One day, Black Beauty was waiting with Jerry Barker outside a park. Many other cabs (carriages that people pay to use like a taxi) were there too. A very old and dirty cab (carriage) stopped next to Black Beauty.
The horse was a thin, brown horse. Its hair was dirty and its bones showed through its skin. Its legs were weak and shaky. Black Beauty was eating some hay. The wind blew some hay toward the other horse.
The poor horse moved its long, thin neck to pick up the hay. It looked around for more food. The horse’s eyes looked very sad. Black Beauty looked at the horse and remembered her.
The horse looked at Black Beauty. She said, “Black Beauty, is that you?” It was Ginger! But Ginger was very different now. Her neck was once beautiful and strong. Now it was thin and weak.
Ginger's legs were swollen and she had a bad cough. Her face showed that she was in a lot of pain. Black Beauty moved closer so they could talk quietly. Ginger told Black Beauty a very sad story.
After Ginger left Earlshall, a man bought her. She worked well for a short time. Then her old injury returned. The man sold her to another person. This happened many times. Each new owner was worse than the last.
Ginger said, “Now a man bought me to use as a cab (taxi) horse. He gives me to different drivers. These men only want money. They whip me and make me work all day and night.”
Ginger said the drivers never let her rest, even on Sundays. Black Beauty remembered that Ginger used to be very strong. Ginger used to fight when people were mean to her.
Ginger said, “I tried to fight before, but it is no use. Men are stronger than horses. When men are cruel, we can only bear the pain. I want to die. I hope I die while I am working.”
Black Beauty felt very sad. Black Beauty put his nose against Ginger’s nose. He wanted to comfort her, but he did not know what to say. Ginger said, “You are the only friend I ever had.”
Then Ginger’s driver came back. He pulled her mouth and drove away. A short time later, Black Beauty saw a cart. A dead horse was inside the cart. It was a brown horse with a thin neck.
The horse had a white mark on its head. Black Beauty believed it was Ginger. Black Beauty hoped it was Ginger. Then her pain was finally over. Black Beauty wished men were more kind to horses.