Скотный двор

           Boxerprofessednottobesorryforwhathadhappened. Ifhemadeagoodrecovery,hemightexpecttoliveanotherthreeyears,andhelookedforwardtothepeacefuldaysthathewouldspendinthecornerofthebigpasture. Itwouldbethefirsttimethathehadhadleisuretostudyandimprovehismind. Heintended,hesaid,todevotetherestofhislifetolearningtheremainingtwenty-twolettersofthealphabet. 

           However,BenjaminandClovercouldonlybewithBoxerafterworkinghours,anditwasinthemiddleofthedaywhenthevancametotakehimaway. Theanimalswereallatworkweedingturnipsunderthesupervisionofapig,whentheywereastonishedtoseeBenjamincomegallopingfromthedirectionofthefarmbuildings,brayingatthetopofhisvoice. ItwasthefirsttimethattheyhadeverseenBenjaminexcited—indeed,itwasthefirsttimethatanyonehadeverseenhimgallop. "Quick,quick!"heshouted. "Comeatonce!They’retakingBoxeraway!" Withoutwaitingforordersfromthepig,theanimalsbrokeoffworkandracedbacktothefarmbuildings. Sureenough,thereintheyardwasalargeclosedvan,drawnbytwohorses,withletteringonitssideandasly-lookingmaninalow-crownedbowlerhatsittingonthedriver’sseat. AndBoxer’sstallwasempty. 

           Theanimalscrowdedroundthevan. "Good-bye,Boxer!"theychorused,"good-bye!" 

           "Fools!Fools!"shoutedBenjamin,prancingroundthemandstampingtheearthwithhissmallhoofs. "Fools!Doyounotseewhatiswrittenonthesideofthatvan?" 

           Thatgavetheanimalspause,andtherewasahush. Murielbegantospelloutthewords. ButBenjaminpushedherasideandinthemidstofadeadlysilenceheread: