Chapter 10

           Yearspassed. Theseasonscameandwent,theshortanimallivesfledby. AtimecamewhentherewasnoonewhorememberedtheolddaysbeforetheRebellion,exceptClover,Benjamin,Mosestheraven,andanumberofthepigs. 

           Murielwasdead; Bluebell,Jessie,andPincherweredead. Jonestoowasdead—hehaddiedinaninebriates’homeinanotherpartofthecountry. Snowballwasforgotten.Boxerwasforgotten,exceptbythefewwhohadknownhim. Cloverwasanoldstoutmarenow,stiffinthejointsandwithatendencytorheumyeyes. Shewastwoyearspasttheretiringage,butinfactnoanimalhadeveractuallyretired. Thetalkofsettingasideacornerofthepastureforsuperannuatedanimalshadlongsincebeendropped. Napoleonwasnowamatureboaroftwenty-fourstone. Squealerwassofatthathecouldwithdifficultyseeoutofhiseyes. OnlyoldBenjaminwasmuchthesameasever,exceptforbeingalittlegreyeraboutthemuzzle,and,sinceBoxer’sdeath,moremoroseandtaciturnthanever. 

           Thereweremanymorecreaturesonthefarmnow,thoughtheincreasewasnotsogreatashadbeenexpectedinearlieryears. ManyanimalshadbeenborntowhomtheRebellionwasonlyadimtradition,passedonbywordofmouth,andothershadbeenboughtwhohadneverheardmentionofsuchathingbeforetheirarrival. ThefarmpossessedthreehorsesnowbesidesClover. Theywerefineupstandingbeasts,willingworkersandgoodcomrades,butverystupid. NoneofthemprovedabletolearnthealphabetbeyondtheletterB. TheyacceptedeverythingthattheyweretoldabouttheRebellionandtheprinciplesofAnimalism,especiallyfromClover,forwhomtheyhadanalmostfilialrespect;butitwasdoubtfulwhethertheyunderstoodverymuchofit.