39 Black Beauty - Read By Stephanie Poppins

Black Beauty - the Autobiography of a Horse - was written in 1877 novel by English author Anna Sewell. It was told from the perspective of a horse, who is the main character. Sewell wrote it in the last years of her life, during which she was bedridden and seriously ill. The novel became an immediate bestseller.

In this episode, it's a mad mission through adverse conditions.

Transcript

Welcome to Sleep Stories with Steph,

Your go-to podcast that offers you a calm and relaxing transition into a great night's sleep.

It is time to relax and fully let go.

There is nothing you need to be doing now and nowhere you need to go.

Close your eyes and feel yourself sink into the support beneath you and let all the worries of the day drift away.

This is your time and your space.

Take a deep breath in through your nose and let it out with a long sigh.

There is nothing you need to be doing now and nowhere you need to go.

Happy listening.

The Election As we came into the yard one afternoon,

Polly came out.

Jerry,

I've had a sir coming in asking about your vote and he wants to hire your cab for the election.

He'll call you for an answer.

Well,

Polly,

You may say my cab will be otherwise engaged,

Said Jerry.

I should not like to have it pasted over with their great bills and as to making Jack and Captain race about to the public house as to bring up half-drunken voters,

I think it would be an insult to all the horses.

I shan't do it.

I suppose you'll vote for the gentleman,

She said.

He said he was of your politics.

So he is in some things,

But I'll not vote for him,

Polly.

You know what his trade is?

Yes.

Well,

A man who gets rich by that trade may be all very well in some ways,

But he's blind as to what workmen want.

I can,

In my conscience,

Send him to make the laws.

I dare say they'll be angry,

But every man must do what he thinks to be the best for his country.

On the morning before the election,

Jerry was putting me into the shafts when Dolly came into the yard sobbing and crying with her little blue frock and white pinafore spattered all over with mud.

Why,

Dolly,

What's the matter?

Those naughty boys,

She sobbed,

Have thrown the dirt all over me and called me a little ragged.

.

.

Ragged.

.

.

They called her a little blue ragamuffin,

Father,

Said Harry,

Who ran in looking very angry.

But I've given it to them,

They won't insult my sister again.

I've given them a thrashing they'll remember,

A set of cowardly,

Rascally orange blaggards.

Jerry kissed the child and said,

Run in to Mother,

My pet,

And tell her I think you'd better stay at home today and help her.

Then he turned gravely to his son.

My boy,

I hope you'll always defend your sister and give anybody who insults her a good thrashing,

That's as it should be.

But mind,

I won't have any election blaggarding on my premises.

There are as many blue blaggards out there as there are orange,

And as many white as there are purple or any other colour,

And I won't have any of my family mixed up with it.

Even women and children are ready to quarrel for the sake of a colour,

And not one in ten of them knows what it's about.

My father,

I thought blue was for liberty.

My boy,

Liberty doesn't come from colours,

They only show party,

And all the liberty you can get out of them is liberty to get drunk at other people's expense,

Liberty to ride to the pole in a dirty old cab,

Liberty to abuse anyone that doesn't wear your colour,

And to shout yourself hoarse at what you only half understand,

That's your liberty.

No,

Father,

You're laughing.

No,

Harry,

I'm serious,

And I'm ashamed to see how men go on who ought to know better.

An election's a very serious thing,

At least it ought to be,

And every man ought to vote according to his conscience,

And let his neighbour do the same.

The election day came at last.

There was no lack of work,

For Gerry and me.

First came a stout,

Puffy gentleman with a carpet bag.

He wanted to go to the Bishop's Gate station.

Then we were called by a party who wished to be taken to Regent's Park,

And next we were wanted in a side street,

Where a timid,

Anxious old lady was waiting to be taken to the bank.

There we had to stop to take her back again,

And just as we'd set her down,

A red-faced gentleman with a handful of papers came running up out of breath,

And before Gerry could get down,

He'd opened the door,

Popped himself in and called out,

Bow Street Police Station,

Quick!

So we went off with him,

And when after another turn or two we came back,

There was no other cab on the stand.

Gerry put on my nose bag,

For,

He said,

We must eat when we can on such days as these,

So munch away,

Jack,

And make the best of your time,

Old boy.

I found I had a good feed of crushed oats wetted up with a little bran.

This would have been a treat on any day,

But very refreshing then.

Gerry was always so thoughtful and kind.

What horse would not do his best for such a master?

Then he took out one of Polly's meat pies,

And standing near me,

He began to eat it.

The streets were very full,

And the cabs with the candidates' colours on them were dashing about,

Through the crowd as if life and limb were of no consequence.

We saw two people knocked down that day,

And one was a woman.

The horses were having a bad time of it,

Poor things,

But the voters inside thought nothing of that.

Many of them were half drunk,

Hurraying out of the cab windows if their own party came by.

