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| author | www-data <www-data@mail.pglaf.org> | 2026-04-18 16:07:30 -0700 |
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| committer | www-data <www-data@mail.pglaf.org> | 2026-04-18 16:07:30 -0700 |
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diff --git a/78484-h/78484-h.htm b/78484-h/78484-h.htm new file mode 100644 index 0000000..0780b61 --- /dev/null +++ b/78484-h/78484-h.htm @@ -0,0 +1,4428 @@ +<!DOCTYPE html> +<html lang="en"> +<head> + <meta charset="UTF-8"> + <title> + Neddy | Project Gutenberg + </title> + <link rel="icon" href="images/cover.jpg" type="image/x-cover"> + <style> + +body { + margin-left: 10%; + margin-right: 10%; +} + + h1,h2,h3,h4,h5,h6 { + text-align: center; /* all headings centered */ + clear: both; +} + +p { + margin-top: .51em; + text-align: justify; + margin-bottom: .49em; + text-indent: 1em; +} + +hr { + width: 33%; + margin-top: 2em; + margin-bottom: 2em; + margin-left: 33.5%; + margin-right: 33.5%; + clear: both; +} + +hr.chap {width: 65%; margin-left: 17.5%; margin-right: 17.5%;} + +div.chapter {page-break-before: always;} +h2.nobreak {page-break-before: avoid;} + +table { + margin-left: auto; + margin-right: auto; +} +table.autotable { border-collapse: collapse; } + +.tdl {text-align: left;} +.tdr {text-align: right;} + +.pagenum { /* uncomment the next line for invisible page numbers */ + /* visibility: hidden; */ + position: absolute; + left: 92%; + font-size: small; + text-align: right; + font-style: normal; + font-weight: normal; + font-variant: normal; + text-indent: 0; + color: #A9A9A9; +} /* page numbers */ + +.center {text-align: center;} + +.smcap {font-variant: small-caps;} + +/* Images */ + +img { + max-width: 100%; + height: auto; +} +img.w100 {width: 100%;} + + +.figcenter { + margin: auto; + text-align: center; + page-break-inside: avoid; + max-width: 100%; +} + +/* Footnotes */ +.footnotes {border: 1px dashed;} + +.footnote {margin-left: 10%; margin-right: 10%; font-size: 0.9em;} + +.footnote .label {position: absolute; right: 84%; text-align: right;} + +.fnanchor { + vertical-align: super; + font-size: .8em; + text-decoration: + none; +} + +/* Poetry */ +/* uncomment the next line for centered poetry */ +.poetry-container {display: flex; justify-content: center;} +.poetry-container {text-align: center; font-size: 90%;} +.poetry {text-align: left; margin-left: 5%; margin-right: 5%;} +.poetry .stanza {margin: 1em auto;} +.poetry .verse {text-indent: -3em; padding-left: 3em;} + +.fs70 {font-size: 70%} +.fs80 {font-size: 80%} +.fs90 {font-size: 90%} +.fs120 {font-size: 120%} +.fs150 {font-size: 150%} +.fs200 {font-size: 200%} +.fs300 {font-size: 300%} + +.no-indent {text-indent: 0em;} +.wsp {word-spacing: 0.3em;} +.lh {line-height: 1.5em;} + +h2 {font-size: 130%; font-weight: normal; line-height: 1.6em; word-spacing: .3em;} + +/* Poetry indents */ +.poetry .indent0 {text-indent: -3.0em;} +.poetry .indent1 {text-indent: -2.5em;} + + +/* Illustration classes */ +.illowp85 {width: 85%;} + </style> +</head> +<body> +<div style='text-align:center'>*** START OF THE PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK 78484 ***</div> + +<div class="figcenter" style="width: 85%"> +<img src="images/cover.jpg" alt="" data-role="presentation"> +</div> + + +<hr class="chap x-ebookmaker-drop"> + +<div class="chapter"> +<h1> +NEDDY +</h1> + +<p class="center no-indent fs120 wsp"> + <em>The Autobiography of a Donkey</em> +</p> +</div> + + +<hr class="chap x-ebookmaker-drop"> + +<div class="chapter"> +<figure class="figcenter illowp85" id="frontis" style="max-width: 39.4375em;"> + <img class="w100" src="images/frontis.jpg" alt=""> +</figure> +</div> + + +<hr class="chap x-ebookmaker-drop"> + +<div class="chapter"> +<figure class="figcenter illowp85" id="titlepage" style="max-width: 39.1875em;"> + <img class="w100" src="images/titlepage.jpg" alt=""> + <figcaption> + <br> + Illustrated Animal<br> + <br> + Autobiographical Series<br> + <br> + <span class="fs200">NEDDY</span><br> + <span class="fs150 wsp">The Autobiography<br> + of a</span><br> + <span class="fs200">DONKEY</span><br> + <br> + <em>Edited by</em><br> + <span class="fs150">Charles Welsh</span><br> + <br> + <br> + <span class="smcap fs120 wsp">H M Caldwell Co.</span><br> + BOSTON—NEW YORK + </figcaption> +</figure> +</div> + +<hr class="chap x-ebookmaker-drop"> + +<div class="chapter"> +<p class="center no-indent wsp"> + <em>Copyright, 1905</em><br> + <span class="smcap">By H. M. Caldwell Co.</span><br> + <br> + <br> + <em>COLONIAL PRESS</em><br> + <em>Electrotyped and Printed by C. H. Simonds & Co.</em><br> + <em>Boston, U.S.A.</em> +</p> +</div> + + +<hr class="chap x-ebookmaker-drop"> +<div class="chapter"> + <h2 class="nobreak" id="PREFACE"> + PREFACE + </h2> +</div> + +<div class="figcenter" style="width: 15%"> +<img src="images/divider.jpg" alt="" data-role="presentation"> +</div> +<br> + +<p><span class="smcap">The</span> leading incident of this autobiography +of a donkey actually occurred, and +the scene at the police station was described +by the <em>Times</em> newspaper in London at the +time of the trial. Two others are taken +from a French source.</p> + + +<hr class="chap x-ebookmaker-drop"> +<div class="chapter"> + <h2 class="nobreak" id="CONTENTS"> + CONTENTS + </h2> +</div> + +<div class="figcenter" style="width: 15%"> +<img src="images/divider.jpg" alt="" data-role="presentation"> +</div> +<br> + +<table class="autotable lh"> +<tr> +<td class="tdr fs70"> +CHAPTER +</td> +<td class="tdl"> +</td> +<td class="tdr fs70"> +PAGE +</td> +</tr> +<tr> +<td class="tdr"> +I. +</td> +<td class="tdl"> +<span class="smcap">Neddy’s Earliest Recollections</span> +</td> +<td class="tdr"> +<a href="#Page_11">11</a> +</td> +</tr> +<tr> +<td class="tdr"> +II. +</td> +<td class="tdl"> +<span class="smcap">Neddy’s First Lesson</span> +</td> +<td class="tdr"> +<a href="#Page_33">33</a> +</td> +</tr> +<tr> +<td class="tdr"> +III. +</td> +<td class="tdl"> +<span class="smcap">Neddy Runs Away</span> +</td> +<td class="tdr"> +<a href="#Page_49">49</a> +</td> +</tr> +<tr> +<td class="tdr"> +IV. +</td> +<td class="tdl"> +<span class="smcap">Neddy’s Trick, and What Came of It</span> +</td> +<td class="tdr"> +<a href="#Page_63">63</a> +</td> +</tr> +<tr> +<td class="tdr"> +V. +</td> +<td class="tdl"> +<span class="smcap">Neddy at the Fair</span> +</td> +<td class="tdr"> +<a href="#Page_83">83</a> +</td> +</tr> +<tr> +<td class="tdr"> +VI. +</td> +<td class="tdl"> +<span class="smcap">Neddy Changes Masters</span> +</td> +<td class="tdr"> +<a href="#Page_95">95</a> +</td> +</tr> +<tr> +<td class="tdr"> +VII. +</td> +<td class="tdl"> +<span class="smcap">Neddy Travels</span> +</td> +<td class="tdr"> +<a href="#Page_117">117</a> +</td> +</tr> +<tr> +<td class="tdr"> +VIII. +</td> +<td class="tdl"> +<span class="smcap">Neddy Gets Home Again</span> +</td> +<td class="tdr"> +<a href="#Page_151">151</a> +</td> +</tr> +</table> + + +<hr class="chap x-ebookmaker-drop"> +<div class="chapter"> + <h2 class="nobreak" id="LIST_OF_ILLUSTRATIONS"> + LIST OF ILLUSTRATIONS + </h2> +</div> + +<div class="figcenter" style="width: 15%"> +<img src="images/divider.jpg" alt="" data-role="presentation"> +</div> +<br> + +<table class="autotable lh"> +<tr> +<td class="tdl"> +</td> +<td class="tdr fs70"> +PAGE +</td> +</tr> +<tr> +<td class="tdl"> +<span class="smcap">Neddy</span> +</td> +<td class="tdr"> +<em><a href="#frontis">Frontispiece</a></em> +</td> +</tr> +<tr> +<td class="tdl"> +“<span class="smcap">I was never tired of admiring my long soft ears</span>” +</td> +<td class="tdr"> +<a href="#facing038">39</a> +</td> +</tr> +<tr> +<td class="tdl"> +“<span class="smcap">She jumped up quickly with a little scream</span>” +</td> +<td class="tdr"> +<a href="#facing058">59</a> +</td> +</tr> +<tr> +<td class="tdl"> +“<span class="smcap">At length my adversary, losing his balance, flew over my head</span>” +</td> +<td class="tdr"> +<a href="#facing102">102</a> +</td> +</tr> +<tr> +<td class="tdl"> +“<span class="smcap">I was let out by the hour</span>” +</td> +<td class="tdr"> +<a href="#facing126">126</a> +</td> +</tr> +<tr> +<td class="tdl"> +“<span class="smcap">I went right up to my mistress</span>” +</td> +<td class="tdr"> +<a href="#facing142">143</a> +</td> +</tr> +</table> + + +<hr class="chap x-ebookmaker-drop"> +<div class="chapter"> + +<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_11">[Pg 11]</span></p> + + + <h2 class="nobreak" id="CHAPTER_I"> + CHAPTER I. + <br> + <span class="fs80">NEDDY’S EARLIEST RECOLLECTIONS</span> + + </h2> +</div> + + +<hr class="chap x-ebookmaker-drop"> +<div class="chapter"> +<p><span class="pagenum"><a id="Page_13"></a>[Pg 13]</span></p> + <p class="center no-indent fs300"> + NEDDY + </p> +</div> + +<div class="figcenter" style="width: 15%"> +<img src="images/divider.jpg" alt="" data-role="presentation"> +</div> +<br> + +<p class="center no-indent fs120">CHAPTER I.</p> + +<p class="fs80" style="margin-left: 2em; text-indent: -2em;">MY EARLIEST RECOLLECTIONS—I FIND MY MOTHER +RATHER A DULL COMPANION—I MAKE FRIENDS +WITH OLD THOMAS—THE RETURN OF MY MASTER’S +FAMILY—MY FIRST INTERVIEW WITH MY +DEAR MISTRESS—ANNIE AND I BECOME GREAT +FRIENDS.</p> + + +<p><span class="smcap">This</span> is the Story of a Donkey written +by himself! It is not the first time that +such an indiscretion has been committed, +and doubtless it will not be the last. And, +indeed, if I did not think I had something +pleasant to tell, I would not trespass upon +your patience; but now, as in my old age +I quietly graze through the summer days +in my pleasant green field, or keep myself +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_14">[Pg 14]</span>warm in my comfortable winter shed, I +often think over my past career; and it +seems to me to have been so full of strange +events that I am induced to jot down some +of its most stirring incidents, in the hope +that, while my faults may be a warning to +some, the good resulting from an earnest +desire to do my duty may be a comfort and +encouragement to all.</p> + +<p>My first recollection is of lying quietly +down by my mother’s side on the soft green +grass of a large field. Very pleasant it +looked to me, as I lay there under the +shadow of a great oak-tree, and looked out +upon the sunshiny landscape; and I thought +I should never be tired of being there quite +still, and admiring all the wonderfully beautiful +objects which met my eyes whichever +way they turned.</p> + +<p>But as soon as I began to grow a little +stronger, this state of inaction became tiresome. +My curiosity was aroused to see what +there might be beyond my own little world; +and many a frisk I took away from my +mother’s side, to peep over a hedge into another +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_15">[Pg 15]</span>field, and amuse myself by looking at +some animals very different from ourselves, +which my mother said were cows; but I +did not admire their shape so much as I did +our own; and, as to their horns, I did not +think them half so pretty as our ears. Then, +when I had looked at the cows till I was +tired, off I would gambol to where an iron +fence separated our field from a long sloping +lawn, bright with beds of many-coloured +flowers. Every day I seemed to spy out +something more beautiful than before; and +I would gallop back to my mother, and ask +her to come and look too, and tell me what +was the name of this or that wonderful new +thing.</p> + +<p>But my mother was not of so adventurous +a spirit; or perhaps she was getting old, +and did not like to be troubled with my +endless questions. She was very ready to +tell me what little she knew; but she was +not the least desirous of increasing her own +stock of knowledge.</p> + +<p>“Ah, my son!” she would say sometimes, +as she gave her ears a melancholy shake, +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_16">[Pg 16]</span>“I foresee there is a great deal of unhappiness +in store for you. Why must you +always be spying into that which does not +concern you? Why are you not content to +stay quietly by your mother’s side? When +you are my age you will know the wisdom +of just simply enjoying your tuft of grass, +or drink of water, without troubling your +head as to what the rest of the world are +doing.”</p> + +<p>“Very likely,” I replied, with a kick of +disdain, for I was a pert young donkey +from my earliest years; “but as I am not +so old as you are by a long way, you need +not expect that I should consider munching +grass from morning to night is the perfection +of happiness. I want to know what +life is, and what goes on beyond this field. +I declare I get sick to death of hearing you +munch, munch, munch, as if you had not +a thought beyond your nose.”</p> + +<p>“Ah, my son!” said my mother, sadly, +“you will know what life is soon enough, +never fear, and what work is, and poor fare, +and hard blows; and then, when your back +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_17">[Pg 17]</span>aches, and your sides are sore, you will remember +your mother’s words, and think +that, if you could but get back again into +this pleasant field, you would trouble yourself +very little with what is going on in the +outer world.”</p> + +<p>For a moment I was silent. Work, poor +fare, and hard blows were not pleasant-sounding +words. I had never heard them +before, and began to wonder what they +meant; but my mind was suddenly distracted +by a sound behind the hedge; off +I scampered to see what it might be, and, +by the time I came back to my mother’s +side, I had forgotten the expressions that +had alarmed me, and was as full of tricks +and gambols as I had been before.</p> + +<p>But though my mother was not fond of +conversation, I gathered, from words which +she would occasionally let fall, sufficient to +make me understand that we belonged to +a gentleman of good property; that my +mother’s business was to draw his wife in +a little carriage, she being in delicate health; +and when I asked why I had never seen +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_18">[Pg 18]</span>her doing this, she told me the family had +all been away for some time, but that she +should be glad when they came home again, +for they were all very kind to her, and often +brought her some nice things, such as a carrot, +or some cabbage leaves, or occasionally +even a small feed of grain.</p> + +<p>The idea of these dainties made my mouth +water, and I began to be as impatient as +my mother for the return of my master’s +family, hoping that I, too, might come in +for a share in her good fortune. So anxious +was I to know when they were coming that +at length my incessant teasing became unbearable +to my mother, and she angrily told +me “to go and ask that old man on the lawn +there, for he was the only person the least +likely to be able to gratify my curiosity.”</p> + +<p>It was very easy to say, “Ask,” but how +was I to make him understand what I +wanted to know? Not but that we were +very good friends. I had made his acquaintance +some time ago, during one of +my visits to the iron fence which shut me +out from my favourite flower-garden. At +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_19">[Pg 19]</span>first, when he had come near me, I was much +frightened, and scampered away as hard as +I could; but he called out so pleasantly, +“Wo—so ho, little Neddy!” that, though +I did not know that was my name, I was +sure he meant me, and so I summoned up +courage to turn around and look him in the +face. And a very kind face it was; and +he held out his hand so coaxingly that I +was induced to come a few steps forward; +but then my heart misgave me, and I took +two bounds back.</p> + +<p>“Whoo! little Neddy—whoo!” said the +kind voice again. “Sure Thomas will not +hurt you. Come, my little man; come and +be scratched.”</p> + +<p>Such an invitation was irresistible. Again +I turned, walking a few steps toward my +new acquaintance; then I stopped.</p> + +<p>“Come! come!” said the voice again; +and I made a few steps more in advance. +Again I heard myself encouraged; and +now I had approached near enough, by +stretching out my neck, to smell whether +there was any mischief in the hand that was +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_20">[Pg 20]</span>stretched out toward me. No; all seemed +safe; and the hand was held steady till I +had been able to sniff all around it, and +satisfy myself that no harm was intended +me. Then the hand was gently raised to +my head, and the pleasantest sensation I +had ever felt in my life passed through my +whole body. Oh, how soothing, how delightful +was that rubbing and scratching! and +I browsed against my new friend, and +looked up in his face, as much as to say: +“Oh, do it again! please, do it again!”</p> + +<p>“What! you like it, little Neddy; you +like it, do you?” said the kind voice. “Ah! +I thought we should soon be friends.”</p> + +<p>Friends I should think we were. From +that day forth I was always on the lookout +for Old Thomas; and no sooner did I see +him come on to the lawn than I would gallop +up to the iron fence, kick up my heels, +and bray out my welcome in my loudest +voice—though, by the way, I soon began +to perceive that this was not the most pleasing +style of address to my friend.</p> + +<p>“There, Neddy, there,” he would say; +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_21">[Pg 21]</span>“that is quite enough of that noise. Be +quiet; do.”</p> + +<p>At first, I must confess, my vanity was +much hurt; I felt inclined to turn my back +and take no further notice of my friend; +but I was soon sensible that I should be the +loser by such folly; and so, wisely endeavouring +to alter my mode of salutation, I +rubbed my nose against the iron fence, and +made the softest and most whinnying tones +of which my voice was capable. It had +the desired effect. Old Thomas evidently +saw that I had got the better of my little +tempers, and was trying my best to be pleasant; +and so he would put down his rake +or his hoe, or leave the flowers he was tying +up, and bring me a few carrots, or an apple +or two, or something equally good; and, as +he was feeding me, he would say, kindly:</p> + +<p>“Ah, little Neddy, you are a good-hearted +little beast! full of spirits, but not +a bit of vice about you; and you will be +a rare beauty one of these days, that you +will. How my young missus will admire +you!”</p> + +<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_22">[Pg 22]</span></p> + +<p>And then I would rub myself against his +hand, and look up in his face, as much as +to say:</p> + +<p>“Who is young missus? Tell me.”</p> + +<p>And so, by degrees, as I say, we had +grown quite intimate, and I could understand +almost everything Thomas said to me; +but I was grieved to find he did not comprehend +my meaning so easily; so that it +was very difficult to get an answer to what +I wished to ask him. Sometimes he would +say:</p> + +<p>“Why, Neddy, you have got such intelligent +eyes, you look almost as if you could +speak. I wonder what you have got to say +to me. Is it more carrots you want, eh, +Neddy?” and he would hold out a carrot +so close to my mouth that, though that was +not what I wanted at all, for the life of me, +I could not resist the temptation of eating +it; and so Thomas misunderstood my meaning, +and went away, thinking, perhaps, +what a greedy little donkey I was, while +all the time I was only seeking for instruction +and information. Ah, well! I have +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_23">[Pg 23]</span>listened since then to what many a man has +said of his neighbour or his friend, and I +have come to the conclusion it is not only +donkeys whose earnest longings after truth +must remain ungratified, and whose best +actions are liable to be misinterpreted. If +man cannot understand his fellow men, no +wonder he knows very little of what we are +thinking.</p> + +<p>On that day when my mother was angry +with me for teasing her, and told me to be +off and ask Old Thomas, I felt piqued and +angry.