CHAPTER VII GOING FOR THE DOCTOR The rest of our journey was easy.
By sunset, we had reached the house of my master's friend.
We were taken into a clean, snug stable.
A kind coachman there made us very comfortable.
He had already heard about Jane's bravery.
One thing is very clear, young man, he said.
Your horses know who they can trust.
It is one of the hardest things in the world to get horses out of a stable when there is either a fire or flood.
I don't know why they won't come out, but they won't.
We stayed three days at this place and then headed for home.
We were glad to be in our own stable again, and John was glad to see us as well.
Later I heard John talking to James about who would replace him.
"'Little Joe Green,' he said.
'He's a child and such a little fellow' is fourteen and a half, said john.
Yes, he's small, but he's kind too, and his father thinks it is a wonderful chance for him.
John made it sound like a great idea.
You're a good man, said james.
I only hope i can be like you someday.
My life has not always been this good, james.
When i was just as old as joe green, my parents died of the fever.
The master took me into the stable and Norman, the coachman, was told to teach me.
Norman could have told the master that I was too young to help.
Instead, he was like a father to me.
When Norman died a few years after that, I took his place.
So you see, James, little Joe and I will do just fine.
There's nothing like showing kindness to someone who needs it.
You have been my best friend, said James.
I hope you won't forget me.
The next day, Joe came to the stable to learn all he could before James left.
He learned to sweep the stable, ring in straw and hay, clean a harness, and wash the carriages.
At last, the day came when James had to leave us.
He was not his usual cheerful self, but John gave him a smile.
You will make new friends, James, and you will be good at your job.
John's words cheered James up.
He left us with a wave and a slight smile.
Mary Legs cried for several days.
Each morning, as Ginger and I trotted and galloped, John talked Mary Legs into better spirits.
In the end, we felt better about James leaving.
We would grow to love Joe just as well.
One night, soon after James had left, John suddenly unlocked the stable doors and came in calling Wake up, beauty.
You must take off now to Dr. White's.
John took me quickly up to the main house where the squire stood with a lamp in his hand.
"'John, ride as fast as you can for your mistress's sake,' my master said.
"'Give Beauty a rest at the inn and come back as soon as you can.'
I galloped as fast as I could.
The air was frosty and the moon was bright.'
After ten miles of running, we came to Dr. White's door.
John rang the bell twice, and then a window was opened.
Dr. White put his head out and said, What do you want?
Mrs. Gordon is very sick, sir.
The master wants you to go at once.
Wait, he said, but I will have to borrow your horse.
All right, John said as he stood by me and stroked my neck.
I was very hot.
The doctor soon came back out, and we left, leaving John far behind.
The doctor was not a very good rider.
He stopped once to let me catch my breath.
Shortly after our break, we made it to the main house.
My master had heard us coming.
He didn't say a word but only opened the door and let the doctor in.
Joe led me to the stable.
My legs were shaking under me and I could only stand and pant.
Poor Joe tried his best.
He rubbed my legs and my chest but he didn't put my warm blanket on me.
He thought I was too hot.
Then he gave me a full pail of water to drink.
It was cold and delicious and I drank it all.
Then he gave me hay and corn and, thinking he had done a good job, he went away.
I grew very cold and I ached all over.
Oh, How I wished for my warm thick blanket as I stood and trembled.
I wished for John but he had ten miles to walk so I tried to sleep.
After a long while I heard John at the door.
I gave a low moan for I was in great pain.
He covered me up with two or three warm blankets and then ran to the house for some hot water.
He made me some warm grain mixture, which I ate, and then I went to sleep.
John seemed to be very angry.
I heard him say to himself, Stupid boy, no blanket put on.
Water too cold?
Even so, I knew Joe had done his best.
I was very sick now.
An infection had attacked my lungs and I couldn't take a breath without pain.
I do not know how long I was ill.
Mr. Bond, the horse doctor, came every day.
One day he bled me.
John held a pail for the blood.
I felt very faint after it and thought I would die, and I believe they all thought so too.
Ginger and Merrylegs had been moved into the other stable so that I might have some quiet.
The fever had made me very quick of hearing.
Any little noise seemed quite loud and I could detect everyone's footsteps going to and from the house.
I knew everything that was going on.
John would get up two or three times a night to come to me.
My master visited, too.
My poor beauty, he said.
You are such a good horse.
You saved your mistress's life.
I was very glad to hear that.
It seemed the doctor had said that if my mistress had gone longer without medicine, she would have died.
One night, Tom Green, Joe's father, came to help John give me my medicine.
Then they sat down nearby to talk.
I wish you would say a kind word to Joe, the older man said.
He says he knows it was his fault, though he did the best he could.
After a short time John said slowly Tom, I know he didn't mean to do any harm, but you see, that horse is the pride of my heart.
I will try to give him a kind word tomorrow, but only if beauty is better.
Thank you, John.
I know you don't mean to be hard on the boy.
You're just not thinking clearly.
You're ignorant.
John's answer startled me.
How can you say that?
If people can say, oh, I didn't know, I didn't mean any harm, they think it's all right.
Remember when those young ladies left the door open on your garden house and your plants were killed by the cold?
And yet, the young ladies didn't mean it.
It was only ignorance.
I didn't hear any more of this conversation, for the medicine started to work and I got very sleepy.
In the morning, I felt much better, but I often thought of John's words that night.
