Black - Bedtime English Learning Reader II (Pure English Version)

Author: Anna Sewell
Publisher:
Publish Date: 2004-05-01
Features: This book tells the story of a horse that, after enduring unfair treatment from humans, finally enjoys a peaceful old age. Black Beauty was born into a kind farmer's family. It was of purebred stock, sleek and black all over, with only a star-shaped white patch on its right hoof and forehead. After undergoing rigorous but not cruel training, it was sold to a squire. There, it demonstrated all its noble qualities: loyalty, bravery, and intelligence, even saving its master's life. That was the happiest period in Black Beauty's life: it received meticulous care from its master and made many friends. However, good times didn't last long. Black Beauty soon fell into hardship. It was sold to Miss Edith, where the cruel mistress insisted on putting tight reins on the horses to make them look imposing. Her friend, Golden, couldn't endure the torment and rebelled, only to receive even harsher punishment. Black Beauty merely suffered in silence, believing things would improve. But things weren't that simple. Due to the stupidity of a foolish groom, Black Beauty injured its knee, affecting its appearance, and was sold again. Later, it finally met a kind carriage driver, spending a time of hard but happy life. After the carriage driver retired, he sold Black Beauty to a corn merchant, who always overworked it beyond its physical capacity. After being sold again to another carriage driver, Black Beauty's life became unbearable. Its master was extremely cruel, whipping it with a whip that had metal shafts, and once nearly exhausting it to the point of collapse on the road. No matter how dire the circumstances, Black Beauty always endured silently. It wasn't until it met its young groom in the end that its suffering came to an end, and it was able to live a happy life. It was due to its resilience that it survived and told this story, sharing with people through its own experience what loyalty and kindness truly are.