Скотный двор
Chapter 1
Hearkenwellandspreadmytidings
Ofthegoldenfuturetime.
Thesingingofthissongthrewtheanimalsintothewildestexcitement. AlmostbeforeMajorhadreachedtheend,theyhadbegunsingingitforthemselves. Eventhestupidestofthemhadalreadypickedupthetuneandafewofthewords,andasforthecleverones,suchasthepigsanddogs,theyhadtheentiresongbyheartwithinafewminutes. Andthen,afterafewpreliminarytries,thewholefarmburstoutinto‘BeastsofEngland’intremendousunison. Thecowslowedit,thedogswhinedit,thesheepbleatedit,thehorseswhinniedit,theducksquackedit. Theyweresodelightedwiththesongthattheysangitrightthroughfivetimesinsuccession,andmighthavecontinuedsingingitallnightiftheyhadnotbeeninterrupted.
Unfortunately,theuproarawokeMr.Jones,whosprangoutofbed,makingsurethattherewasafoxintheyard. Heseizedthegunwhichalwaysstoodinacornerofhisbedroom,andletflyachargeofnumber6shotintothedarkness. Thepelletsburiedthemselvesinthewallofthebarnandthemeetingbrokeuphurriedly. Everyonefledtohisownsleeping-place. Thebirdsjumpedontotheirperches,theanimalssettleddowninthestraw,andthewholefarmwasasleepinamoment.