It was the first election I had seen,

And I don't want to be in another,

Though I've heard things are better now.

Gerry and I had not eaten many mouthfuls before a young woman carrying a heavy child came along the street.

She was looking this way and that,

And seemed quite bewildered.

Presently she made her way up to Gerry,

And asked if he could tell her the way to St Thomas's Hospital,

And how far it was to get there.

She had come from the country that morning,

She said,

In a market car.

She had a white cart,

And did not know about the election.

She was quite a stranger in London.

She had got an order for the hospital for her little boy,

And the child was crying with a feeble,

Pining cry.

Poor little fellow,

She said,

He suffers a great deal of pain.

He's four years old and can't walk any more than a baby,

But the doctor said if I could get him into the hospital he might well get well.

Pray so,

How far is it and which way?

My missus,

Said Gerry,

You can't get there walking through crowds like this.

It's three miles away and that child's heavy.

Bless him he is,

But I'm strong,

Thank God,

And if I knew the way,

I think I should get on somehow.

Won't you tell me?

You can't do it,

Said Gerry,

You might be knocked down and the child run over.

Look,

Just get into this cab and I'll drive you safe to the hospital.

Don't you see that the rain's coming on?

No sir,

I can't do that.

Thank you,

I've only just enough money to get back with though.

Please tell me the way.

Look now,

Said Gerry,

I got a wife and dear children at home and I know a father's feelings.

Get yourself into that cab and I'll take you there for nothing.

I mean,

I'd be ashamed of myself to let a woman and sick child run at risk like that.

Heaven bless you,

Said the woman,

And she burst into tears.

There,

There,

Cheer up my dear,

I'll take you,

Come on,

Now let me put you inside.

As Gerry went to open the door,

Two men with colours in their hats and buttonholes ran up calling out,

Cab!

No,

Can't do,

Said Gerry,

I'm otherwise engaged.

But one of the men pushing past the woman sprang into the cab,

Followed by the other.

Gerry looked as stern as a policeman.

This cab is already engaged,

Gentlemen,

By that lady.

Lady,

Said one of them,

She can wait,

Our business is very important.

Besides,

We were in first,

It's our right and we'll stay in.

A droll smile came over Gerry's face as he shut the door upon them.

All right,

Gentlemen,

You stay in as long as it suits you,

I can wait while you rest yourselves.

And turning his back upon them,

He walked up to the young woman.

They'll be gone soon,

He said,

Laughing.

Don't trouble yourself,

My dear.

They were soon gone,

For when they understood Gerry's dodge,

They got out,

Calling him all sorts of bad names and blustering about his number and getting a summons.

After this little stoppage,

We were soon on our way to the hospital,

Going as much as possible through by-streets.

Gerry rung the great bell to help the woman out.

I thank you a thousand times,

She said,

I could never have got here alone.

You're kindly welcome,

Said he,

I hope your dear child will soon be better.

He watched her going at the door and gently said to himself,

Inasmuch as you have done it,

To one of the least of their ease.

Then he patted my neck,

Which was always his way with anything,

Pleased him.

The rain was now coming down fast,

And just as we were leaving the hospital,

The door opened again.

Cab,

Called the porter,

And we stopped.

A lady came down the steps.

Gerry seemed to know her at once.

She put back her veil and said,

Barker?

Jeremiah Barker,

Is that you?

I'm very glad to find you here,

You're just the friend I want.

It's very difficult to get a cab in this part of the London today.

I shall be proud to serve you,

Mum,

He replied.

I'm right glad I happen to be here.

Where may I take you to?

To the Paddington station,

And if we're in good time,

As I think we will be,

You shall tell me all about Mary and the children.

We got to the station in good time,

And being under shelter,

The lady stood a good while talking to Gerry.

I found she had been Polly's mistress,

And after many enquiries about her,

She said,

How do you find the cab work suits you in winter?

I know Mary was rather anxious about you last year.

Yes,

Mum,

She was.

I had a bad cough.

They follow me up quite a lot into the warm weather.

When I'm kept out late,

She does worry herself a good deal.

You see,

Mum,

It's all hours and all weathers,

And that does try a man's constitution,

But I'm getting on pretty well now.

I should feel quite lost if I hadn't horses to look after.

I was brought up to it,

You know,

And I'm afraid I should not do so well at anything else.

Well,

Parker,

She said,

It would be a great pity that you should seriously risk your health in this work,

Not only for your own,

But for Mary and the children's sake.

There are many places where good drivers or good grooms are wanted.

If you ever think you ought to give up this cab work,

Let me know.

Then sending some kind messages to Mary,

She put something into his hand,

Saying,

There's five shillings each for the two children.

Mary will know how to spend it.

Gerry thanked her and seemed much pleased,

And turning out of the station,

We had last reached home,

And I,

At least,

Was tired.