Скотный двор

           Withtheworthlessparasiticalhumanbeingsgone,therewasmoreforeveryonetoeat. Therewasmoreleisuretoo,inexperiencedthoughtheanimalswere. Theymetwithmanydifficulties—forinstance,laterintheyear,whentheyharvestedthecorn,theyhadtotreaditoutintheancientstyleandblowawaythechaffwiththeirbreath,sincethefarmpossessednothreshingmachine—butthepigswiththeirclevernessandBoxerwithhistremendousmusclesalwayspulledthemthrough. Boxerwastheadmirationofeverybody. HehadbeenahardworkereveninJones’stime,butnowheseemedmorelikethreehorsesthanone;thereweredayswhentheentireworkofthefarmseemedtorestonhismightyshoulders. Frommorningtonighthewaspushingandpulling,alwaysatthespotwheretheworkwashardest. Hehadmadeanarrangementwithoneofthecockerelstocallhiminthemorningshalfanhourearlierthananyoneelse,andwouldputinsomevolunteerlabouratwhateverseemedtobemostneeded,beforetheregularday’sworkbegan. Hisanswertoeveryproblem,everysetback,was"Iwillworkharder!"—whichhehadadoptedashispersonalmotto. 

           Buteveryoneworkedaccordingtohiscapacity. Thehensandducks,forinstance,savedfivebushelsofcornattheharvestbygatheringupthestraygrains. Nobodystole,nobodygrumbledoverhisrations,thequarrellingandbitingandjealousywhichhadbeennormalfeaturesoflifeintheolddayshadalmostdisappeared. Nobodyshirked—oralmostnobody. Mollie,itwastrue,wasnotgoodatgettingupinthemornings,andhadawayofleavingworkearlyonthegroundthattherewasastoneinherhoof. Andthebehaviourofthecatwassomewhatpeculiar. Itwassoonnoticedthatwhentherewasworktobedonethecatcouldneverbefound. Shewouldvanishforhoursonend,andthenreappearatmeal-times,orintheeveningafterworkwasover,asthoughnothinghadhappened. Butshealwaysmadesuchexcellentexcuses,andpurredsoaffectionately,thatitwasimpossiblenottobelieveinhergoodintentions.