</p> + +<p>“Who knows,” thought I, “perhaps I +can make him tell me, and then there will +be a triumph, for mother only sends me to +him because she is cross, and because she +thinks I shall never be able to find out.” +So, putting on my most pleasing manners,—for +we can all seem to be very good-humoured +when we have got any end to +gain by it, however cross we feel inside all +the while,—I galloped up to the iron fence, +and began whinnying in my most engaging +tones. It was not long before I attracted +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_24">[Pg 24]</span>the notice of Thomas, who, looking up from +his work, said, in his usual kind tone:</p> + +<p>“Ah, little Neddy, you are come, are you? +I have nothing for you to-day.”</p> + +<p>Now, though I quite understood this disappointing +announcement, I was not one +bit more inclined to go away. I had come +for a particular purpose, and I was determined +to accomplish it, if possible. Our +race have the character of being obstinate; +and, though I like to dignify it by the name +of perseverance, I suppose I am no better +than the rest of my species. Anyway, I +began a series of gambols, such as generally +succeeded in bringing Old Thomas to my +side; but in vain. I kicked my best kicks, +gambolled around in circles, pricked up my +ears, and even tried a short, very short, bray. +It was all to no purpose. Thomas went +steadily on with his work, paying no attention +to all my tricks. At length, sick of +an exhibition which attracted no admirers, +I was on the point of returning to my mother’s +side, very much out of humour, when +suddenly I saw Thomas leave off work for +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_25">[Pg 25]</span>an instant, and, resting on his spade, he +looked toward me. This was encouragement +enough; and again drawing near the +fence, I began rubbing my nose against +it more wistfully than before.</p> + +<p>“Poor little Neddy!” he said, as he +walked slowly up to me; “you will soon +have a better playfellow than I am.”</p> + +<p>I pricked up my ears at these words. +“Ah!” thought I, “now it is coming.”</p> + +<p>“You see I have no time to waste with +you to-day, Neddy,” continued Thomas. +“I have got to get the place to rights. +The master’s coming home. Can you understand +that, Neddy?”</p> + +<p>Understand it? Of course I could; and +I rubbed my head against Thomas’s hand +to ask him to go on.</p> + +<p>“And when he comes, he must not see +so much as a leaf out of its place,” said +Thomas. “No bits of carrots left by the +fence, my little donkey. But it is not long +you will be left without a bite of summat, +I guess. When Miss Annie sees you, I am +very much mistaken if she does not give +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_26">[Pg 26]</span>you more than ever Old Thomas did. You +will forget your old friend then, maybe, +Neddy.”</p> + +<p>Now somehow, though his voice sounded +sorrowful as he said these words, I was so +overjoyed at having made the discovery +that the family were returning that I paid +no heed to Thomas’s grief. My only +thought was to get back to my mother, and +tell her the news as fast as possible. So, +breaking from the kind hand that was stroking +me, I turned hastily away.</p> + +<p>“Ah, it is just like ’em all!” I heard Old +Thomas say. “Men and beasts, they be +much alike; they will come fast enough if +they think you have got anything for them; +and then, when they have got all they can, +off they go like a shot, without so much as +a ‘Thank ye.’”</p> + +<p>I hardly noticed the words then. I was +very young, very conceited, and much +spoiled; but I have often thought of them +since, when I have known what it was to +have my own heart well-nigh broken by the +unkindness of others. Ah me! it is all very +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_27">[Pg 27]</span>well for old folks to preach. The young +ones will never pay a whit more heed to +anything we may say than we did to our +fathers. Every one must buy his experience +for himself. Happy he who pays least +dearly for it!</p> + +<p>A day or two after my last conversation +with Thomas, as I was frisking about the +field, feeling in more than usually high +spirits, I suddenly heard a voice exclaim:</p> + +<p>“Oh, look, look, papa! Did you ever see +such a little darling?”</p> + +<p>My natural self-sufficiency leading me instantly +to suppose that this term could apply +to no other than myself, I turned immediately +in the direction of the speaker, and +for a moment stood astonished as I saw a +beautiful little girl running toward me. +Whether it was that she came so fast toward +me, or whether it was that she was so unlike +Thomas, or anything I had ever seen +before, I cannot say; but a panic seized +me, and without waiting to give a second +look, I galloped off, and never stopped till +I found myself safely by the side of my +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_28">[Pg 28]</span>mother. Then I took courage to look up, +and saw that my pursuer had also given up +the chase.</p> + +<p>Finding this was the case, and emboldened +also by seeing that my mother showed +no sign of alarm, I peeped out again, and +then went a few steps in advance.</p> + +<p>“Gently, Annie, gently, my love,” I +heard the elder person say. “Do not +frighten the little thing. Let us find it +something to eat; it will come then.”</p> + +<p>“Oh, yes, papa! Thomas says it comes +up every day to be fed. I will run and +fetch some carrots; may I?”</p> + +<p>Permission being given, off ran the little +girl, and by the time she returned, I had +sufficiently mastered my emotion to approach +with a tolerable degree of self-possession. +Still, it was not without considerable +alarm that I saw Annie come inside +the fence, and walk up to where I was standing; +and I confess I should have been glad +to have had a protection between us. I dare +say you think this was very silly; and so +it was. But can you never remember, kind +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_29">[Pg 29]</span>reader, the time when your faults or your +follies made you wish to keep the fence between +your best friend and yourself? However, +this was the last time I ever committed +such a mistake with Annie.</p> + +<p>From that day forward we became the +best of friends. I never was so happy as +when I was with her, and few days passed +without two or three visits from her. Sometimes +she would coax me back with her to +the house, and even take me with her into +one of the sitting-rooms.</p> + +<p>But I did not like those visits, and always +escaped from them when I could. It was +quite contrary to my nature to behave with +the degree of quiet propriety which was +necessary in society. My mistress schooled +and taught me to the best of her ability, and +I did what I could to follow her instructions; +but I am afraid I was not at all an apt +scholar. I never felt at my ease in a room +fitted up with all sorts of strange, queer-looking +things, of which I did not understand +the use, and which I always dreaded +I should knock down and destroy, and so +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_30">[Pg 30]</span>get into disgrace; and I took pains to show +her I only came into the house to obey her, +and not from any wish of my own. I think +she understood me, for she would often say, +in her kind, caressing way:</p> + +<p>“Oh, Neddy! you like being out in the +fields, frisking about, better than coming +into the drawing-room. I can see that +plainly enough. But, Neddy, you must +remember you must learn to behave like a +well-bred little donkey; for if you spend all +your life frisking about on the grass, you +will grow up so ignorant that I shall be +quite ashamed of you. And, after all, you +are much better off than I am. I sit for +hours, and hours, and hours, quite still, +learning my lessons, and you—you stupid +little thing!—you are tired if you stand +still for five minutes together. Ah, Neddy! +you have a great deal to learn before your +education is finished.”</p> + +<p>And so I had, though I did not know it +then; and, like a thoughtless little creature +as I was, I did not trouble my head about +what was to take place in the future,—perfectly +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_31">[Pg 31]</span>content to go gambolling about in +the enjoyment of the happy present.</p> + +<p>Those were pleasant times, and my memory +likes to go back to them. It is astonishing +how fond the old are of recalling the +enjoyments of their young days; and perhaps +they are a little apt to forget that what +is so very pleasant to themselves is rather +tedious to others; so I shall keep the remembrance +of the first three happy years of my +life for my own consolation, and pass rapidly +on to the more stirring part of my +existence.</p> + + +<hr class="chap x-ebookmaker-drop"> +<div class="chapter"> + +<p><span class="pagenum"><a id="Page_33"></a>[Pg 33]</span></p> + + + <h2 class="nobreak" id="CHAPTER_II"> + CHAPTER II. + <br> + <span class="fs80">NEDDY’S FIRST LESSON</span> + + </h2> +</div> + + +<hr class="chap x-ebookmaker-drop"> +<p><span class="pagenum"><a id="Page_35"></a>[Pg 35]</span></p> +<div class="chapter"> + <p class="center no-indent fs120"> + CHAPTER II. + </p> +</div> + +<p class="fs80" style="margin-left: 2em; text-indent: -2em;">MY MISTRESS LEAVES HOME—ON HER RETURN I +DO NOT KNOW HER—MY FIRST LESSON, AND +WHO WAS THE BEST MASTER.</p> + +<p><span class="smcap">My</span> master’s family had been away from +home for a long, long time,—so long that +I had almost given up hope of seeing them +again, and was getting very impatient; besides, +my life in the field was very dull. My +mother had left it some time ago, and I +never heard anything of her now. Not that +I regretted that very much. She had long +since ceased to think about me, and had centred +all her affection upon a younger child. +Still, as long as she was in the field, she was +some sort of companion for me, and I was +now growing to an age to be impatient of +solitude, and to wish for more stirring occupation +than wandering around and around +the meadow by myself, and having nothing +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_36">[Pg 36]</span>to do but to eat and to drink. Occasionally, +indeed, I still saw Old Thomas; but our +intercourse was not so frequent as it used +to be, and, indeed, was of quite a different +kind. I no longer felt it consistent with +my dignity to frisk and gambol about; and +even when kindnesses were offered to me, +I could, when I pleased, assume an air of +such perfect indifference that I think, if +my mistress could have seen me, she would +have acknowledged I was rapidly acquiring +that manner of society about which she was +always instructing me. In fact, my perfect +self-possession and entire indifference to +the feelings or comforts of any one but +myself would not have disgraced the most +well-bred exquisite in the land.</p> + +<p>Matters were in this state, when one day, +as I was standing all alone under the oak-tree, +thinking over my own perfections, and +how unworthy my position was of my deserts, +I suddenly heard a well-remembered +voice call: “Neddy! Neddy!” Turning +quickly around, I was on the point of going +to meet the speaker, when, instead of the +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_37">[Pg 37]</span>little girl I knew as my mistress, I beheld +a tall, elegant-looking lady coming toward +me. So, putting on my most dignified air, +I stayed quietly under the great tree, lazily +moving my ears, as much as to say: “Here +am I; if you want me, you must come to +me.”</p> + +<p>“What, Neddy! do you not remember +me? Have you forgotten your mistress? +Oh, Neddy, you ungrateful donkey!”</p> + +<p>She spoke so kindly, and yet so sorrowfully, +that I felt pained to the heart, not +only at my stupidity in forgetting her, but +at my folly in having tried to play off my +grand airs before her. Still, I did not like +to acknowledge myself to have been in the +wrong; and so, instead of doing what my +heart dictated, and galloping instantly to +meet her, I contented myself with coming +a few steps forward, and then standing +perfectly still. I was properly punished for +my pride when I heard my mistress say, +as she turned to her father, who had just +joined her:</p> + +<p>“Oh, papa, would you believe it? Neddy +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_38">[Pg 38]</span>has quite forgotten me. I have always +heard donkeys are stupid and incapable of +feeling attachment; but I thought Neddy +would be an exception. Oh, papa, I am +so sorry!”</p> + +<p>“Neddy, Neddy,” she added, as she held +out her hand, “you do not know how you +have grieved me.”</p> + +<p>To hear myself so kindly spoken to, when +I had deserved such different treatment, +completely broke down my obstinate pride, +and, trotting up to my mistress as fast as +I could, I began to rub my head against +her hand, and to whinny out my sorrow for +my past misconduct and my promises of +amendment for the future,—excuses which +my kind mistress was only too ready to receive; +in a few minutes our reconciliation +was complete, and I felt happier than I had +done for months past.</p> +<br> + +<figure class="figcenter illowp85" id="facing038" style="max-width: 38.875em;"> + <img class="w100" src="images/facing038.jpg" alt=""> + <figcaption> + I was never tired of admiring + my long soft ears. + </figcaption> +</figure> +<br> + +<p>“Poor Neddy!” said my kind mistress, +as she continued to caress me; “I ought +to have remembered that I am as much +changed as you are yourself. Is he not +altered, papa? He is not nearly so pretty +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_39">[Pg 39]</span>as he was when he was little; but he is a +very handsome donkey still. Do you not +think so, papa?”</p> + +<p>Could there be a doubt upon such a subject? +Why, the very idea put me into an +ill-humour, so completely had I brought +myself to believe that I was one of the most +beautiful creatures in the world. Often and +often had I stood for the hour together in +the clear water of the brook which ran at +the bottom of the field, and as I saw my +image reflected in the water, I was never +tired of admiring my long soft ears and the +bright brown of my coat. Ah, well! when +we live very much alone, we are apt to get +very false impressions. It is only by mixing +with our fellows that we learn to estimate +our merits aright. Pushing through the +world rubs off the sharp angles wonderfully.</p> + +<p>I was so engrossed with my own thoughts +of mortified vanity that I did not hear what +passed between Mr. Morton and his daughter, +till suddenly my ears caught the sound:</p> + +<p>“Thomas shall break him in, my love, +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_40">[Pg 40]</span>and then you shall drive him in the little +chaise.”</p> + +<p>“Oh, I shall like that!” replied my mistress. +“Can it be done at once, papa?”</p> + +<p>“Yes, directly Thomas is at leisure.”</p> + +<p>“Then good-bye, Neddy, for to-day,” +continued my mistress, as she again patted +my forehead; “we shall soon be better acquainted. +I wonder whether you will like +drawing me in the carriage as well as playing +with me in the field. Ah, Neddy! will +you be a good little donkey, and trot along +as fast as I know you can trot when you +like to?”</p> + +<p>I rubbed my head against her by way of +reply, and then, when she left me, began +to muse not overpleasantly on the words she +had just spoken. I had no very clear idea, +certainly, of what they meant, but they conveyed +a sort of shadowy notion to my mind +that my days of liberty were over, and that +now I was to be put to some such work as +I had often seen my mother doing. I used +to remonstrate with her then, on allowing +herself to be so tamely yoked to the chaise, +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_41">[Pg 41]</span>drawing it about in all weathers, and tiring +herself to death dragging it up steep hills +and over stony roads; and when she would +gravely shake her head, and say, with a +gentle sigh: “It was her destiny; it was +better to yield to it with a good heart, and +do her duty cheerfully, than to resist and be +beaten,” I used to jeer at her for a meek-spirited +creature, who had not pluck enough +to stand up in her own defence, and tell her +when my turn came she would see a very +different state of affairs.</p> + +<p>“My son,” my mother would reply, “if +you think you have come into the world +merely to amuse yourself, you make a very +great mistake. We have all our allotted +tasks. They must be done. Happy those +who can find pleasure in doing them! Take +my advice. You are placed here to be the +servant of those much stronger and wiser +than yourself. If you resist their will, you +will smart for it with kicks and blows. If +you try to do your duty faithfully, you will +find it will bring its own reward.”</p> + +<p>My mother seldom made so long a speech; +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_42">[Pg 42]</span>and, finding I paid but little attention, she +did not again trouble me with her advice; +and, indeed, I soon forgot her words, till +they were brought back to my recollection +by those of my young mistress, and a very +uncomfortable feeling they gave me.</p> + +<p>The following day I was busy eating my +breakfast, when I saw Thomas come into +the field holding something in his hand. +My suspicions being aroused, I determined +to have a good look at the enemy before +allowing his nearer approach. So, with a +snort of defiance, I started back, prepared, +if necessary, to take to my heels and be off.</p> + +<p>“So—whoo—gently, Neddy,” said +Thomas. “Koop—koop, Neddy,” added +Thomas, putting his arm behind him that +I might not see what he carried in his hand.</p> + +<p>But this action, instead of disarming my +suspicions, only excited them further. If +no foul play was intended, what was there +to conceal? and so, determined to be on the +safe side, with a defiant kick I started off +at a gallop, as much as to say, “Catch me +who can.”</p> + +<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_43">[Pg 43]</span></p> + +<p>I soon found out that Old Thomas’s feeble +legs were no match for my young nimble +ones; and, having the advantage, I kept it, +and a pretty chase I led my old friend. +Now, for a moment, I would stand still +and look at him, as if I intended to give +myself up his prisoner, and then, in an instant, +just as he thought I was within his +reach, I would slip from his touch, and be +off with a gallop to the other end of the +field.</p> + +<p>How long this struggle might have continued, +it is impossible for me to say. +Thomas was evidently losing both his breath +and his temper, whilst I was only getting +my wind in the enjoyment of the game. +But just at this instant who should come +into the field but my young mistress?</p> + +<p>“What, Thomas!” she exclaimed, “cannot +you catch Neddy?”</p> + +<p>“Catch him!” repeated Thomas, standing +still and wiping the perspiration off his +face; “you might as well try to catch the +will-o’-the-wisp. He wants a good flogging, +that he does, to bring him to order.”</p> + +<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_44">[Pg 44]</span></p> + +<p>“Oh, do not flog him!” said my mistress, +in a tone of alarm. “You will spoil his +temper if you do, Thomas.”</p> + +<p>“Spare the rod and spoil the child,” answered +Thomas, in his dry, peculiar way.</p> + +<p>“Ah, we know better than that now, +Thomas,” replied my mistress, with a smile.</p> + +<p>“Just like all you young ones. You +always think you know better than your +elders,” said Thomas, rather gruffly. “A +taste of the whip is a very good thing sometimes; +and, to my thinking, it is a pity some +folks do not get it a little oftener.”</p> + +<p>“The whip is a good executioner, +Thomas, but it is a very bad schoolmaster. +It is much easier to whip a child into a bad +humour than a good one. Of that I am +sure, and I think animals are much the +same.”</p> + +<p>“Sure, Miss Annie, you do not mean to +tell me that you think it right that that little +beast there should tire me to bits and get +no punishment? He knows fast enough +that he ought to come, only he won’t; he +is sly enough for that.”</p> + +<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_45">[Pg 45]</span></p> + +<p>I felt quite flattered by the compliment, +and inwardly rejoiced that I had managed +to outwit Old Thomas so skilfully.</p> + +<p>“But you forget, Thomas, he cannot tell +how much he is tiring you; very likely he +is only frightened. If you will promise me +not to whip him, I will promise to catch +him for you.”</p> + +<p>“You catch him?” said Thomas.