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The next morning， a young man came for me．He looked pleased until he saw my knees， then he said，\'I\'m surprised you suggested this horse to my ladies．\' \'You\'re only taking him to try him，\' said the farmer．\'If he\'s not as safe as any horse you ever drove， send him back，young man．\' I was taken to a comfortable stable， given some food， then left to myself The next day， the groom was cleaning my face when he said，\'That\'s just like the star that Black Beauty had on his forehead．I wonder where he is now．\'He looked more closely at me．\'White star on the forehead，one white foot—and a lit－tle white place on his back！It must be Black Beauty！Beauty！Do you know me？I\'m little Joe Green，who almost killed yon！\'And he began patting me all over my back． I could not say I remembered him，as he was now a fine young man with a black moustache and a deep voice．But I was sure he knew me， and that he was Joe Green， and I was very glad．I put my nose up to him and tried to say that we were friends．I never saw a man so pleased． That afternoon， I was harnessed to a carriage for Miss Ellen to try me．Joe Green went with her and told her that he was sure I was Mr Gordon\'s old Black Beauty． \'I shall write to Mrs Gordon and tell her that her favourite horse has come to us，\'said Miss Ellen．\'How pleased she will be！\' I have now lived in this happy place a whole year．Joe is the best and kindest of grooms．My work is easy and pleasant，and I feel my strength coming back again． The ladies have promised that they will never sell me， and so I have nothing to fear；and here my story ends．My troubles are all over，and I am at home；and often，before I am quite awake，I dream I am still in the field at Birtwick，standing with my old friends under the apple trees．
13 我最后的家
我在马市上被卖给了一个农夫，不过是他的小孙子说服他买我的。 他们两个从我身边走过。看到农夫脸上的善意，我抬起头，把耳朵竖起来，尽量使自己看上去好看一点。 农夫停下脚看着我。“这儿有一匹马，威利，他有过好日子，”他说。 “可怜的马！”男孩说。“你是说他曾是一匹拉马车的马吗，爷爷？” “哦，是啊，”农夫说。“看他优美的头部和他脖子、肩膀的线条。”他伸手拍拍我的脖子。我伸过鼻子回应他的好意，男孩把他的手轻轻地放在我的脸上。 “看他多能理解别人的好意，”男孩说。“你为什么不买了他，让他重新年轻、强壮起来呢？” 卖我的人开口了：“这孩子识货，先生。这马不老，只是干活太多，才这么又累又瘦。6个月后他就会好的。” |
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