Black Beauty was sold to a man who sold grain and bread. Jerry Barker knew this man. Jerry Barker thought the man would give Black Beauty good food and fair work. The food was good, but the work was very difficult.
A foreman (a person who is the boss of other workers) was always in a hurry. He made everyone work very fast. He often told the carter (a person who drives a cart) to put too much weight on the cart. The carter’s name was Jakes.
Jakes said the load was too heavy for Black Beauty. But the foreman did not listen. The foreman wanted to finish the work quickly. Jakes always used a check-rein (a short piece of leather that pulls a horse's head up and back).
The check-rein made it very hard for Black Beauty to pull the cart. After four months, Black Beauty was very tired. One day, the cart was even heavier than usual. The road went up a steep hill.
Black Beauty used all his strength, but the cart did not move. Black Beauty had to stop often. Jakes was angry. Jakes hit Black Beauty with a whip. Jakes called Black Beauty a lazy horse.
Black Beauty tried again and moved a few yards. Jakes hit Black Beauty again. The whip hurt Black Beauty’s body. It also hurt Black Beauty's heart. Black Beauty was doing his best, but Jakes was still cruel.
A lady saw Jakes hitting Black Beauty. She walked quickly to Jakes. She spoke in a kind voice. She asked Jakes to stop hitting the good horse. She said Black Beauty was doing his best.
Jakes said that the load must go up the hill. Jakes said it was not his fault. He said the foreman put too much weight on the cart. Jakes began to raise his whip again.
The lady asked Jakes to stop. She said she could help. She told Jakes that Black Beauty could not use his power. This was because Jakes held Black Beauty’s head back with the check-rein.
The lady asked Jakes to take off the check-rein. Jakes laughed, but he wanted to please the lady. Jakes took the rein off. Black Beauty put his head down to his knees. It felt wonderful.
Black Beauty moved his head up and down. His neck was very stiff and it ached. The lady petted Black Beauty with her gentle hand. She told Jakes to speak kindly to Black Beauty now.
Jakes took the rein and told Black Beauty to go. Black Beauty put his head down and pulled. Black Beauty used all his weight against the collar. The heavy cart moved. Black Beauty pulled it to the top of the hill.
The lady walked on the path. She came to the road and petted Black Beauty’s neck again. She was very kind. She told Jakes that Black Beauty was a good horse. She asked Jakes not to use the check-rein again.
Jakes said that the other carters would laugh at him. He said that the check-rein was the fashion. The lady said it was better to start a good fashion than to follow a bad one.
The lady said her own horses did not wear check-reins. She said they were not as tired as other horses. She said people should not hurt animals. She called horses "dumb animals" because they cannot speak with words.
The lady thanked Jakes and walked away. Jakes said the lady was very polite. After that day, Jakes let the rein out. He gave Black Beauty more freedom to move his head on hills.
But the loads were still too heavy. Black Beauty became very weak. The master bought a younger horse. Black Beauty was sold because he could not work hard anymore.
The stable at this place was also very bad. It was very dark. There was only one small window. The darkness hurt Black Beauty’s eyes. He could not see well in the bright daylight.
Black Beauty often fell because he could not see the ground. If he stayed there, he would become blind. But Black Beauty was sold again. His new owner was a man who owned many cabs.