</p> + +<p>“Yes, I am sure I could. Will you +promise?”</p> + +<p>“A bargain is a bargain, Miss Annie. +If you can catch him, he is safe from me.”</p> + +<p>Without another word, Annie came +toward me.</p> + +<p>“Here, Neddy, good Neddy, come here; +come to me, Neddy.”</p> + +<p>Should I give myself up? I eyed +Thomas, and I thought: “No, no; soft +words are not enough for me. I will be +off while there is time.”</p> + +<p>But then I looked at my mistress, and I +remembered how kind she had always been +to me, and how grieved I had felt when I +had pained her, and how I had promised +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_46">[Pg 46]</span>myself I would never do so again; and so +I thought to myself, “Here is the time now +to show you are sorry. Give yourself up, +Neddy, without more ado;” and I came a +few steps on to meet my mistress; but then +my heart misgave me, and I stood snorting +and uncertain.</p> + +<p>“What is it, Neddy? What are you +afraid of?” said my mistress, kindly. “No +one will hurt you. Come, then.”</p> + +<p>“She would not surely promise that,” +thought I, “if she could not perform it. +She has never deceived me yet in all these +years. I can trust her;” and so, summoning +up my courage, I walked right up to +Annie, and stood rubbing my head against +her hand. Nothing could exceed Annie’s +delight at this proof of my confidence. She +caressed and fondled me, calling me by +every kind name she could think of, until +at last even Old Thomas seemed somewhat +appeased; for he said, in his pleasant old +voice:</p> + +<p>“To be sure, miss, you have a wonderful +way of your own. The poor beast knows +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_47">[Pg 47]</span>who is his best friend, sure enough. He +need not be afraid of me now, though; my +word is my word, and you have saved him +from a flogging for this once.”</p> + +<p>“Suppose you give me the bridle, +Thomas; I will put it over his neck, and +then you can put the bit in his mouth;” +and in another moment I felt some tight +thing passing over my forehead, and a hard +substance pressing against my teeth, which +made me open my mouth, and then, try as +I would, I could not get rid of the thing. +This was too much for endurance. I was +for springing back instantly, indignant at +what I thought was a trick to deprive me of +my liberty; but it was too late; I was caught +in a trap, and a firm hand held me tightly.</p> + +<p>“Gently, Neddy, gently,” said my mistress; +“you will only hurt yourself by pulling;” +and she patted me in such a caressing +way that, angry as I was, I could not help +listening. “Ah, Neddy! we must all take +the bits in our mouths. You do not know, +Neddy, what I mean; I only wish you did. +But you will soon learn for yourself that +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_48">[Pg 48]</span>it is much better to obey the rein than to +pull away from it.”</p> + +<p>And going back a few steps, and then +coaxing me to follow her, I found for myself +the truth of what she said. It was not +pleasant to have that great iron thing in +my mouth, of course not; but still, as long +as I did not pull against it, it did not actually +hurt me; and so, sulky as I was, I could +not but acknowledge that the wisest course +that remained for me was to obey, and I did +my best to understand what Thomas said +to me, and to do what I was bid; as usual, +my efforts to do right brought their own +reward. Thomas was very fairly patient +with any little blunders that I made; and +as to my mistress, her praise of my conduct +knew no bounds; and when my first day’s +lesson was over, and I stood by her side, +munching carrots and sugar, and feeling +her soft hand constantly patting my forehead, +I thought, why, if this is learning, +it is not so very unpleasant, after all; and +I promised myself I would soon make such +progress as would astonish my kind teacher.</p> + + +<hr class="chap x-ebookmaker-drop"> +<div class="chapter"> + +<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_49">[Pg 49]</span></p> + + + <h2 class="nobreak" id="CHAPTER_III"> + CHAPTER III. + <br> + <span class="fs80">NEDDY RUNS AWAY</span> + + </h2> +</div> + + +<hr class="chap x-ebookmaker-drop"> +<div class="chapter"> +<p><span class="pagenum"><a id="Page_51"></a>[Pg 51]</span></p> + <p class="center no-indent fs120"> + CHAPTER III.</p> +</div> + +<p class="fs80" style="margin-left: 2em; text-indent: -2em;">I RUN AWAY—AM FOUND AND TAKEN HOME AGAIN.</p> + +<p><span class="smcap">But</span> my unruly spirit was by no means +tamed. After much thinking over what had +happened to me, and much wondering as to +what might happen, I made up my mind +to run away.</p> + +<p>So around and around the fence I wandered, +looking for a chance to get through, +and at last I came to a low stile. I was +overjoyed at the sight, and, making a long +run for freedom, took a clear leap over it.</p> + +<p>“No more bridles and no more bits for +me!” thought I, as soon as I found myself +on the other side.</p> + +<p>I looked around me, this way and that, +wondering in which direction I should go. +It did not take me long to decide. Not far +off, as it seemed to my inexperienced eyes, +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_52">[Pg 52]</span>was a large and beautiful forest. So I ran +and ran until I was far out of sight and +hearing of my home. But the forest was +farther off than I expected, and I was thoroughly +tired out when I reached it. However, +it was as large and as beautiful as I +had imagined it to be, and I was soon wandering +in its quiet depths, where I found +plenty of good juicy grass to eat, and plenty +of bright, cool, sparkling water to drink.</p> + +<p>After a good night’s rest, I awoke feeling +ready for any adventure. “I shall +never be found now,” thought I; “no one +will ever come to torment me in this quiet +refuge, and this shall be my starting-point +from which to explore the world.”</p> + +<p>My peace of mind was not to last long, +however, for just then I heard the deep +baying of a big hound, then of another, and +presently a whole pack of them were coming +toward me in full cry.</p> + +<p>Frightened almost to death, and feeling +sure the dogs were after me,—such is the +effect of a guilty conscience,—I fled as +fast as I could to a little brook which I knew +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_53">[Pg 53]</span>was not far off, for I had learned that if +I walked in the water the dogs could not +follow my scent.</p> + +<p>Soon I heard a voice saying: “Find him, +dogs! Fetch him, dogs! Bring him back, +dogs!”</p> + +<p>But, so long as I remained in the water, +I was safe from the dogs, and I began to +run along in the brook. I was safe also +from the men, because there were high +hedges on each side of the brook which hid +me from their view.</p> + +<p>I ran, and I ran, and I ran, for quite +a long time without stopping, until I was +entirely out of breath. Presently the barking +of the hounds began to grow fainter +and fainter. I ceased to hear the voice of +the man who was urging them on, and at +last all was silence.</p> + +<p>Out of breath, as I said, and thoroughly +tired, I rested now to eat and drink. I was +stiff and cold by this time through being so +long in the water, but I did not dare to go +far from it, for fear the dogs should pick +up the scent and be after me again. But +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_54">[Pg 54]</span>presently I regained my courage, got on +to dry land, and trotted along by the side +of the brook until at last I was out of the +forest, and into a meadow where a large +number of cattle were feeding. There I +lay down in the sun in a corner, all by myself, +and rested for a long while in ease and +comfort.</p> + +<p>Just as the evening shadows began to fall, +two men came into the meadow, and one of +them said to the other: “We had better +take the cattle in to-night. They say that +a wolf has escaped from the circus and is +running wild in the wood.”</p> + +<p>“Nonsense!” said the other. “Who told +you that fairy tale?”</p> + +<p>“Well, I heard that the young donkey +belonging to Old Thomas has been taken +away and eaten by a wolf in the forest.”</p> + +<p>“Bah! don’t you believe it! I expect +that the little fool has run away.”</p> + +<p>“They say the wolf is out, anyway, and +we had better call the cattle home.”</p> + +<p>“Just as you say,” said the other; “it’s +all the same to me.”</p> + +<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_55">[Pg 55]</span></p> + +<p>I lay still in my corner. Fortunately the +grass was long enough to hide me, and as +the cattle were not on my side of the field, +the men drove them out of it to the farm +where their masters lived, without seeing +me.</p> + +<p>Now I knew there was no wolf in the +forest, because the donkey of whom they +spoke was myself, and I had not seen a +sign of a wolf anywhere. So I settled down +to sleep as soon as the darkness came, and +in the morning the cattle came back to the +meadow with the two men who drove them +home the night before, accompanied by two +large dogs.</p> + +<p>They belonged to the same pack of +hounds from which I had had so narrow +an escape the day before, and as soon as +they caught sight or scent of me, they ran +madly barking in my direction. Now I +was in real trouble. What should I do? +How could I possibly escape them this +time?</p> + +<p>Away to the edge of the meadow I flew +like lightning; over the hedge I jumped +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_56">[Pg 56]</span>like a mad donkey, and once more I found +my friendly brook.</p> + +<p>Soon I heard the voices of the men I had +seen yesterday. They looked after me as +I was trotting in the brook, and one of them +said:</p> + +<p>“Call off the dogs; that is not our +donkey.”</p> + +<p>“Whose is it, then, I wonder,” said the +other.</p> + +<p>“That must be the donkey the wolf did +not eat,” was the reply.</p> + +<p>“Well, as we have found our own, we +need not trouble about this one.”</p> + +<p>And so the dogs were called off. After +all, you see, it was not me the dogs were +after, but another donkey who had run +away. How true it is, as I have heard it +said, that,—</p> + +<div class="poetry-container"> + <div class="poetry"> + <div class="stanza"> + <div class="verse indent0">“A guilty conscience doth make cowards of us all.”</div> + </div> + </div> +</div> + +<p class="no-indent">Now I went on my way unafraid, and +walked and grazed, and walked and grazed +until I came to another forest. How many +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_57">[Pg 57]</span>miles I had gone I could not tell, but I was +free,—free from bit and bridle and dogs +and men, and that was all I cared for just +then.</p> + +<p>I did not think of the kind, good friends +I had left behind. I did not think of their +anxiety as to what had become of me. I +thought of nothing but that I was free.</p> + +<p>But it began to grow cold as night came +on, and I began to wonder where I should +find shelter till the morning. I trotted on +right through the wood, until I came out +on the other side, and saw a village ahead +of me.</p> + +<p>Just outside of the village was a pretty +little cottage in a garden all by itself. It +was very clean, and very neat and tidy. +At the door sat an old woman busy with her +needle. What put it into my head to do +it I do not know, but I trotted up to her +and put my head on her shoulder.</p> + +<p>She jumped up quickly with a little +scream. But I did not stir, and she began +to pat my neck, and stroke my ears, until +I was sure I had found a friend.</p> + +<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_58">[Pg 58]</span></p> + +<p>“I’m sure you’re a well-bred donkey,” +she said, presently. “I wonder where you +came from, and to whom you belong. If +I can’t find your owner, I shall keep you +myself, for I’m sure I can make you useful. +But I think you must have a master somewhere.”</p> + +<p>I shuddered at the words “make you useful,” +for I had an idea that that must mean +bit and bridle again. But when I heard the +word “master,” I could not help regretting +the home I had left,—Old Thomas and +Miss Annie, and my mother and all her +lessons, which I had so badly learned.</p> + +<p>However, I was determined to keep the +liberty I had earned, and when a bright-looking +little boy of about six or seven years +of age came out of the door to ask his grandmother +to whom she was talking, I at once +made up my mind that we could be friends.</p> + +<p>“Why, granny, where did that donkey +come from? May I stroke him?” said he.</p> + +<p>“Of course, my boy, but he is a stranger +to me,—a lost donkey, I think,—so take +care he does not bite you.”</p> +<br> + +<figure class="figcenter illowp85" id="facing058" style="max-width: 39.0625em;"> + <img class="w100" src="images/facing058.jpg" alt=""> + <figcaption> + She jumped up quickly + with a little scream. + </figcaption> +</figure> +<br> + +<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_59">[Pg 59]</span></p> + +<p>Georgie, for that was his name, tiptoed +to reach me. I did not stir, so as not to +frighten him, but I liked the little lad so +well that I could not help turning my head +and licking his hand.</p> + +<p>“Oh, what a dear donkey!” said Georgie. +“Look, granny, he is licking my hand.”</p> + +<p>“I wonder how he came here all by himself,” +said the old lady. “Run into the +village, Georgie, and inquire if any one has +lost a donkey. I am sure any one to whom +he belongs must be very anxious about him.”</p> + +<p>Off went Georgie, and off I went after +him. When he saw me coming, he said: +“Oh, dear, I must not lose him,” and he +set off at a run back to the house. Soon +he came with a piece of cord, which he put +around my neck, and we started again for +the village.</p> + +<p>First Georgie went to the village inn. +But the innkeeper had not heard of a lost +donkey. Then he went from place to place +where he thought a donkey might have been +living, but nobody was missing a donkey +in that village.</p> + +<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_60">[Pg 60]</span></p> + +<p>At last, however, the village policeman +came along.</p> + +<p>“Hello, Georgie; where did you get that +donkey?” cried he.</p> + +<p>“He came up to our door this afternoon, +and I am trying to find his owner,” said +the brave little fellow.</p> + +<p>“This must be the donkey from the +Hall,” said the policeman. “I will put him +in the pound until I can send for Old +Thomas.”</p> + +<p>“Oh, don’t lock him up,” said Georgie. +“Let me keep him and feed him for one +night, until his master comes and fetches +him.”</p> + +<p>The policeman was a kind-hearted man. +He knew the donkey was safe with Georgie +and his grandmother. He knew, too, that +she had a warm and safe stable for the +donkey, and so Georgie and I trotted back +to his home, where I had a comfortable +night.</p> + +<p>And now I began to think seriously of +what had been happening in the home I had +left, since I had been so foolish as to run +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_61">[Pg 61]</span>away. I did not learn until afterward how +much distress I had caused everybody there, +or how much trouble I had given to those +who had my best welfare at heart. When +I did so, I felt remorse and sorrow enough, +I assure you.</p> + +<p>Well, to make a long story short, the next +morning Old Thomas came and fetched me +away. He did not say much, and I was not +sure if he were glad or sorry to have me +back again. But there was no mistaking +the delighted welcome which my young mistress +gave me, and I made anew the vows +of good behaviour of which I told you at +the end of the last chapter.</p> + + +<hr class="chap x-ebookmaker-drop"> +<div class="chapter"> + +<p><span class="pagenum"><a id="Page_63"></a>[Pg 63]</span></p> + + + <h2 class="nobreak" id="CHAPTER_IV"> + CHAPTER IV. + <br> + <span class="fs80">NEDDY’S TRICK, AND WHAT CAME OF IT</span> + + </h2> +</div> + + +<hr class="chap x-ebookmaker-drop"> +<div class="chapter"> +<p><span class="pagenum"><a id="Page_65"></a>[Pg 65]</span></p> + <p class="center no-indent fs120"> + CHAPTER IV. + </p> +</div> + +<p class="fs80" style="margin-left: 2em; text-indent: -2em;">I LEARN TO DRAW MY MISTRESS’S CARRIAGE—I SEE +THE WORLD, AND LISTEN TO EVIL COUNSEL—A +TRICK, AND WHAT CAME OF IT—AFTER ALL, +HONESTY IS THE BEST POLICY.</p> + + +<p><span class="smcap">It</span> would be tedious to trace the progress +of my education. Suffice it to say that at +last I was pronounced to be so well broken +in that it was thought safe to trust me to +draw my young mistress in a pretty little +carriage that had been made expressly for +me. At first I did not like my new occupation +at all. It was very provoking to +be led out of my pleasant field, when perhaps +I had not half finished my morning’s +meal, or was deep in conversation with some +of my neighbours in the adjoining meadow, +or was luxuriously rolling on the soft grass. +To be taken away from these enjoyments +to drag a carriage over hot, stony roads, and +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_66">[Pg 66]</span>to stand stock-still doing nothing for the +hour together, while my mistress was paying +her visits,—all this seemed to me very dull +and tedious; but gradually I became more +reconciled to my lot.</p> + +<p>If it had its disadvantages, it had its +pleasures likewise. I saw something of the +world; I had the opportunity of conversing +with many of my own species, and of seeing +how much happier my life was than that of +many others; and though, I confess, to my +shame, I was apt to forget this, and to give +way to my temper, and show obstinacy when +things did not go quite as I liked, grumbling +and thinking myself a very ill-used +being, I believe that, on the whole, I learned +wisdom by experience, and gave my dear +mistress as little trouble as could be expected.</p> + +<p>Occasionally, indeed, I sorely tried her +patience. One instance I well remember. +It had chanced that I had been required to +take my mistress to a house which I had +a particular objection to visiting. It was +not only that the road that led to it was hilly +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_67">[Pg 67]</span>and stony, but it was a place where I never +received the slightest civility. No hay or +water was ever offered me, no shed where I +might stand at my ease out of the hot, broiling +sunshine; but I was hitched up tight +to a post, and expected to stand there for +an hour at a time, while a yelping cur would +bark at my heels, and the village children, +peeping at me from over the fence, would +make fun of my helpless condition. All +this was very hurtful to my vanity; and, +having in vain tried to show my mistress, +by my obstinate manner, that I did not approve +of being taken to Barstead, I determined +one day, when, as usual, I was hitched +up to the post, to relieve myself from the +hated bondage, hoping, by constant pulling, +to be able to break the reins and run away +home, leaving my mistress to follow as best +she might.</p> + +<p>But it was in vain for me to pull and +tug; the reins were stronger than I. I was +only fretting myself into a fever, and making +myself more and more uncomfortable. +Thoroughly out of humour, I was venting +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_68">[Pg 68]</span>my anger in a series of impatient snorts, +when suddenly I heard a short, sneering +neigh close to my side; and, looking up, +I saw a little rough pony standing quite +close to me, evidently enjoying my distress.</p> + +<p>“Why, my good friend,” said he, “what +is the matter? You seem very unhappy. +Can I be of any assistance?”</p> + +<p>The patronizing tone in which he spoke +completely disconcerted me, for I do not +know anything more provoking than to expose +your own helplessness and incapacity +to any one superior to yourself in intellect +and station; so, putting on a dogged air +of composure, I declined his kind offer of +assistance, telling him I was only trying to +shift my bridle a bit, and that I had done +it now for myself.</p> + +<p>The mocking neigh which was his only +answer showed me in a moment that my +falsehood was discovered, and that I had +only lowered myself still further in the +opinion of my new acquaintance.