Black Beauty: A Retelling for Curious Readers

A look inside

The opening of Black Beauty: A Retelling for Curious Readers, free to read.

1. 

   The first place that I can well remember was a large pleasant meadow with a pond of clear water in it. Six bigger colts lived there, and their games were all teeth and heels. My mother, Duchess, called me out of one scuffle. “Do your work with a good will,” she said, “lift your feet up well when you trot, and never bite or kick even in play.”

2. 

   Mist lay on our field when a far-off yelping made every colt lift his head. “There are the hounds!” cried the oldest, and we raced to the hedge. Dogs and galloping riders poured over the brook after one small hare. Two horses fell there. Only one rider stood up again.

3. 

   The rider who stayed down was young George Gordon, the only son of the squire, who owned the land around us. The fall had killed him. His horse, Rob Roy, had broken a leg, and one quick shot ended his pain. Days later, the church bell rang and rang as black carriages rolled past our gate. All for one little hare!