Скотный двор

           Andinmanywaystheanimalmethodofdoingthingswasmoreefficientandsavedlabour. Suchjobsasweeding,forinstance,couldbedonewithathoroughnessimpossibletohumanbeings. Andagain,sincenoanimalnowstole,itwasunnecessarytofenceoffpasturefromarableland,whichsavedalotoflabourontheupkeepofhedgesandgates. Nevertheless,asthesummerworeon,variousunforeseenshortagesbegantomakethemselvesfelt. Therewasneedofparaffinoil,nails,string,dogbiscuits,andironforthehorses’shoes,noneofwhichcouldbeproducedonthefarm. Latertherewouldalsobeneedforseedsandartificialmanures,besidesvarioustoolsand,finally,themachineryforthewindmill. Howtheseweretobeprocured,noonewasabletoimagine. 

           OneSundaymorning,whentheanimalsassembledtoreceivetheirorders,Napoleonannouncedthathehaddecideduponanewpolicy. FromnowonwardsAnimalFarmwouldengageintradewiththeneighbouringfarms:not,ofcourse,foranycommercialpurpose,butsimplyinordertoobtaincertainmaterialswhichwereurgentlynecessary. Theneedsofthewindmillmustoverrideeverythingelse,hesaid. Hewasthereforemakingarrangementstosellastackofhayandpartofthecurrentyear’swheatcrop,andlateron,ifmoremoneywereneeded,itwouldhavetobemadeupbythesaleofeggs,forwhichtherewasalwaysamarketinWillingdon. Thehens,saidNapoleon,shouldwelcomethissacrificeastheirownspecialcontributiontowardsthebuildingofthewindmill. 

           Onceagaintheanimalswereconsciousofavagueuneasiness. Nevertohaveanydealingswithhumanbeings,nevertoengageintrade,nevertomakeuseofmoney—hadnotthesebeenamongtheearliestresolutionspassedatthatfirsttriumphantMeetingafterJoneswasexpelled? Alltheanimalsrememberedpassingsuchresolutions:oratleasttheythoughtthattheyrememberedit.