</p> + +<p>“My good fellow,” he said, “you do not +suppose I have worn a bridle all these years +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_69">[Pg 69]</span>to learn that you are not going the right +way to ease the bit. Better tell me the +truth. I am older than you, and, if I am +not much mistaken, I have seen a good deal +more of life than you have. Come, what +is the matter? Out with it, and I will help +you if I can.”</p> + +<p>There was something in his cheery, good-natured +manner that conquered my pride, +and, in spite of myself, I soon found that +I was talking to him as if he had been an +old friend, and telling him my grievances +as openly as if he had been my brother.</p> + +<p>“And now,” said I in conclusion, “what +would you advise me to do?”</p> + +<p>“To do?” he said; “why, the next time +your mistress brings you to Barstead, lame +yourself.”</p> + +<p>“Lame myself?” exclaimed I; “why, +the remedy would be worse than the disease.”</p> + +<p>“You little innocent!” said my friend, +with his sneering laugh; “you made no +scruple in telling a lie just now; why should +you find it more difficult to act one?”</p> + +<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_70">[Pg 70]</span></p> + +<p>Involuntarily my ears wagged with horror +as I caught a glimpse of his meaning. +I had been tempted into a hasty falsehood +in support of my dignity. That was bad +enough; but deliberately to enact a lie to +deceive my kind mistress appeared to me +the height of ingratitude and baseness. +Alas! I did not remember how easily one +fault leads to another.</p> + +<p>“You asked my advice, and I have given +it to you,” said the pony. “If you are +afraid to follow it out, why, you must submit +to be tied to a post for the remainder +of your life, and that is the proper place +for cowards. It is only those who have the +pluck to dare and to do who make their way +in this world.”</p> + +<p>“I am not afraid,” said I, rather faintly. +“It is not that.”</p> + +<p>“Well, then, what is it?”</p> + +<p>Coward that I was! I did not dare to +tell him that I feared to do wrong, and vex +my kind mistress; so I only grumbled out +something about the difficulty of deceiving +her.</p> + +<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_71">[Pg 71]</span></p> + +<p>“That is, of course, a point you must +decide for yourself,” replied the pony; +“only you must be a great bungler if you +cannot manage to deceive a woman. In our +relations with mankind, either they or we +must be the masters, and the strongest will +generally carries the day. If force will not +do, try craft; but if you are beaten at both +points, why, then, good-bye to your independence +for all time, and make up your +mind at once to sink into a mere despised +beast of burden for the rest of your life.”</p> + +<p>What further valuable advice my new +acquaintance might have given me, it is impossible +for me to say; for at this moment, +my mistress coming out of the house, the +servant came and untied my reins, and I +was led away from my place of captivity, +having only time to cast a farewell glance +at my friend, and to catch the wicked twinkle +of the bright eyes which glanced from +under his shaggy eyebrows.</p> + +<p>All the way home I thought over his +words; indeed, so lost was I at times in the +reflection that I was unpleasantly aroused +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_72">[Pg 72]</span>by the sharp cut of the whip across my +shoulders, and the sound of my mistress’s +voice reproving me very severely.</p> + +<p>“Ah, Neddy!” she said, as, having at +length reached home, she got out of the carriage +and came and stood by my side, without +giving me so much as one pat; “you +have gone very badly indeed to-day, and +you will not have a single carrot, nor a bit +of bread, nor a taste of sugar,—no, not +one bit. Go away, Neddy,—naughty +Neddy!”</p> + +<p>So that was my first experience of the +fruits of evil counsel. But, alas! my heart +was hardened by the words of the tempter; +and instead of repenting of my fault, my +mistress’s displeasure only made me more +obstinate, and more inclined to try and have +my own way, and to persuade myself that +it was she who was unkind and unjust, and +that if she required me to do that which was +disagreeable to me, why, of course, I, on my +part, was quite justified in avoiding it if +possible.</p> + +<p>The more I brooded over my imaginary +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_73">[Pg 73]</span>wrongs, the more ill-used I considered myself +to be, and the more was I inclined to +follow the advice of my tempter. As is +always the case, by constantly dwelling on +the fault which I longed to commit, it gradually +appeared to me to become less and less +sinful. I found such endless excuses to +justify my conduct to my own mind that +at length I ceased to feel any compunction +whatever on the subject, and only awaited +a favourable opportunity for putting my +intended deception into practice.</p> + +<p>It was not long in offering itself. One +beautiful bright morning, about ten days +after my last visit to Barstead, I was, as +usual, drawing my mistress’s carriage, when +she turned me up the lane which led, I knew, +to the hateful place. “Ah! ah!” thought +I, “I know where you are going to now, +and we’ll see who carries out their purpose, +you or I.” So I cunningly watched my +opportunity, and began to tread a little—just +a very little—lame, stumbling occasionally +as I trotted along.</p> + +<p>“What can be the matter with Neddy?” +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_74">[Pg 74]</span>I heard my mistress say to her companion. +“Do you not think, Emily, he goes lame?”</p> + +<p>“Ah!” thought I; “you see it, do you?” +and I went lamer than before.</p> + +<p>“Yes, certainly,” replied Emily; “he is +quite lame.”</p> + +<p>“Perhaps he has a stone in his shoe,” +said my mistress. “Hold the reins, Emily, +for a moment, if you please. I will get out +and look.”</p> + +<p>“Dear me!” thought I; “now she will +discover the cheat;” and I trembled all over.</p> + +<p>“Poor Neddy! poor Neddy!” said my +mistress, patting me. “He trembles so, he +must be hurt.”</p> + +<p>Would you believe it? Her kindness, +instead of softening my heart, and making +me see my fault, only hardened me the more. +I began to despise her for being such an +easy dupe. This feeling gave me the courage +to stand quite still, whilst my mistress +lifted up first one foot and then another.</p> + +<p>“There is no stone in any one of his feet,” +exclaimed my mistress, in a perplexed tone, +as she stood by my side, “and there doesn’t +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_75">[Pg 75]</span>seem to be a sign of any stone having hurt +him anywhere.”</p> + +<p>“Perhaps it was only the ground over +which we have just come that made him +go lame,” suggested Emily. “I noticed it +was very stony.”</p> + +<p>“Well, it may be that,” replied my mistress; +“we will go on, and try a little way +farther.”</p> + +<p>And, getting into the carriage, she +touched me very lightly with the whip, +saying:</p> + +<p>“Now, Neddy dear, go on.”</p> + +<p>And very, very slowly I went, limping +more, and more, and more at every step +I took.</p> + +<p>“Oh, Emily, I cannot bear this,” I heard +my kind mistress say, in a tone of the sincerest +pity. “It makes me quite miserable +to see the pain the poor creature is in. We +must give up our drive for to-day, and go +home;” and, checking me as she spoke, she +turned me around toward home.</p> + +<p>Oh, how my heart beat with joy to think +of my successful cheat! “Ah! ah!” thought +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_76">[Pg 76]</span>I; “it is all very well for you to hold the +reins, but I can teach you the way to go. +I am master now for all time coming; and +I flatter myself you will never take Neddy +again where he does not wish to go.”</p> + +<p>But my joy was destined to be of short +duration. In my conceited delight at having +so successfully duped my mistress, I +quite forgot that, to make my trick successful, +it was necessary that the deception +should be carried on to the end; and no +sooner was I aware that I was going home +than I trotted off as brisk as could be.</p> + +<p>A hearty laugh from my mistress and +her friend awoke me from my dream of +security. I started as I heard the words, +“Would you have believed that he could +have feigned so skilfully?” and in another +moment I felt myself turned back on the +road to Barstead, whilst the most hearty +whipping I had ever received from my mistress +fell on my devoted shoulders.</p> + +<p>It was in vain for me to go lame now. +I limped till I almost fell to the ground; +my mistress only flogged the harder, until, +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_77">[Pg 77]</span>at length, in despair, I gave up the struggle; +and, although in a thoroughly sulky and +obstinate humour, I consented to draw the +carriage up to Barstead.</p> + +<p>Ah! who may tell what bitter thoughts +were mine, as I stood waiting for my mistress, +tied, as usual, to that horrid post! It +was not only the whipping I had received,—that +was bad enough, and my shoulders +ached again with the cuts,—but to have +been discovered in my cheat, this was what +galled me to the quick, and for the moment +I forgot the fault in the shame of the discovery. +In my rage I looked eagerly +around, hoping I might see my tempter, +and ease my own misery by venting my ill-humour +on him who had given me the evil +counsel. I had better have looked nearer +home, and seen who was the real author of +all my wretchedness.</p> + +<p>But my fault was destined to meet with a +still sharper punishment. Not very long +after this excursion to Barstead, my mistress +was driving me over a road which had just +been repaired, and one of the little flints +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_78">[Pg 78]</span>happened to fix itself just under my shoe, +and on the softest point of my hoof. Oh, +the pain I felt! I shuddered all over; I +could hardly put my foot to the ground, +and limped along in the greatest agony.</p> + +<p>“No, no,” said my mistress, whipping me +sharply; “no more of this nonsense! Come, +make haste and go on.”</p> + +<p>Alas and alas for the lie which I had +acted! How well I remembered how kindly +my mistress had pitied me before! how +soothingly she had caressed me! and how +I had laughed at her for her pains! Ah! +now, instead of whipping me on, increasing +my wretchedness every moment, she would, +but for my own fault, have seen to me as +before, and in a moment my tormentor +would have been removed. The knowledge +that I had brought it all upon myself did +not tend to mitigate the pain; and, though +I tried to limp on as fast as possible, I +nearly fainted with the agony I was enduring.</p> + +<p>At length my evident discomfort moved +the compassion of my kind-hearted mistress.</p> + +<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_79">[Pg 79]</span></p> + +<p>“I do really think Neddy has got a stone +in his foot to-day,” she said; “at any rate, +I will look before I go on any farther.”</p> + +<p>Who may tell how grateful I was for a +kindness so much greater than I deserved? +and, as she got out of the chaise, I held +up my foot that she might know at once +where the stone was, and see that this time +at least I was not deceiving her.</p> + +<p>“Poor Neddy! poor fellow!” exclaimed +my mistress, as she carefully drew out the +stone; “I do not wonder you limped; it +must have hurt you dreadfully. But see, +Neddy, what it is to deceive; no one believes +you when you really are hurt. Cunning +people outwit themselves. I wish I could +make you understand me. I am very sorry +for you poor, poor Neddy!”</p> + +<p>Her kindness softened my heart. Not all +the pain and the punishment could have +made me repent so deeply as did my mistress’s +kind words. Oh, how I wished I +could make her know all that was passing +in my mind! and I rubbed my head against +her, and looked up in her face, hoping she +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_80">[Pg 80]</span>would see how truly I thanked her. For +the moment my feelings toward my mistress +had made me forget my own sufferings; but +no sooner did I put my foot to the ground +than I was recalled to a recollection of my +late agony. It was in vain to attempt to +trot. The slowest hobble gave me such pain +that I was obliged to stand quite still to +recover my breath. My dear mistress +seemed sincerely sorry. She turned toward +home immediately, driving me back as +slowly and gently as possible. On my arrival +at home, warm fomentations were instantly +applied; but there was so much inflammation +that it was days before I could +hobble about even in my field and on the +soft green grass, and not for weeks did I +entirely get over the effects of the accident.</p> + +<p>During this illness of mine, I had plenty +of time for reflection, and for seeing not +only how foolish, but how wrong, my conduct +had been, and what ill results it had +brought on me.</p> + +<p>“Ah, Neddy!” said my mistress one +day, when, as usual, she had been tenderly +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_81">[Pg 81]</span>inquiring after my wounded foot, “I hope +this will be a lesson to you for life.”</p> + +<p>“How can you be so absurd, Annie, as +to talk in this way to a donkey?” said my +mistress’s companion.</p> + +<p>“Neddy understands me: I am sure he +does,” was the reply. “Look how sensibly +he looks up in my face. He can do almost +everything but speak.”</p> + +<p>And though, perhaps, I did not understand +everything she said just in the sense +which you would apply to it, kind reader, +I took in quite sufficient to make me deeply +regret the past, and determine to try and +amend in the future.</p> + + +<hr class="chap x-ebookmaker-drop"> +<div class="chapter"> + +<p><span class="pagenum"><a id="Page_83"></a>[Pg 83]</span></p> + + + <h2 class="nobreak" id="CHAPTER_V"> + CHAPTER V. + <br> + <span class="fs80">NEDDY AT THE FAIR</span> + + </h2> +</div> + + +<hr class="chap x-ebookmaker-drop"> +<div class="chapter"> +<p><span class="pagenum"><a id="Page_85"></a>[Pg 85]</span></p> + <p class="center no-indent fs120"> + CHAPTER V.</p> +</div> + +<p class="fs80" style="margin-left: 2em; text-indent: -2em;"> + AT THE FAIR—A PERFORMING DONKEY. + </p> + +<p><span class="smcap">In</span> my time, fairs in England were very +common, and they were held in most of the +important country towns twice a year, in +the spring and in the fall.</p> + +<p>These fairs were unlike anything that +boys and girls of to-day have seen. They +were held in the main street of the town, +and the booths, or stalls, were erected on +each side of the street, partly on the sidewalk +and partly on the road, leaving only +a very narrow space for people to walk +about, or for horses and carriages to drive.</p> + +<p>This would have been inconvenient, as +all the people from the country roundabout +flocked into the town at fair time, and it +was then more crowded than ever. But, as +every one wanted to linger and loiter and +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_86">[Pg 86]</span>look at the things displayed for sale in the +stalls, and to listen to the descriptions of +the wonders to be seen inside the shows, +menageries, museums, and travelling theatres, +this did not matter very much.</p> + +<p>You will hear more about fairs as you +read farther on in my story, but this seems +to me to be a good place to tell you something +about them as they were when I was +a young and observant donkey.</p> + +<p>One of the most curious things about +these fairs was that they were very often +“hiring fairs,” that is, men and women used +to go and stand in rows and wait for the +squires or the farmers from roundabout to +come and hire them as farm-hands or labourers, +or household help or dairymaids, +or what not. There they would be,—the +men all in a row in their smock-frocks, with +their whips in their hands, on one side of +the street, and the women, neatly dressed +in linsey-woolsey gowns (that was the name +of the stuff) on the other.</p> + +<p>I think I can hear them now: “Where +did you work last year?” one of them would +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_87">[Pg 87]</span>bawl out. And the rest would shout all at +once:</p> + +<p>“Down in Yorkshire,” or Lancashire, or +Berkshire, as the case might be.</p> + +<p>The first speaker would then say: “How +much did you get a year?”</p> + +<p>Then all the rest would reply in chorus:</p> + +<div class="poetry-container"> + <div class="poetry"> + <div class="stanza"> + <div class="verse indent0">“Five pound, and a new whip,</div> + <div class="verse indent1">Fat pork a foot thick,</div> + <div class="verse indent1">And a new knife to cut it with.</div> + <div class="verse indent1">Work! Work! Work!”</div> + </div> + </div> +</div> + +<p>And the things there were to see at these +fairs! Everything that any one could want, +from candy for the babies up to coats and +boots for the men, and dresses and gewgaws +for the women. Fathers and mothers came +with their children. Young men and women +with their sweethearts, and all bought what +were called “fairings” for each other. +Everything bought at the fair was called +a “fairing.”</p> + +<p>Useful things also were sold,—ploughs +and harrows, rakes, spades, and hoes, horses, +wagons and wheelbarrows,—in fact, everything +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_88">[Pg 88]</span>the farmer and the housekeeper might +want.</p> + +<p>But the greatest thing of all was “the +fun of the fair,”—the shows and the museums, +the freak exhibitions, and such like. +There were bearded ladies, fat women, +dwarfs, and giants. Lambs with two heads, +and calves with six legs, and performing +animals without number.</p> + +<p>And this leads me to a story about a performing +donkey, which I heard from a four-legged +friend of mine on one occasion when +I was waiting in the town on a market-day.</p> + +<p>My friend’s name was Neddy, the same +as my own, and one day he went to a fair +where every one was talking about a wonderful +performing donkey who was exhibiting +his tricks in a large tent. “My master,” +said he, “went in the tent, leaving +me by the door, so that I could see what +was going on inside. In a few minutes the +showman appeared leading in the donkey +that was supposed to be so clever. He was +a poor, dismal-looking creature, who looked +as if he wanted a square meal. ‘Ladies and +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_89">[Pg 89]</span>gentlemen,’ began the showman, ‘I have +the honour to introduce to you Mr. Muffles, +the wonderful performing ass. This ass, +ladies and gentlemen, is not such an ass as +he looks. He knows a great deal,—a great +deal more than some of you. He is an ass +without equal. Come, Muffles, show the +company what you can do. Make your bow, +and let these ladies and gentlemen see that +you have learned manners.’ The donkey +went forward two or three steps and bent +his head in most melancholy fashion. I was +indignant with the showman. I thought to +myself, ‘It’s quite easy to see that this poor +Muffles has been taught his tricks by means +of a rope’s end,’ and I made up my mind +to be revenged on that man before the performance +was over.</p> + +<p>“‘Now, Muffles, take this nosegay, and +give it to the prettiest lady here.’</p> + +<p>“Muffles took the bunch of flowers in his +teeth, walked sadly all around the ring, and +at last went and dropped it into the lap of +an ugly, fat woman. She was quite close to +me, and I could see that she had a piece of +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_90">[Pg 90]</span>sugar hidden in her hand. ‘What a fraud,’ +I thought. ‘Of course she is the showman’s +wife.’ I was so disgusted with what +I thought was the donkey’s bad taste that, +before any one could stop me, I leaped clear +into the ring, seized the bouquet in my teeth, +and, trotting around, I at last laid it at the +feet of a little girl I knew, who was really +pretty.</p> + +<p>“The crowd clapped and cheered, and +wondered who I was. ‘<em>So</em> intelligent!’ they +said to each other. Muffles’s master, however, +did not seem so pleased. As for Muffles +himself, he took no notice whatever. I +began to think he must really be rather a +stupid animal, and that, you know, isn’t +common with us donkeys.