Chapter 9

           Boxer’ssplithoofwasalongtimeinhealing. Theyhadstartedtherebuildingofthewindmillthedayafterthevictorycelebrationswereended. Boxerrefusedtotakeevenadayoffwork,andmadeitapointofhonournottoletitbeseenthathewasinpain. IntheeveningshewouldadmitprivatelytoCloverthatthehooftroubledhimagreatdeal. Clovertreatedthehoofwithpoulticesofherbswhichshepreparedbychewingthem,andbothsheandBenjaminurgedBoxertoworklesshard. "Ahorse’slungsdonotlastforever,"shesaidtohim. ButBoxerwouldnotlisten. Hehad,hesaid,onlyonerealambitionleft—toseethewindmillwellunderwaybeforehereachedtheageforretirement. 

           Atthebeginning,whenthelawsofAnimalFarmwerefirstformulated,theretiringagehadbeenfixedforhorsesandpigsattwelve,forcowsatfourteen,fordogsatnine,forsheepatseven,andforhensandgeeseatfive. Liberalold-agepensionshadbeenagreedupon. Asyetnoanimalhadactuallyretiredonpension,butoflatethesubjecthadbeendiscussedmoreandmore. Nowthatthesmallfieldbeyondtheorchardhadbeensetasideforbarley,itwasrumouredthatacornerofthelargepasturewastobefencedoffandturnedintoagrazing-groundforsuperannuatedanimals. Forahorse,itwassaid,thepensionwouldbefivepoundsofcornadayand,inwinter,fifteenpoundsofhay,withacarrotorpossiblyanappleonpublicholidays. Boxer’stwelfthbirthdaywasdueinthelatesummerofthefollowingyear. 

           Meanwhilelifewashard. Thewinterwasascoldasthelastonehadbeen,andfoodwasevenshorter. Onceagainallrationswerereduced,exceptthoseofthepigsandthedogs. Atoorigidequalityinrations,Squealerexplained,wouldhavebeencontrarytotheprinciplesofAnimalism.