介绍:
Chapter 8
All went well on the journey.
We were glad to be in our own stable(马厩) again, and John was equally glad to see us.
Before he and James left us for the night, James said, “I wonder who is coming to replace me.”
“Little Joe Green, from the small house,” said John.
“Little Joe Green! Why, he’s a child!”
“Yes, he is small, but he is quick and willing, and kind-hearted, too. He wishes very much to come, and his father would like it.
I know the master would like to give him the chance. The master said if I thought Joe would not do, he would look out for a bigger boy.
But I said I was quite ready to try him for six weeks.”
“Six weeks!” said James, “why, it will be six months before he can be of much use! It will be lots of work for you, John.”
“Well,” said John with a laugh, “work and I are very good friends. I was never afraid of work yet.”
“You are a very good man,” said James. “I wish I may ever be like you.”
“James, we may get into trouble sometimes in our life, but we shall get out again.
There’s nothing like doing a kindness when it’s put in your way, and I am glad I can do it.”
James smiled at this. But his voice trembled(颤抖) when he said, “You have been my best friend except my mother. I hope you won’t forget me.”
“No, young man, no!” said John, “I’ll miss you very much, and I hope you won’t forget me.”
The next day Joe came to the stables(马厩) to learn all he could before James left.
He learned to clean the stable(马厩), and to bring in the straw and hay(干草).
And he began to clean the harness(马具), and helped to wash the carriage.
He was still too short to do anything about grooming(给（动物）梳毛，刷洗) Ginger and me.
Therefore, James taught him using Merrylegs, because he was to have full charge of the horse under John.
He was a nice little bright fellow, and always came whistling to his work.
Merrylegs was quite annoyed at being “attacked”, as he said, “by a boy who knew nothing.”
But towards the end of the second week, he told me secretly that he thought the boy would turn out well.
At last, the day came when James had to leave us.
Even though he almost always looked cheerful, that morning he looked quite down-hearted.
“You see,” he said to John, “I am leaving a great deal behind—my mother, you, and a good master and his wife, and then the horses, and my old Merrylegs.
I won’t know anyone at the new place. If it were not that I could get a better job to help my mother more, I don’t think I would want to go. I am sad.”
“Yes, James, so it is. But I should not think much of you if you could leave your home for the first time and not feel it.
Be happy, you’ll make friends there. If you get on well, as I am sure you will, it will be a fine thing for your mother.
She will be proud enough that you have got into such a good place as that.”
So John made him feel happier.
Everyone was sorry to lose James.
As for Merrylegs, he missed him a lot for several days, and didn’t want to eat.
So John took him out several mornings with a leading rein(缰绳) when he exercised me.
Walking and running by my side, the little fellow started to feel happier again, and he was soon all right.
Joe’s father would often come in and give a little help, as he understood the work.
Joe tried very hard to learn, and John was quite encouraged about him.
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