</p> + +<p>“When the audience was quiet again, the +showman said:</p> + +<p>“‘Now, Muffles, you have shown us the +prettiest lady here. Now go and point out +the silliest person present,’ and, so saying, +he gave him a big dunce-cap made of coloured +paper and adorned with rosettes.</p> + +<p>“Muffles took it in his teeth, and, going +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_91">[Pg 91]</span>straight to a heavy-looking fat boy, with +a face exactly like that of a pig, put it on +his head. The fat boy was so like the fat +woman that it was quite easy to see he must +be the showman’s son, and of course in the +trick.</p> + +<p>“‘Good!’ said I to myself, ‘my time has +come.’ Before they could think of stopping +me, I had taken the cap off the boy’s head, +and was chasing the showman himself +around and around the ring. The crowd +roared with laughter and clapped and +clapped until they were tired. All at once +the showman tripped and went down on one +knee. I profited by this to put the cap +firmly on his head, and to ram it down till +it fairly covered his chin.</p> + +<p>“The showman shouted, and danced +about, trying to tear off the cap, and I stood +on my hind legs and capered about just +as he did until the crowd nearly died from +laughing. ‘Well done, donkey! Bravo, +donkey! It’s you that’s the real performing +donkey!’ they shouted.</p> + +<p>“There was no doing anything after this. +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_92">[Pg 92]</span>Hundreds of people crowded into the ring, +and were so anxious to caress me that I was +afraid they would tear me to pieces. The +people from our own village who knew me +were more than proud of me, and before +very long all the people in the place were +telling wonderful tales of my intelligence +and my adventures.</p> + +<p>“They said I had once been at a fire, and +worked a fire-engine all by myself; that I +had gone up a ladder to the third floor, +opened my mistress’s door, awakened her, +picked her up, and jumped off the roof with +her in safety to the ground. They said +that at another time I had, all alone, slain +fifty robbers, strangling them with my teeth +when they were asleep, and that not one +had time to awake and alarm the others; +that I had then gone into the caves, where +the robbers lived, and had set free a hundred +and fifty prisoners whom the robbers had +captured. At another time they said I had +beaten in a race all the swiftest horses in the +country, and had run seventy-five miles in +five hours without stopping!</p> + +<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_93">[Pg 93]</span></p> + +<p>“The crowd grew thicker and thicker to +hear these wonderful tales, until the crush +was so great that some of the people could +hardly breathe, and the police had to come +to the rescue. It was with the greatest difficulty +that, even with the help of the policemen, +I was able to get away, and I was +obliged to pretend to bite and kick in order +to clear a path; but of course I did not hurt +anybody.</p> + +<p>“At last I got free from the crowd and +into the road.... But after it all was over, +I began to think of the unfortunate showman, +and I felt very, very sorry for the +unkind trick I had played him.”⁠<a id="FNanchor_1_1" href="#Footnote_1_1" class="fnanchor">[1]</a>⁠</p> +<br> + +<div class="footnotes"> +<h3>FOOTNOTES:</h3> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a id="Footnote_1_1" href="#FNanchor_1_1" class="label">[1]</a> This story is from a French source. [Ed.</p></div> +</div> + + +<hr class="chap x-ebookmaker-drop"> +<div class="chapter"> + +<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_95">[Pg 95]</span></p> + + + <h2 class="nobreak" id="CHAPTER_VI"> + CHAPTER VI. + <br> + <span class="fs80">NEDDY CHANGES MASTERS</span> + </h2> +</div> + + +<hr class="chap x-ebookmaker-drop"> +<div class="chapter"> +<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_97">[Pg 97]</span></p> + <p class="center no-indent fs120"> + CHAPTER VI. + </p> +</div> + +<p class="fs80" style="margin-left: 2em; text-indent: -2em;"> +A REAL GRIEVANCE—RICHARD AND I DECLARE WAR +AGAINST EACH OTHER—A STRUGGLE—I GAIN +A VICTORY, AND AM CONQUERED IN MY TURN—I +CHANGE MASTERS, AND ENTER A NEW PHASE +OF EXISTENCE.</p> + +<p><span class="smcap">There</span> is no lot in life so perfectly happy +in which one cannot find some cause of complaint; +indeed it is too often the case that +the fewer grievances people have, the more +you hear them grumble. Now, I have no +doubt I had a great many imaginary, but +I had one real, unmistakable source of unhappiness. +One of the servants at the house +was a boy whom my master had originally +taken out of charity. He was a quick, +clever lad, but of a spiteful disposition, and +this he was clever enough to keep out of +his master’s sight. He delighted in teasing +and cruelty, and nothing seemed to +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_98">[Pg 98]</span>make him happier than to be able to make +others miserable. Against myself he had +an especial spite, and endless were the tricks +with which he contrived to annoy me. +Sometimes, just when I was going to be +harnessed to the carriage, he would place a +piece of holly, or something equally prickly, +just under my tail, and when, of course, I +tried to kick the inconvenience away, he +would declare it was all vice on my part; +so I got the whipping he so richly deserved. +Then, again, sometimes when I came home +from a journey, ready to drop with thirst, +the ill-natured little fellow would hold the +pail to my lips as handy as possible, and +then at the very moment when, eager to +drink, I was putting down my mouth for +a draught, he would suddenly tilt up the +pail, making the contents fly into my eyes +and ears, or else spilling the water on the +stones around.</p> + +<p>These, and a hundred similar injuries +needless to detail, and better to forget, made +me hate the very sight of Richard; and so +little pains did I take to conceal my feelings +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_99">[Pg 99]</span>that my mistress soon discovered there was +something wrong between us.</p> + +<p>“I cannot think what it is, papa,” I one +day overheard her say, “that makes Neddy +so dislike Richard. I am quite sure he must +ill treat him.”</p> + +<p>What would not I have given at that +moment to have had the power of telling +my grievances to my kind mistress? But +that could not be. I could only sigh, wag +my ears very slowly, and trust to my mistress’s +acuteness to find out how matters +stood for herself. One word then, and what +months of misery I might have been spared!</p> + +<p>If Richard could play off his spiteful +tricks almost under the eyes, so to speak, of +my mistress, one may imagine the life he +led me when the family were away from +home. Then I was almost entirely at his +mercy, and he took care to improve his opportunities +to the utmost. As a general +rule, when my mistress was away, I was not +allowed to do any work whatever; but it +occasionally happened that a letter had to +be sent in a hurry to the mail, or some commission +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_100">[Pg 100]</span>executed in the neighbouring town, +and then, instead of walking, Richard would +be allowed to ride me. Ah, those rides! +how I dreaded them! What kicks! what +blows! what language! In those days I had +never heard such words before, and could +hardly understand their meaning. Is it astonishing +that I rebelled against such treatment, +and did my very utmost to get rid of +my tormentor?</p> + +<p>I must confess, however, that, as a general +rule, my efforts were not crowned with the +success they deserved. On one occasion, +however, I was the victor; but my victory +cost me dear.</p> + +<p>Richard had ridden me into the town for +something that was wanted at the house, +and all the way along it had been a struggle +between us; I obstinately determined not +to go, he as obstinately bent on making me. +At length, by dint of kicks and blows, the +misery of which became too great to be endured, +he succeeded in goading me as far +as the market-place of the town.</p> + +<p>It happened to be market-day, and the +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_101">[Pg 101]</span>square was quite full of country people who +had come in to buy and sell. Whether it +was the desire of showing off, or whether +Richard’s temper had become more than +usually irritated by my determined opposition +to his will, I do not know; but here, in +the presence of all these people, he began +to beat me violently about the head, at the +same time urging me into a gallop. Half-blinded +and stupefied by the blows, my only +reply was to stand perfectly still. Richard +beat me more savagely than before. Cries +of “Shame! shame!” resounded from all +sides.</p> + +<p>“I will tell your master,” said one. +“You will lose your place,” said another; +while a third cried out, “I wish the beast +would kick him off. It would serve him +right to have a roll in the mud, that it +would.”</p> + +<p>I only needed this one word of encouragement +to put the plan which I had formed +into execution. Planting my two front feet +firmly on the ground, I kicked, and kicked, +and kicked with such a thorough, hearty +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_102">[Pg 102]</span>good-will that at length my adversary, losing +his balance, flew over my head, and +rolled around and around upon the mud +beneath me. Shouts of laughter resounded +from all sides. Not waiting to see what +would become of Richard, I instantly +turned toward home, and galloped up the +street as fast as my legs would carry me, +the people not attempting to stop me, but +rather urging me on to greater speed by cries +of “Bravo! Well done, Neddy! Go on, +Neddy!”</p> +<br> + +<figure class="figcenter illowp85" id="facing102" style="max-width: 39.25em;"> + <img class="w100" src="images/facing102.jpg" alt=""> + <figcaption> + At length my adversary, losing + his balance, flew over my head. + </figcaption> +</figure> +<br> + +<p>Excited by these shouts, and by the triumph +I had just achieved, I redoubled my +speed, my heart beating with joyful pride +at my late victory. Alas! how little I knew +the price I was to pay for it! If I had had +the sense to go straight home, all would have +been well; but when one has once tasted of +the pleasures of conquest, and listened to the +flattery of praise, one’s judgment is apt to +be less clear; and no sooner had I reached +such a distance from the town as to render +me comparatively safe than I slackened my +speed, and began, with great self-complacency, +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_103">[Pg 103]</span>to think over the events of the morning, +refreshing myself by constant nibbles +at the grass by the wayside. I was indulging +in this luxurious confidence when I suddenly +felt my rein seized by a vigorous hand, +and, looking up, I found myself confronted +by a powerful, middle-aged man.</p> + +<p>“So you are the runaway donkey, are +you?” he said. “I was just on the lookout +for you;” and I saw that he glanced hastily +up and down the road, but not another creature +was in sight.</p> + +<p>“So! all is right,” he said. “Come +along, Neddy, come along;” and he hastily +turned me off the highroad on to a path +which led into a wood hard by.</p> + +<p>It was all done so quickly that I had not +a moment to recover my self-possession, and +I was already far on in the path before I +had time to consider who the man was, and +what he could possibly mean by taking me +into this road, which I had never seen before. +My first sensation was one of delight, +to think how completely I had outwitted +Richard; but this was quickly followed by +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_104">[Pg 104]</span>the dread, “What if I had been outwitted +myself?” and I began to reproach myself +bitterly with my folly in not having resisted +in the first instance, and refused to allow +myself to be led from the highroad.</p> + +<p>“But better late than never,” thought I; +and, giving a vigorous pull at the rein, I +tried to get away from the man, determining +to regain the road, and never to stop +again till I had safely reached home. Alas! +I now discovered how far easier it is to take +a step in the wrong direction than to retrace +it when made.</p> + +<p>The man in an instant seemed to discern +my intention; and, holding the rein tighter +than he had done before, he gave me three +or four tremendous blows with a stick which +he had in his hand, exclaiming at the same +time:</p> + +<p>“So you think to get away from me as +you did from that boy, do you? You will +find yourself mistaken. I will soon make +you know who is master now;” and he repeated +the blows with greater violence than +before.</p> + +<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_105">[Pg 105]</span></p> + +<p>The savage tone in which he spoke, and +the pain I felt from the blows which I had +received, seemed to stun me, and take away +all power of resistance; and, in spite of +myself, I walked on by his side, trembling +in every limb, and holding my tail tight +between my legs, in the vain hope that this +would protect me from his cruel blows. I +have often thought since that I acted like +a coward, and that, if I had plucked up my +spirit, I might have regained my liberty. +But, after all, I do not know. In a struggle +between men and beasts, I suppose if a man +chooses to exert his strength, he can always +get the mastery. We do not think of this +as long as we are in happy homes, and all +goes prosperously; we forget that we are +servants, and that our master has a right +to expect obedience in return for the food +he gives us and the care which he bestows +upon us. We are apt to grow proud, and +to think that our service is entirely optional, +and that if we do our duty well, it is a great +merit on our part, and calls for gratitude on +the part of our master; and then it is not +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_106">[Pg 106]</span>till we feel his strong hand upon us, conquering +our wills, and doing with us according +to his pleasure, that we begin to understand +that we are only servants of a higher +power than our own, and that we should +have been wiser to have submitted patiently, +and to have done our duty cheerfully, than +to have struggled against an authority +which, after all, we are powerless to resist. +I can think these thoughts now that I am +quietly at rest in my old age, but my feelings +were very different on the day of my +capture.</p> + +<p>My new master, having led me through +the wood, jumped upon my back, and, by +a repetition of the cruel blows I so much +dreaded, urged me to gallop on across an +open common on which we had now entered. +Frightened as I was, I had sense enough +to know that it would be better for me to +obey; but I did so with a heavy heart, knowing +well that every step was taking me farther +and farther away from the home which +I had never loved so well as now that I +had lost it. Still, I made what speed I +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_107">[Pg 107]</span>could; and, having crossed the common, my +master turned me up a narrow lane, urging +me on even faster than before, till at length +he turned off on to a waste piece of land, +the most dreary-looking place I had ever +seen in my life,—pools of water here and +there, and the ground with scarcely a blade +of grass, and nothing but a few stunted +bushes scattered about. Here he pulled me +up; and, getting off my back, he led me +on a little distance; then, standing still, he +whistled very loudly and sharply. In a few +minutes the call was answered by a man +younger and not so powerful-looking as +himself.</p> + +<p>“Where is the tent, Bill?” was his first +question.</p> + +<p>“A little way down to the left yonder.”</p> + +<p>“Then we must look alive and push on +for it, and dress up this donkey here before +the search is out for him.”</p> + +<p>“Why, where did you pick him up, +Jem?” asked his companion, as he proceeded +to examine me. “You have been +in rare luck to-day. I never saw a more +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_108">[Pg 108]</span>likely beast. He has been in good quarters, +too, I should say, from the look of his +skin.”</p> + +<p>“That he has,” returned my master. +“He is one of Squire Morton’s raising; so +you may be sure he is the right sort. I have +had my eye on him for some time past; but +they kept him so close I could not get a +chance before. However, we have not a +moment to lose. He is a pet of the family, +so there is sure to be a hue and cry. Run +on and get the shears and some good strong +pitch ready.”</p> + +<p>My heart sank within me. I did not indeed +understand the full meaning of the +words, but I felt sure from the man’s manner +that mischief was intended, and again +I did my best to escape and make my way +home; but it would not do. I was led on, +in spite of myself, to the tent, and then the +cruel work began. Snip—snip—snip! I +heard, whilst a hard, cold, heavy substance +ran all over my body; and then came something +hot and burning, which made me kick +and jump with pain. But it was in vain to +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_109">[Pg 109]</span>struggle. My tormentors had me in their +power, and not till they had satisfied themselves +did they at length release me from +their grasp.</p> + +<p>“There, Bill,” said my master, when at +length he had finished; “I think we have +done it pretty well. I do not believe even +his own mother would know him now. +However, we won’t risk it; let us strike +tents and be off. Here, give me the log, +that heaviest one, and we will put that on +his leg. He will not run far with that, I +promise him.”</p> + +<p>And in another moment I felt a tight, +cutting pressure around my ankle; and, +giving me a cut, my master told me to be +off and eat my dinner, for I should soon +be wanted for work. Eat my dinner! My +only thought was to get away home; and, +once escaped from his hands, I was for galloping +off without a moment’s loss of time. +Gallop? I could hardly walk. No sooner +did I attempt to move than I heard a loud +clanking noise, and felt a drag, as if my +leg was broken. Looking back in terror +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_110">[Pg 110]</span>and amazement, I perceived that an immense +piece of wood was fastened to my +leg by a great iron chain. I tried to shake +it off, but my efforts only made the chain +cut me more painfully, whilst I bruised my +legs by knocking them against the log. +Broken-hearted and in despair, I stood perfectly +still, bewildered and not knowing +what to do next. At length an irresistible +desire seized me to see what my tormentors +had done to me. I recollected how proudly +I had often surveyed myself in the stream +at home, and how I had admired my shiny +brown coat and the long hairs in my mane. +Slowly, very slowly, I dragged myself to +the edge of one of the pools. The water +was very muddy, and did not perhaps reflect +all my hideousness; but I saw enough +to make me start back in horror from myself. +My mother not know me? why, I +did not know myself! My beautiful coat +all clipped, and rough, and ragged, and covered +with great patches of black and dirt; +and my mane,—that mane my dear mistress +had so often praised,—oh, what would +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_111">[Pg 111]</span>she have said to it now? I drew back from +the sight of myself, and groaned inwardly. +“Ah!” thought I, “and has so short a time +been sufficient for so great a change? Is +this the beauty of which I was so fond? +Fool that I was to set such store upon the +very thing which has brought me to all this +misery, and which is gone in an hour!” and, +laying down my long ears, my heart felt +well-nigh broken.</p> + +<p>In the midst of all my sorrows I suddenly +roused up to the feeling of being very hungry. +I had had nothing since the morning, +and was quite faint and exhausted with my +long gallop and all the agitation and excitement +of the day. Looking around me, +therefore, I tried to find something that I +should like to eat, but there was nothing, +actually nothing; for it was not to be supposed +that a donkey, bred up as I had been, +would condescend to make a meal of rank, +sedgy grass, or a few bits of dried-up furze. +Sorrow had not yet done its work. My +proud spirit was chafed and angry—not +broken; and I had still to learn that the +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_112">[Pg 112]</span>meal I now despised might one day be eaten +with gratitude.