Чорний красень

32 A Horse Fair

           Iwasputwithtwoorthreeotherstrong,useful-lookinghorses,andagoodmanypeoplecametolookatus.Thegentlemenalwaysturnedfrommewhentheysawmybrokenknees;thoughthemanwhohadmesworeitwasonlyaslipinthestall.

           Thefirstthingwastopullmymouthopen,thentolookatmyeyes,thenfeelallthewaydownmylegs,andgivemeahardfeeloftheskinandflesh,andthentrymypaces.Itwaswonderfulwhatadifferencetherewasinthewaythesethingsweredone.Somediditinarough,offhandway,asifonewasonlyapieceofwood;whileotherswouldtaketheirhandsgentlyoverone’sbody,withapatnowandthen,asmuchastosay,“Byyourleave.”OfcourseIjudgedagooddealofthebuyersbytheirmannerstomyself.

           Therewasoneman,Ithought,ifhewouldbuyme,Ishouldbehappy.Hewasnotagentleman,noryetoneoftheloud,flashysortthatcallthemselvesso.Hewasratherasmallman,butwellmade,andquickinallhismotions.Iknewinamomentbythewayhehandledme,thathewasusedtohorses;hespokegently,andhisgrayeyehadakindly,cheerylookinit.Itmayseemstrangetosay—butitistrueallthesame—thattheclean,freshsmelltherewasabouthimmademetaketohim;nosmellofoldbeerandtobacco,whichIhated,butafreshsmellasifhehadcomeoutofahayloft.Heofferedtwenty-threepoundsforme,butthatwasrefused,andhewalkedaway.Ilookedafterhim,buthewasgone,andaveryhard-looking,loud-voicedmancame.Iwasdreadfullyafraidhewouldhaveme;buthewalkedoff.Oneortwomorecamewhodidnotmeanbusiness.

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