoutalonetodragaloadofstonedowntothewindmill. Andsureenough,therumourwastrue. Afewminuteslatertwopigeonscameracinginwiththenews; "Boxerhasfallen!Heislyingonhissideandcan’tgetup!" 

           Abouthalftheanimalsonthefarmrushedouttotheknollwherethewindmillstood. TherelayBoxer,betweentheshaftsofthecart,hisneckstretchedout,unableeventoraisehishead. Hiseyeswereglazed,hissidesmattedwithsweat. Athinstreamofbloodhadtrickledoutofhismouth. Cloverdroppedtoherkneesathisside. 

           "Boxer!"shecried,"howareyou?"