</p> + +<p>I was standing in the sullen gloom of +despair when my new master came up to +me. “So, Neddy,” he said, “you do not +seem to be enjoying your meal. You will +know better, my fine fellow, some day than +to be particular about trifles. You will not +be dainty long, I promise you. It will do +you no harm for once to work upon an +empty stomach. It will take down your +spirit quicker than anything.”</p> + +<p>And, unclasping the log as he spoke, he +swung it over my back, and led me up to the +tent, where he proceeded to load me with +every imaginable article. I might be frightened, +as tin jingled against tin by every +movement of my body; I might try to resist +so heavy a load being placed upon my +back; but it was all of no good; the weight +was fixed upon my shoulders, and then I +was driven off with blows as before.</p> + +<p>We seemed to be a large party,—one +of my own family, but so old and ugly and +wretched-looking that I turned from her in +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_113">[Pg 113]</span>disgust, quite forgetting my own forlorn +look, and all the wise reflections I had so +lately made. This poor donkey carried +some children and a number of things of +which I did not know the use; and a sort +of van, drawn by an old horse, conveyed the +tent and all that the party might want beside. +How long or where we travelled, I +cannot say. I only know that I was faint +and tired and weary, when at length we +came to a halt in a wooded dell a little +way from the roadside. It looked pretty +enough in the bright moonlight, but I was +too wayworn to think of that; and when +my load was removed from my back, I lay +down from sheer fatigue, and, shutting my +eyes, tried to forget all my sorrows in sleep.</p> + +<p>Only this morning, and what a happy +donkey I had been! I do not know well +how to measure time; but it seemed to me +as long since I had left my home as one of +those dreary periods when my mistress was +away from it. I thought of all my mother +used to say to me about the changes of life, +and how thankful I ought to be for the +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_114">[Pg 114]</span>happy lot that had been given to me, and +how grateful and desirous to value my +blessings to the full; and now, when I had +lost them all, I for the first time felt their +value, and knew how lightly I had prized +them.</p> + +<p>All, did I say? While I was thinking +thus despondingly of my misfortunes, I +heard a kind voice say to me: “Come, poor +Neddy, here is something for you to eat,” +and, looking up, I saw a little child holding +toward me a large handful of hay. “Come, +poor Neddy! good Neddy!” added the +child, as she patted me kindly. Then, after +all, I was not so utterly forsaken. Even +in my utmost distress there was still something +left to comfort me; and, as I gratefully +munched the hay, I felt the first moment +of happiness I had experienced since +my misfortune. How often have I found +since that there is no trial which may not +be made more or less hard to bear by our +own conduct under it,—few states so bad +but that if we choose we can make them +worse! Keep up a good heart, and be grateful +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_115">[Pg 115]</span>for every little comfort as it comes. +That is my advice. I only wish I could +speak out, and let my masters know how +much lies in their power to make us, their +poor servants, happy. If they knew how +grateful we feel for kindness, and how +much readier we are to go for a kind word +than a hard blow, perhaps they would learn +to treat us better, if only for their own sake.</p> + +<p>Anyway, I felt happier as I lay down +that night to rest; and it was a child’s act +and a child’s words which had made me so.</p> + + +<hr class="chap x-ebookmaker-drop"> +<div class="chapter"> + +<p class="pagenum" id="Page_117">[Pg 117]</p> + + + <h2 class="nobreak" id="CHAPTER_VII"> + CHAPTER VII. + <br> + <span class="fs80">NEDDY TRAVELS</span> + </h2> +</div> + + +<hr class="chap x-ebookmaker-drop"> +<div class="chapter"> +<p class="pagenum" id="Page_119">[Pg 119]</p> + <p class="center no-indent fs120"> + CHAPTER VII. + </p> +</div> + +<p class="fs80" style="margin-left: 2em; text-indent: -2em;"> +I TRAVEL TO ALL PARTS OF ENGLAND, AND MAKE +ACQUAINTANCE WITH EVERY VARIETY OF PEOPLE—AT +LENGTH I GO TO LONDON—REGENT +STREET IN MIDDAY—A RECOGNITION—I MAKE +MY FIRST APPEARANCE IN A POLICE STATION, +AND PROVE MYSELF A VALUABLE WITNESS—I +TAKE UP MY ABODE IN THE “GREEN YARD.”</p> + +<p><span class="smcap">I was</span> aroused very early the next morning +from the enjoyment of my quiet sleep +by a sharp kick in the side. Jumping up +as quickly as possible, I saw my master +standing by me ready dressed. Putting the +bridle over my head, he led me to where +the rest of the party were sitting having +their breakfast. They did not offer anything +to me, however, and I was obliged +to content myself with a few bites of grass +from the roadside. To judge from the +eager talking that went on, some very important +matter was being decided. In a few +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_120">[Pg 120]</span>moments, my master, throwing some light +articles for sale over my shoulders, jumped +upon my back himself, and, saying good-bye +to his companions, set me off at a good +sharp trot. We had not gone very far when +my master suddenly pulled me up, and +seemed hesitating whether he should turn +me around or not. I was wondering what +we were to do next, when I saw a man coming +toward me, whom I recognized as a +workman occasionally employed on my dear +old master’s farm. Oh, how my heart beat +for joy! “Now,” thought I, “who knows +but he may deliver me?” and I came to a +dead halt, intending, when the man passed +by, to endeavour to attract his notice. But +my rider was apparently aware of my intention, +for he gave me two or three such +frightful kicks, that, almost sick with the +pain, I found myself obliged to go on in +spite of myself; but I sidled up as much as +possible to the side of the road where the +man was walking.</p> + +<p>He looked hard at us as we passed, and +something seemed to attract his attention.</p> + +<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_121">[Pg 121]</span></p> + +<p>“Hallo!” he said; “you seem to have +got a smart-looking donkey there.”</p> + +<p>“The most obstinate brute that ever was +seen,” returned my master; and he took +advantage of the observation to give me +some severe cuts over the head, which so +stupefied me that I could not understand +what the man next said. There seemed to +be a long and very angry discussion; but +it ended by the man walking away, and +my master urging me on to the extent of +my powers in the opposite direction. How +grieved I felt then! how angry with the +man for his stupidity in not recognizing me +and taking me home! I was yet to learn +what an important influence over my future +destiny this chance meeting was to have.</p> + +<p>It would be tedious to endeavour to give +any detailed account of my present mode of +life; indeed, one day was so like another +that to describe one is to describe all. I had +fallen into the hands of a peddler, who went +through the country, now selling one kind +of goods, now another, as the case might +be, to suit the various tastes of the different +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_122">[Pg 122]</span>communities in the neighbourhood of which +we found ourselves. When I was first in +his possession, we went miles and miles away +from my own dear home; in fact, I soon +lost all recollection of where it was, or in +what direction I should have to turn to regain +it. It was a cold, bleak district where +we settled first,—very, very unlike the +warm climate to which I had been accustomed, +with its rich meadow-land and soft +green grass, and bright sunlight. Here, +where we now lived, there was nothing to +be seen but smoke and dirt. The very grass +was all cinders.</p> + +<p>At first I was half-scared out of my +senses by the strange sights and noises +which I saw and heard around me. At +every turn in the road there seemed to burst +forth fire and smoke; and as to the clank, +clank, clank, bang, bang, bang, burr, burr, +burr, it was unceasing from morning till +night. And then the people, so unlike those +amongst whom I had spent my early days. +No clean smock-frocks and ruddy, healthy-looking +faces; but grim, dirty men, +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_123">[Pg 123]</span>wretched-looking women, and miserable +children! It was quite sad to look at them, +as I went from door to door, dragging my +load of vegetables, or fish, or what not; and +then to hear the swearing and the quarrelling, +the bartering and the chaffering,—oh, +how unlike my mistress’s sweet voice! +how different from those quiet drives in the +green lanes of my native country! Ah! +now that it was too late, how bitterly I repented +me of my past misconduct, and +thought, if the time had but to come over +again, how differently I would behave! It +is of no use, however, to expect that any one +will profit by my experience. It is just one +of those things that every one will insist +upon buying for themselves; and then, +when they have to pay the bill, they grumble, +and say: “How very dear it comes!” +Of course it does; but perhaps it is as well,—we +should not value it else. We never +do value anything that we get cheap. I +often used to hear my master say that.</p> + +<p>“Put on a good price, and keep to it, +Betsy,” he would tell his wife.</p> + +<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_124">[Pg 124]</span></p> + +<p>“But really, Jem, this or that is not +worth the sum you name,” his wife would +occasionally reply, for my new mistress was +a good-hearted woman.</p> + +<p>“A thing is worth what it will fetch,” +my master would answer. “Offer it for +a lower price, and the people will suspect +it to be bad directly.”</p> + +<p>And so, often and often, when I stood +before the doors of the cottages with whose +inhabitants my master did business, I had +to listen to such lies and impositions that +my heart grieved for the poor people who +were made such easy dupes. But what +could I do? I could only turn my head +around, and look up gravely in their faces, +and wag my ears; and then they said—if +they said anything to me at all—“How +troublesome the flies are to your poor +donkey to-day!” and they did not know +that I was not thinking about myself, but +wondering how it came to be how they were +so quickly tickled by a little skilful flattery. +There are worse flies, thought I, than those +which are biting me!</p> + +<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_125">[Pg 125]</span></p> + +<p>I had wished to see life, and I saw it now +in some of its saddest and most miserable +forms. Oh, what places we went into! My +stable at my dear old master’s was a palace, +compared with the homes of hundreds of +men, women, and children with whom I now +made acquaintance; and then the want of +light and air,—why, sometimes I could +hardly see how to pick my way along the +broken pavement; and as to air,—I could +not have got up a bray, no, not if you had +promised me a feed of grain to do so. How +human beings could live in such an atmosphere, +I knew not. It almost killed me to +drag my load along in it.</p> + +<p>But we did not always stay in the neighbourhood +of these great towns. Sometimes +we would go long journeys across the country, +visiting fairs and other merrymakings. +And these were times of peculiar hardship +to me: morning, noon, night, I was always +at work, and hardly a moment was allowed +for me to snatch a hasty meal. No sooner +had I dragged the cart, filled with articles +for sale, to its appointed post than, instead +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_126">[Pg 126]</span>of being allowed to stand to rest and amuse +myself by falling into the state of half-dreamy +unconsciousness so delightful to all +our race, I was taken out of the shafts, a +saddle placed upon my back, and then I was +let out by the hour to as many mischievous +urchins as chose to take their full pennyworth +of pleasure by the kicking and beating +which seem to constitute the peculiar +delights of a donkey ride.</p> +<br> + +<figure class="figcenter illowp85" id="facing126" style="max-width: 38.0625em;"> + <img class="w100" src="images/facing126.jpg" alt=""> + <figcaption> + I was let out by the hour. + </figcaption> +</figure> +<br> + +<p>A terrible time I had of it on those fair +days and race-grounds, for, being a more +than usually handsome and powerful beast +of my kind, I was the one invariably chosen +by “plucky” fellows, who wished for “a +lark;” and small pity they had on Neddy’s +legs or sides; and, as to trying to kick them +off, it was only to add to my misery and +their fun. The more I kicked, the faster +fell their blows, and the louder rang their +laughter; and if sometimes, in despair, I +turned sulky, and refused to go at all, it +only increased my discomfort by giving time +to two or three of my tormentors to get up +at once, when, with hooting, and shouts, and +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_127">[Pg 127]</span>jeers, I should at length be obliged to give +in and gallop ignominiously my appointed +round.</p> + +<p>But there was one very important good +which arose to me out of all this trouble. +My master, seeing the admiration I excited +by my handsome shape and form, took the +greatest pains to make me look as attractive +as possible, in the hope, I suppose, of increasing +his earnings. My coat had by this +time recovered from the ill-treatment it had +received, and, by dint of a good dressing, +could be made to acquire something of its +original gloss; and as I now occasionally +got a feed of grain, my appearance was +altogether plumper and more like myself. +But it must not be supposed that I was +merely delighted to hear myself admired. +I will not deny that it was far pleasanter +to know that I was no longer the wretched, +dirty, miserable, half-starved wretch that I +had been for so many months; but my great +cause for rejoicing in the change was that +I thought, if by any chance I should ever +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_128">[Pg 128]</span>meet with my dear mistress, it was possible +that she now might recognize me.</p> + +<p>In all my trouble, I had never for one +moment forgotten her, and the hope that +I might yet see her again was the one bright +spot that enlightened many a dark and +dreary hour. Ah! how constantly I looked +out for her sweet face! how eagerly my ears +listened to catch the sound of her well-remembered +voice! And then my heart would +die away within me, as I thought, “How is +it possible that she should remember me? +There is not a trace of her Neddy left in +this ragged, dirty, jaded donkey;” and I +would hang down my ears, and put my tail +closer between my legs, as I felt the utter +hopelessness of all chance of escaping from +my present slavery.</p> + +<p>With the knowledge, however, that I was +recovering something of my former appearance, +my spirits rose, and I became more +than ever eager for the meeting with my +mistress; but it never seemed to come. I +would stand in the market-place of a town, +and hundreds and hundreds of people +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_129">[Pg 129]</span>passed by me, and I would look wistfully +in their faces; but they were nothing to +me, nor I to them. I would visit quiet country +houses, and I hoped and thought—who +knew?—she might be among the guests; +but no, we went and came, but we never saw +the one being who was ever present to my +recollection.</p> + +<p>Time passed on,—I cannot tell you how +long it was, I have no means of reckoning,—but +at length our journeyings seemed to +take a direction different from any they had +taken before. We had left the land of fire +and smoke, we had passed by the quiet villages, +in the midst of green fields and narrow +lanes and high hedges, and we came +upon a country of endless, endless houses. +What a stir, and bustle, and confusion! I +had never seen anything like it, and I felt +quite bewildered with the countless carriages +and people that were passing me by on every +side,—street after street, street after street, +and every street as crowded as the one we +had just left. Lights flaring, carts rattling, +people pushing. I could hardly get along +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_130">[Pg 130]</span>for terror and surprise, and at every moment +I expected some of the great ponderous +wagons or overwhelming-looking omnibuses +would run over me and the slight little +cart I drew, and crunch us both to atoms. +If this was London, it was a very horrid +place!</p> + +<p>But use is second nature, and I soon became +accustomed to all the sights and sounds +that had at first so much alarmed me, and +could walk down a street in the full tide +of daily traffic as unconcernedly as I should +have wandered across a solitary common.</p> + +<p>I had thought my life a very hard one +when travelling about the country to visit +the different fair and race grounds; but it +was happiness itself compared with the +wretched monotony of my present experience, +with its unceasing toil, scanty food, +and dirty shelter. In the country I could +at least have the ground, such as it was, to +lie upon, room to stretch myself and roll, +air to breathe, occasional good meals of +grass, and a drink of pure, fresh water; +but in London I was forced to content myself +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_131">[Pg 131]</span>with a dark hole of a stable, so small +I could hardly turn myself, and so dirty it +made me sick; and I thought myself well +off on those days when I could appease my +hunger with a few stale, decaying cabbage +leaves, and quench my thirst with a drink +of half-putrid water.</p> + +<p>And then the work was incessant. At +earliest break of day I was harnessed to +the carriage I had to draw,—a sort of truck +on wheels, with a thing like a door laid all +along on the top; and then my master would +seat himself in front, and off we would rattle, +I trotting over the stones as fast as my +poor tired legs would carry me; for it was +an important object to get first to a great +market held in the midst of London, and +so take up a good place for purchasing such +fruit and vegetables and flowers as should +not be judged good enough for the rich +customers to Covent Garden.</p> + +<p>If I had not felt so depressed and down-hearted, +I might often have been amused by +the bustling scene around me. It was a +pretty sight, there is no denying it, to see +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_132">[Pg 132]</span>the carts coming in piled with their fresh +and fragrant loads, women with baskets of +the most deliciously scented flowers, and +men with every variety of luscious-looking +fruit. Oh, how my mouth would water as +the carts passed by me full of fresh carrots +or turnips, or soft new green stuff! How +I looked and longed that some kind hand +would give me just one taste! But no; I +must stand hour after hour in the midst +of all this plenty, faint and weary, and then +think myself happy if an old yellow cabbage—so +bad that the very slugs rejected it—was +thrown to me as my morning meal. +How often would I then look back to my +early home, and remember all my grumbling +discontent if I had had a little less +grain than usual, or if the hay might not +have been quite so sweet as suited my fastidious +palate! There is nothing like want +and hunger to cure daintiness; and I think +it would be a very good thing if some of +those who are always complaining and repining +if things are not quite to their mind, +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_133">[Pg 133]</span>should make trial for awhile of this sharpener +to their appetites.</p> + +<p>When my master had completed his +morning purchases, which varied with the +season of the year, we used to quit the +market, and start upon our daily rounds, +making our way through miles of streets, +till we came to a part of the city that bore +some faint resemblance to a country town.</p> + +<p>The houses were much lower than those +in the streets through which we passed. +They stood alone, or in twos and threes, in +little gardens of their own; and they seemed +to be inhabited by persons more like those +we had been accustomed to deal with in the +country towns than the ladies and gentlemen +I would occasionally see stepping into +their grand carriages as we passed through +the great streets and squares. I used to wish +they would have dealt with us instead; then, +indeed, there might have been some hope +of my finding my dear mistress; but how +was it possible I should see her in the out-of-the-way +suburbs where we plied our +morning work, or in the lowest streets of +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_134">[Pg 134]</span>the metropolis, where we were always to +be found at night? Morning dawned after +morning, night closed after night,—still +the same round of toil, and still no hope of +escape.</p> + +<p>My master had had a more than usually +successful morning’s round; my load was +disposed of, and we were returning leisurely +down Regent Street, when he was suddenly +accosted by a man who was walking on the +pavement. Being in a particularly good +humour, my master returned the greeting +cordially enough, and the two friends soon +agreed to go together to some saloon near, +to take a glass to keep out the cold, and to +drink to their mutual prosperity.</p> + +<p>“Here, you see to the donkey, Tom,” +said my master to a boy who generally went +his rounds with him; “and do not you let +nobody touch him nor the cart till I come +back again. Do you hear, Tom?”</p> + +<p>“Yes, I hear,” was the somewhat sulky +reply; and, drawing me up close to the +curbstone, where I should be as much as possible +out of the way, my master, saying he +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_135">[Pg 135]</span>should not be gone long, turned up a narrow +street with his companion, and was soon out +of sight.</p> + +<p>Tired with my morning’s round, and having +had but a scanty breakfast, I was glad +enough of the rest, and was just composing +myself to a quiet sleep, when I suddenly +heard a voice, which made every limb in my +body tremble with joy, exclaim, eagerly:</p> + +<p>“Why, Neddy, Neddy! dear Neddy! +Do you remember me?”</p> + +<p>Remember her! my own dear, dear mistress! +Could I ever forget her? Half-wild +with delight, I forgot where I was, and, +dragging the cart after me on to the pavement, +I began a series of ecstatic brays, rubbing +my nose at the same time against the +kind hand that was held out to me, and endeavouring +to show, by every means in my +power, my unbounded joy at again beholding +my beloved mistress.</p> + +<p>“Oh, look, papa, papa!” exclaimed my +mistress. “Neddy knows me! Neddy remembers +me! Good Neddy! Dear old +Neddy!”</p> + +<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_136">[Pg 136]</span></p> + +<p>In her delight at seeing me, my mistress +had, like myself, forgotten that Regent +Street, in the middle of the day, is rather +a public place in which to give way to outbursts +of affection. Already a crowd had +gathered around us, some wondering, some +laughing, some standing by in silent curiosity +to see what would be the end of this +strange greeting; cabmen drawing up to +enjoy the fun; omnibus drivers and conductors +lingering on their way, and looking +back to see what all the confusion was +about; every moment the mob increased, +swelled, as it was sure to be, by the crowd +of dirty boys and idle loungers that in London +springs up at a moment’s notice, no +one knows how, no one knows from where.</p> + +<p>“Annie, my dear Annie, this is no place +for you!” exclaimed a voice that I did not +recognize; and, looking up, I saw a fine, +tall, handsome-looking man, who drew my +mistress’s hand away from me, and placed +it on his own arm.</p> + +<p>“Papa dear, will you see about Neddy?” +said my mistress, looking around, evidently +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_137">[Pg 137]</span>frightened and bewildered by the confusion +around her, and endeavouring to make her +way through the crowd of bystanders.</p> + +<p>But having so lately discovered her, I was +in no humour to let her go; and utterly disregarding +every impediment in my way, I +pushed on, braying loudly as I went. Peals +of laughter greeted my attempt.</p> + +<p>“Make way for the lady! make way for +the donkey!” “Hurrah, Neddy, hurrah!” +“Do it again, Neddy! do it again!” +shouted the boys; whilst, encouraged by +their cheers, I pushed and pushed more +strenuously than before.</p> + +<p>Louder and louder rose the peals of +laughter; higher and higher swelled the +cheers; and, thinking I was doing the most +appropriate thing possible, I redoubled my +efforts to keep up with my mistress, when, +just at this moment, who should come down +the street but my late master!</p> + +<p>“Hallo!” he exclaimed, with a coarse +oath; “what is all this row about? Who +is interfering with my property?” and he +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_138">[Pg 138]</span>put out his hand to seize me fiercely by the +rein.</p> + +<p>“Stay! stay!” said Mr. Morton, in a +voice so calm and firm that I felt the hand +upon my bridle tremble. “I rather think it +is you, my man, who have been interfering +with my property. Here,” added Mr. Morton, +turning to two or three of the police, +who had by this time made their way to the +spot, and were actively employed in keeping +back the crowd, “I want your assistance +here. I have reason to believe that this +donkey, which belongs to my daughter, was +stolen from me three years ago by this man. +I give him into custody on this charge, and +require that you meantime should take the +donkey into safe keeping.”</p> + +<p>It would be impossible to describe the +man’s rage as he listened to these words. +He swore, he stamped, he abused Mr. Morton +in every angry epithet he could think +of; and yet all the time he trembled, and +did not once dare to look his accuser in the +face. Directing the policemen to bring +their prisoner to a police station, where he +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_139">[Pg 139]</span>could substantiate his charge, Mr. Morton +jumped into a cab, and was driven quickly +from the spot, leaving me in the hands of +the policemen, and bewildered by the rapidity +of events which, long as they have taken +to tell, passed in the space of a few minutes.</p> + +<p>My first feeling at finding that my dear +mistress had again departed was one of unmitigated +terror, and I looked around in +trembling dread that now, being once more +at the mercy of my brutal master, I should +be made to suffer some horrible punishment +for having thus given way to my delight at +seeing my long-lost friend. But I soon +found that, for the present, at any rate, +I had nothing to dread. Struggle as he +would, my master was in stronger hands +than his own. He might curse and swear +at me, but he had no power to do more, as, +led along gently by a tall, grave, powerful-looking +man, and followed by a crowd of +noisy, hooting, cheering boys, I slowly made +my way down street after street, until, +finally, I was stopped before the door of +one of the largest police stations of the +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_140">[Pg 140]</span>metropolis. Here my master disappeared +from my view, whilst I remained standing +in the street, under the charge of my grave-looking +conductor, and surrounded by a +continually increasing crowd, to whom I was +evidently an object of the greatest amusement +and curiosity.</p> + +<p>Some time had passed in this manner, +when the policeman who led me was joined +by one of his companions, who, having said +some words very quickly to him, of which +I only caught “donkey and cart,” there was +a renewed bustle and stir around me, and +then the traces that fastened me to the cart +were unhooked, and I was led through the +crowd, now cheering louder than before, +toward a doorway, so blocked up by people +that I felt quite frightened, and refused +to go on.</p> + +<p>“Come, Neddy, come along,” said the +policeman who had held me hitherto. +“There is no one who will hurt you here; +you need not be afraid.” And at the same +time he desired his companion to go on, and +make a way through the crowd.</p> + +<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_141">[Pg 141]</span></p> + +<p>Encouraged by the kind voice in which +he spoke, and by seeing that the people fell +back right and left at the orders of his companion, +I plucked up my courage, and +stepped through the door into a passage, +broad and paved with stones like those on +which people walk in the streets of London. +I had never been in such an odd place before, +and I did not half like it, and was more than +once inclined to turn back; but the man +kept a firm but gentle hold of me, leading +me on, till at last two great doors were +thrown open, and I found myself in a large +room filled with people, sitting on benches +raised one above another. I was quite bewildered +at the sight of so many heads,—more +especially as at my first coming in there was +a general buzz of voices, and all eyes were +evidently fixed on myself.</p> + +<p>A loud cry of “Silence! silence!” gave +me a moment to recover myself, and then +I heard a grave voice say:</p> + +<p>“Let the donkey judge for himself. +You are at liberty to call him,” added the +gentleman, turning to my late master, whom +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_142">[Pg 142]</span>I now for the first time perceived standing +in an open space in the centre of the room.</p> + +<p>“Here, Neddy—Neddy—come here, +Neddy. There is a good donkey, come +here,” said the man in a voice of the most +insinuating gentleness; but as I had never +heard him speak so before, no wonder I +did not recognize its tones, and the only +answer I made was to hang down my ears +and plant my tail very firmly between my +legs.</p> + +<p>There was a general burst of laughter +that not the presence of that grave-looking +gentleman, nor the reiterated cries of “Silence! +silence in the court, there!” could in +any measure suppress; while a voice exclaimed: +“He has had the donkey, that is +clear enough, for the poor brute thinks he +is going to beat him now. Hush! hush! +See what he is going to do next. Here +comes the lady. Silence! Hush! hush!”</p> +<br> + +<figure class="figcenter illowp85" id="facing142" style="max-width: 38.5625em;"> + <img class="w100" src="images/facing142.jpg" alt=""> + <figcaption> + I went right up to + my mistress. + </figcaption> +</figure> +<br> + +<p>“Now, madam, it is your turn,” I heard +the grave-looking gentleman say; and in +another moment I saw my dear mistress rise +up from a seat by his side, and, leaning on +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_143">[Pg 143]</span>the arm of her father, come down into the +open court.</p> + +<p>“Neddy! dear Neddy!” she said, just +in the way that she used to call me up to +the fence years ago. I forgot all my past +misery, and, thinking only of my joy at +beholding her, I set up such a bray as I had +never brayed in all my life before! Oh, +how the people shouted with laughter! The +very judge could not resist the infection of +their merriment, and gave way in spite of +himself.</p> + +<p>Why, what had I done that was so ridiculous? +I could only express my joy with +the voice which nature had given me. If +it was not so sweet and gentle as some of +theirs, that was not my fault. At any other +moment my self-love might have been seriously +wounded; but now I could only think +of my delight, and, breaking away from the +policemen who held me, I went right up +to my mistress, and, rubbing my nose +against her hand, I whinnied out my happiness, +entreating her as best I could to let +me stay with her now and for ever.</p> + +<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_144">[Pg 144]</span></p> + +<p>There was no laughter in the court then; +and I have heard my mistress say since that +there were tears in many an eye. Real, +genuine affection is somewhat rare in this +world, and, when it is found, it goes straight +to the heart even of the most hardened; and +there are few so bad that they will make fun +of the evidence of pure, unselfish love.</p> + +<p>There was a minute’s pause, and then I +heard the grave man say, in tones of such +kindness as showed his interest in my fate:</p> + +<p>“I am quite satisfied, madam. No witnesses +that could be produced could speak +half so strongly to the truth of your case +as does the affectionate remembrance of the +poor dumb beast. That the donkey is the +one that was stolen from you three years +ago, there can be no doubt. All that remains +to be proved is, who did the deed; and +that, I am afraid, with all his sagacity, the +animal will not be able to tell us. I shall +send the case to trial; and in the meanwhile,” +turning to Mr. Morton, “it is for +you to produce the evidence that the man +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_145">[Pg 145]</span>now charged with the theft was the person +who stole the donkey.”</p> + +<p>“I have no doubt whatever that I shall +be able to do so,” replied Mr. Morton.</p> + +<p>“You can remove the donkey out of +court,” said the grave gentleman, and then +he turned to my late master, who was standing +dogged and silent, in charge of two of +the police, and proceeded to address him +in terms which I did not understand, my +whole attention being now fixed upon myself, +and upon the thought of being separated +from my dear mistress, whom I had +vainly hoped I was never to leave again. +In my anxiety to remain by her side, I quite +forgot that I was in a court of justice, and +that, as a well-bred English donkey, it was +my duty to submit myself to the laws of +my land, and I struggled hard to pull away +from the policeman’s hold, and to follow +my mistress, who was now led back by her +father to the seat from which she had risen.</p> + +<p>I do not know how the struggle might +have ended; but, seeing that my endeavours +to get free were disturbing the whole court, +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_146">[Pg 146]</span>my mistress once more came up to me, and, +patting me gently on the forehead: “Oh, +Neddy,” she said, “this is very naughty of +you! Come with me.” How could I disobey?</p> + +<p>“You may leave him,” she said to my +conductor; “he will go away with me directly.”</p> + +<p>Go away with her? Of course I would, +to the world’s end. My first journey, however, +was destined to be a much shorter one; +for, no sooner had I quietly walked by her +side through the court-house into the passage +than, placing my rein in the hand of +the policeman:</p> + +<p>“He will follow you now, I think,” she +said. “Go, Neddy; there is a good Neddy. +I will come to see you very soon. Good-bye, +Neddy!” and, patting me kindly, before I +had time to look around, she was gone.</p> + +<p>A crowd, little short of that which had +accompanied me to the court, was awaiting +my return, and eager inquiries greeted my +conductor as to the result of the trial. +Every one talked so fast and so loud that +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_147">[Pg 147]</span>I could not make out much of what was +said; but I gathered sufficient to make me +very happy in the feeling I should soon be +restored to my pleasant home, and that +meanwhile I was to be left in the care of +my present guardian, whose kindness +toward me had already impressed me +greatly in his favour.</p> + +<p>I gleaned, too, from what I heard, that +the result of the trial depended mainly on +the evidence of some man who was supposed +to have seen me soon after I was stolen +from my dear mistress.</p> + +<p>This set my brain working; and, as I +walked by the side of my conductor toward +my new place of abode, I tried hard to recall +all the events of the past three years, and +think whether there was any one person +whom I could remember who could have recognized +me in the time of my degradation. +In vain! in vain! I could not recall one old +friend who could bear testimony to my identity.</p> + +<p>Suddenly there came upon me a flash of +light, and I bethought me of the man who, +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_148">[Pg 148]</span>on that wretched morning after my capture, +had refused, as I then thought, to rescue me +from my dreaded slavery. Who knew but +that now he might come forward, and, recognizing +my master as the man he had then +accosted, might for ever set me free from his +power?</p> + +<p>It was a bright and happy thought, and +kept me up through several long, long days +of dreary suspense,—days rendered so +much the longer that I had nothing whatever +to do, but to ruminate sadly over the +past. Not but that I was comfortable +enough in my present abode, and had plenty +to eat and to drink; but I had been so accustomed +of late to an active, stirring life +that I got tired of standing hour after hour +tied up to a manger, with no one to speak +to but a few chance companions, who, like +myself, were condemned to a temporary +imprisonment. We had all our griefs and +sorrows, and could all, no doubt, have told +some strange and wonderful adventures; +but, one and all, we shrunk from anything +like fellowship, and, shutting up in our own +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_149">[Pg 149]</span>hearts our hopes or our fears, awaited, with +what patience we could, the verdict which +was to open to us our new and unknown +career.</p> + + +<hr class="chap x-ebookmaker-drop"> +<div class="chapter"> + +<p><span class="pagenum"><a id="Page_151"></a>[Pg 151]</span></p> + + + <h2 class="nobreak" id="CHAPTER_VIII"> + CHAPTER VIII. + <br> + <span class="fs80">NEDDY GETS HOME AGAIN</span> + + </h2> +</div> + + +<hr class="chap x-ebookmaker-drop"> +<div class="chapter"> +<p><span class="pagenum"><a id="Page_153"></a>[Pg 153]</span></p> + <p class="center no-indent fs120"> + CHAPTER VIII. + </p> +</div> + +<p class="fs80" style="margin-left: 2em; text-indent: -2em;"> +THE TRIAL COMES TO AN END—AN OLD FRIEND +VISITS MY STABLE—I TAKE MY FIRST RAILROAD +TRIP AND FIND MYSELF IN WELL-REMEMBERED +SCENES—HOME AGAIN—CONCLUSION.</p> + +<p><span class="smcap">As</span> days passed on, and still I neither +saw nor heard anything of my dear mistress, +my heart misgave me. Was it possible, +after all, that she had forsaken me? Would +she give me back into the power of that +dreadful man? Oh, how I wished that I +had not suffered myself to be led out of +the court! that I had stayed by her side, and +never lost sight of her until I was once more +in the pleasant green fields of my early +home. It was in vain to regret the past.</p> + +<p>I might fume and fret, but it would make +no difference to the tiresome present. If I +could but have released myself from the +bridle that bound me to my stall, I would +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_154">[Pg 154]</span>have made my escape from the stable, and +never rested, I thought, until I had once +again found my mistress. Happily for me, +I was not permitted to accomplish my object, +or my second flight might have been +attended with as disastrous consequences as +my first; all that I got by my efforts to +escape was to draw upon myself the attention +of my guardians, and make them secure +me more carefully than before.</p> + +<p>I hated them then,—foolish donkey that +I was!—but I have owed them such a debt +of gratitude ever since that nothing pains +me more than to hear a word said against +the police. Let every one speak as they +find; I say, they are a fine, brave body of +men, who have a very difficult duty to perform, +and do it faithfully and well.</p> + +<p>But to come back to myself. I was standing +musing, I am afraid, in a very discontented +state of mind, when I heard the door +of the stable open. Thinking, however, it +was only one of the men come to attend +to their work, I did not even trouble myself +to turn my head, until suddenly I felt a +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_155">[Pg 155]</span>hand laid on my shoulder, and heard a voice +I thought I remembered say, sadly enough:</p> + +<p>“Why, Neddy! who would have thought +that you and I should have met again in +such a place as this; and you so altered? +Poor old Neddy! how badly you have been +used!”</p> + +<p>Old Neddy, indeed! My heart swelled +with such mortified vanity at the name that +for the moment—ungrateful that I was!—I +felt more vexation than pleasure as I +recognized Thomas standing by my side. +But it was only a momentary feeling, and, +looking up in his face, I endeavoured to +show my pleasure at seeing any one connected +with old times.</p> + +<p>“Ah, Neddy!” continued Thomas, “so +you know me, do you? It is more than I +should have done by you. You do look +dreadful bad. Why, I shall never get that +rough, shaggy coat of yours right again. +No, not though I groom you for hours at +a time.”</p> + +<p>Thomas groom me again! I never +thought of the rudeness of the speech in +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_156">[Pg 156]</span>my exceeding joy at hearing I was to be +again in his care. Ah! then I must be free +from my detested master. I must be going +back to the home and the mistress I loved +so well.</p> + +<p>“So it is all over, is it?” inquired a policeman, +who at that moment entered the stable +and proceeded to unfasten my bridle.</p> + +<p>“Yes; it was decided some hours ago,” +said Thomas. “It was a queer trial, was it +not?”</p> + +<p>“The queerest I have ever heard,” returned +the policeman; “and that is saying +a good deal, for strange stories come to our +ears. If it had not been for this donkey +here, ten to one your master would never +have gained his cause. The man told a wonderful +plausible tale. But this dumb beast +here told a better. You should have been +in court that day. It was a sight to remember, +and there was many a one who thought +it no shame to be seen with tears in their +eyes; and as to Mr. Wickharde, I never seed +him so moved in all my life. That donkey +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_157">[Pg 157]</span>is a first-rate witness. For my part, I would +rather have him than half the men I know.”</p> + +<p>This testimony in my favour seemed to +raise me in the estimation of Thomas, for +he patted me far more kindly than before, +saying: “Poor old Neddy! He will be +glad enough to be amongst his old friends +again.”</p> + +<p>“How did the trial go?” asked the policeman. +“I wanted to hear the end; but +I was on duty here this morning, and could +not manage it. I almost thought they +would have sent for the donkey, and I meant +to have taken him down myself.”</p> + +<p>“It did not last long,” returned Thomas; +“there was no question about the donkey +being Mr. Morton’s property. The only +point was whether Jackson stole him or not; +fortunately, he had been met by one of master’s +own workmen the morning after the +theft. Jackson was riding the donkey at +that moment, and Mills felt sure he recognized +it by the star on its forehead. It is +a very peculiar mark, you see,” continued +Thomas, as he turned my head to the light, +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_158">[Pg 158]</span>and pushed back some shaggy hairs. “Jackson +had never thought of concealing it; and +it was rare and lucky for Neddy he did +forget.</p> + +<p>“Mills had words with Jackson at the time +about the donkey; but the man rode off, and +Mills did not like to stop him, for he did +not know our donkey had been stolen; however, +he came on straight to our house, and +told his story; but master was away at the +moment, and so time was lost; and when +the Squire returned, and a hue and cry was +raised, Jackson had got clean away, and +from that day to this we have never been +able to get clue nor trace of him, nor of the +donkey neither.</p> + +<p>“And it is wonderful, I say, how all this +matter has been found out; and it just +shows me that, sooner or later, God, who +watches over all, will bring our crimes to +light. Murder will out, they say; and I +think theft must be much the same. Well, +of course, as soon as mistress claimed Neddy +here, the first thing to do was to send for +Mills, and he swore to the donkey and swore +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_159">[Pg 159]</span>to the man, and the verdict was given in +favour of my master.”</p> + +<p>“Ah!” thought I; “I see it all now; +why, how stupid I have been! So that was +the man who came in the other day when +I was eating my grain, and I was so cross +at being disturbed, and so sulky, I would +hardly let him look at my head; and, after +all, he had only come to save me, and I, +like a fool, was angry at a momentary inconvenience. +Neddy,” thought I, “will you +never learn wisdom by experience? will you +never understand your own utter ignorance,”—and +I gave such a great sigh that +Thomas broke off his speech suddenly, and, +looking at me, added, with a smile:</p> + +<p>“Well, I should like to know what the +beast has got in his head now. He always +had such a queer way with him; I believe he +understands every word we say. If he could +but speak, maybe it would be a strange +story he would have to tell us.”</p> + +<p>Strange? Strange indeed! Ah, you men! +with all your wisdom, it is but little you +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_160">[Pg 160]</span>know of what is passing through the minds +and hearts of poor dumb beasts.</p> + +<p>The idea of freedom was still so new to +me that I could hardly realize the fact that +I was safe from the brutal treatment of the +man whom, for the last three years, I had +been forced to call my master; and, as +Thomas led me out of my place of confinement, +and I found myself once more in the +streets of London, I turned and looked +about me in nervous dread, fearing that I +should suddenly hear the sound of Jackson’s +hated voice, and feel myself in the +grasp of his powerful hand.</p> + +<p>“So, whoo, Neddy! gently, my man!” +exclaimed Thomas, in the reassuring voice +of old times. “No need to be afraid now; +there is nobody coming to hurt you. Come +on, old fellow, come on. Come, make haste, +and do not put your tail between your legs +in that miserable way. I ain’t a-going to +flog you, Neddy. Why, you are making a +sight of yourself and me, too!”</p> + +<p>True enough. I felt I looked a pitiful, +craven-spirited wretch; but I had been so +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_161">[Pg 161]</span>long accustomed to find that a word and +a blow went together that it had become a +sort of habit of nature to endeavour to protect +myself from the assault, and I could +have no more helped cowering down and +holding my tail tight between my legs than +I could have prevented myself from blinking +if I had been forced to look suddenly +at the sun.</p> + +<p>However, seeing that Thomas was vexed +at my miserable appearance, and not wishing +to mortify the kind-hearted old man, I +endeavoured to pluck up courage, and to +trot along by his side with somewhat of the +air and spirit of bygone days; and, as I +found that we passed street after street, and +square after square, without stop or molestation, +I began gradually to acquire confidence, +and to believe in the reality of my +deliverance. Having gone a considerable +distance, we at length arrived at the entrance +to one of the great railway stations.</p> + +<p>“Now, my man,” said Thomas, as he +pulled me up for a moment, and gave me +an encouraging pat, “do not you go for to +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_162">[Pg 162]</span>make a fool of me and yourself; you are +going to see queer sights and hear queer +sounds, so make up your mind to behave +like a sensible beast, as you are. There, do +you hear that? that is one of them,” added +Thomas, as a shriek was suddenly heard +close by our side, followed by screeches, little +less discordant, ending in a series of agitated +puffs, as if some mighty monster was giving +up the ghost.</p> + +<p>“Do you hear that, eh, Neddy?” repeated +Thomas, as he turned my head in +the direction of the noise, as if to accustom +me to the sound.</p> + +<p>Hear it? Of course I did; but what did +I care for it? Had I not been accustomed +to almost every railway in the kingdom? +and did not I know the sound of a locomotive, +bursting for very spite at being +stopped in its mad career?</p> + +<p>Often and often, when I had been drawn +up by the side of some country railroad station, +had I speculated on the nature of those +great iron animals that, day after day, and +night after night, go tearing along across +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_163">[Pg 163]</span>the country, dragging their loads after +them, without ever so much as seeming to +feel their weight, or ever showing symptoms +of vexation or weariness, except when +they are pulled up in mid-career: then, indeed, +they squeak, and spit, and hiss, and +make a pretty to-do. Ah! often and often +as I had watched the locomotives, I had +wished I had a skin like theirs. I envied +them their strength and powers of endurance. +I afraid of them? I should think +not, indeed; and, quite proud to have an +opportunity of reinstating myself in Thomas’s +good opinion, I held up my head, and, +shaking my ears with an air of supreme +indifference, I walked with dignified unconcern +right into the shed where the engine +was showering out a perfect cloud of white +breath.</p> + +<p>“Well done, Neddy! good donkey!” +said Thomas, patting me approvingly; and +then he proceeded to lead me up the platform +to where a great square box was standing +with its doors wide open. Into this dark, +uncomfortable-looking cage he bade me +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_164">[Pg 164]</span>enter; and now I confess a feeling of terror +came over me, putting all my boasted courage +at once to flight, and, turning around, +I struggled hard to escape from Thomas’s +hold.</p> + +<p>“Whoo, hoo—gently, stoopid! What is +the matter?” said Thomas, crossly. “Why, +what are you afraid of now? Who is going +to hurt you, Neddy?”</p> + +<p>Ah, indeed, who? “How am I to tell,” +thought I, “shut up all alone in that dark +prison? Who is to say whether I shall ever +make my escape alive, or, if I am so fortunate, +whether it may not be only to fall into +the hands of my tormentor; or, worse still, +who can say that he is not hidden in some +dark corner of the box?”</p> + +<p>“Why, Neddy, one would think that you +expected to find your late master there,” +added Thomas, in a milder tone.</p> + +<p>“And so I do,” thought I; but how was +I to tell him so?</p> + +<p>“You need not be afraid, old donkey,” +continued Thomas; “he is far enough away +now. He cannot get to you. Come, Neddy, +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_165">[Pg 165]</span>come along; you will be quite safe and +comfortable in there, and I will give you +some grain to eat, and you may amuse yourself +with it during your ride. Come, +Neddy, come along.”</p> + +<p>It was impossible to misdoubt the kind +tones of Thomas’s voice.</p> + +<p>“If he meant any treachery against me, +he would never speak like that,” thought I. +“Besides, have not I always found him a +true, good friend? and is it not very wrong +not to trust him now?” and I turned around +and looked into the box. It did not look +pleasant, certainly; but, after all, I had +lived in worse places; and so, summoning +up my resolution, I put one step on the +sloping board that led up to the cell. Dear +me! how hollow my footfall sounded! I +did not like it at all, and was all for drawing +back again; but Thomas was by my +side, and for very shame I did not dare act +the part of a faithless coward; so I took +another step, and then another. Still that +hollow, hollow sound. But it was over now, +and I stood inside the box, and looked +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_166">[Pg 166]</span>around, half in terror, half in surprise. It +was not so very bad, after all.</p> + +<p>There were nice, soft-looking sides to the +stall, and plenty of clean straw to lie upon; +and Thomas remembered his promise, and +put some food in the manger, and then, tying +me up quite tight, he bade me good-bye. +The doors were shut, and I was left alone +in the darkness. Soon came a whistle, a +shriek, and then a tremulous motion. Oh, +how my heart sank within me! But there +was no escape. I had but to submit, and +bide my fate. Then my prison swang from +side to side, and rush—rush—rush—roar—ro-r-r—ro-r-r-r—where +were we going? +I knew nothing—remembered nothing—till +suddenly a vibration, a stop. +Whirr—whirr—whirr—fainter grew the +sound till now all again was silence. My +box swings around—I feel quite sick with +fright, when open fly the doors, and there +stands Thomas, looking so kind and pleasant. +I had never loved his face so well before.</p> + +<p>“Well, Neddy,” he said, as he undid my +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_167">[Pg 167]</span>halter, “it is all over. We shall soon be at +home again. Ay, do you remember the old +place?” he added, as, leading me out of my +prison, I stood still, sniffing in with delight +the pure fresh air of heaven.</p> + +<p>Remember it? I should think so. I knew +every inch of the ground as we drew toward +home; and, forgetting all my troubles and +sorrows, I kicked and jumped about as if +I was once again the frolicsome donkey of +years gone by. Even gruff old Thomas +seemed moved by this evidence of my delight; +and, throwing off his usual dry, hard +manner, he spoke to me so kindly that my +heart leaped again and again with joy. But +when at length the gates of my own dear, +dear home came in sight, I could no longer +contain myself, and trotted on as fast as +my legs could carry me, Thomas letting go +the rein, saying, with a smile: “You know +your way now, old fellow, I guess, and will +not run away again, I fancy.”</p> + +<p>Open went the gates, and then the avenue +was before me, straight now up to the doorsteps; +and whom should I spy standing +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_168">[Pg 168]</span>there, but my mistress, and her father, and +the strange gentleman. Oh, how I kicked +up my heels with joy, and then galloped +up the drive as I never thought my old legs +could have galloped more!</p> + +<p>You should have heard my mistress’s +merry laugh. It was the pleasantest sound +my ears had listened to for many a long +day past; and you should have seen how she +patted and caressed me, and called me her +“dear old Neddy—her good, faithful +donkey;” adding: “We will never part +again—no, never. Will we, Neddy?”</p> + +<p>I could only rub my nose against her soft +white hand, and whinny out my joy and +gratitude. My heart was too full; I almost +thought it must have burst from my excess +of happiness. And then, when she led me—she, +my own dear mistress herself—to +the field where I had spent all the first happy +years of my existence, who may describe the +emotions which overpowered me? First, I +galloped around and around the field; then +I threw myself down on the soft green +grass, and rolled, and rolled, and rolled myself +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_169">[Pg 169]</span>again and again in my ecstasy. Then, +at last, rising up, and looking around me, +I seemed as if I could never tire of gazing +at all the well-remembered spots. Every +twig in the hedges seemed like some old +familiar friend; and as the birds sang out +their merry songs from the boughs of the +trees which had so often sheltered me, it +sounded to me as if they, too, were carolling +forth my welcome home.</p> + +<p>Home! Ah! those who have never lost +it can never fully appreciate its value; and, +as I lay down to rest that night, it was with +feelings of such overflowing gratitude as +I know not how to express.</p> + +<p>I thought of my mother’s words, and how +she had warned me against the self-willed, +presumptuous spirit that had made me discontented +with my happy lot. I remembered +my own insolence to herself, and how +I had mocked her when she had foretold +that hard blows and bad fare would bring +down my proud spirit, and make me understand +the blessing of my quiet green fields +and tranquil, peaceful home.</p> + +<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_170">[Pg 170]</span></p> + +<p>“I understand it all, sure enough, now,” +thought I; “and can only humbly hope +that what I have lost in strength and beauty, +I may have gained in wisdom. Come what +will, it shall not be my fault if I ever again +lose the home I prized so lightly, regretted +so deeply, and have regained so wonderfully.”</p> + +<p>And, full of happy thoughts and good +resolutions, I fell into the most peaceful, +refreshing sleep I had known for years.</p> + +<p>There is but little more to tell. My mistress +and I have never parted since, though +I do not live now in that home of which I +have told you, and to which I was so much +attached. I followed my dear mistress to a +new home; but the fields there were quite +as green, and the sunshine was just as +bright, and the air was just as pure, and +I soon learned to love it quite as well as the +place which I had left; and there I have +grown old and gray and staid, and I cannot +do much work now; but I go out every day +with a group of merry, happy, bright children, +and sometimes one and sometimes another +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_171">[Pg 171]</span>rides upon my back, and sometimes +two panniers are thrown across my shoulders, +and then, to judge by the joyous shouts and +laughter, there must be several little folks +all taking their ride together; and Neddy +is a general favourite, and there is always +some pleasant treat in store for the old +donkey. No heavier whip ever falls upon +his sides than a bunch of wild-flowers; and +so well he loves those children that a daisy +chain is bridle enough to guide him where +they will.</p> + +<p>And his dear mistress, she is growing +older too; but to Neddy she is still the same. +He cannot see gray hairs, or graver brow; +he only hears the well-remembered voice, +the endearing tones of kindness, the gentle +touch of that loving hand. She says Neddy +shall never leave her; that while she lives +he shall never want a home; and that, dying, +she will commit him to her children’s care.</p> +<br> + +<p class="center no-indent fs90">THE END.</p> +<br> +<br> +<div class="figcenter" style="width: 85%"> +<img src="images/endpaper.jpg" alt="" data-role="presentation"> +</div> +<br> + +<div style='text-align:center'>*** END OF THE PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK 78484 ***</div> +</body> +</html> diff --git a/78484-h/images/cover.jpg b/78484-h/images/cover.jpg Binary files differnew file mode 100644 index 0000000..38c5314 --- /dev/null +++ b/78484-h/images/cover.jpg diff --git a/78484-h/images/divider.jpg b/78484-h/images/divider.jpg Binary files differnew file mode 100644 index 0000000..30ae773 --- /dev/null +++ b/78484-h/images/divider.jpg diff --git a/78484-h/images/endpaper.jpg b/78484-h/images/endpaper.jpg Binary files differnew file mode 100644 index 0000000..e745e26 --- /dev/null +++ b/78484-h/images/endpaper.jpg diff --git a/78484-h/images/facing038.jpg b/78484-h/images/facing038.jpg Binary files differnew file mode 100644 index 0000000..abfa88e --- /dev/null +++ b/78484-h/images/facing038.jpg diff --git a/78484-h/images/facing058.jpg b/78484-h/images/facing058.jpg Binary files differnew file mode 100644 index 0000000..35e3400 --- /dev/null +++ b/78484-h/images/facing058.jpg diff --git a/78484-h/images/facing102.jpg b/78484-h/images/facing102.jpg Binary files differnew file mode 100644 index 0000000..7fa53d9 --- /dev/null +++ b/78484-h/images/facing102.jpg diff --git a/78484-h/images/facing126.jpg b/78484-h/images/facing126.jpg Binary files differnew file mode 100644 index 0000000..7ed52ee --- /dev/null +++ b/78484-h/images/facing126.jpg diff --git a/78484-h/images/facing142.jpg b/78484-h/images/facing142.jpg Binary files differnew file mode 100644 index 0000000..b395de5 --- /dev/null +++ b/78484-h/images/facing142.jpg diff --git a/78484-h/images/frontis.jpg b/78484-h/images/frontis.jpg Binary files differnew file mode 100644 index 0000000..fe6665b --- /dev/null +++ b/78484-h/images/frontis.jpg diff --git a/78484-h/images/titlepage.jpg b/78484-h/images/titlepage.jpg Binary files differnew file mode 100644 index 0000000..b60d29a --- /dev/null +++ b/78484-h/images/titlepage.jpg |
