THE HORSE.

 Iam sure that all of you know me, and think that I am a useful sort of creature. I suppose most of you have had a ride in a wagon¹ or carriage drawn² by me or some other horse.

 

When I was a boy-horse I was called a colt. I lived then on a farm, and did no work, but played most of the time in the fields. You may see by the picture on this page that I was made quite a pet of by the young folks on the farm. Pleasant times, indeed, those were with me!

 

But when I was about four years old, I was “broken in.” You may not know just what that means, so I will tell you. It means to teach a horse to work. He must get used to having a bit in his mouth, and learn to wear a bridle³, a collar, a saddle, and a crupper.

 

He must submit to being harnessed, and hitched⁴ to a wagon or carriage. He must stand still when he is told to, and walk or trot⁵, fast or slow, just as his driver wishes.

 

He must not start nor jump at anything he sees, nor bite, nor kick, nor have any will of his own, but always do his master’s bidding. A horse when he feels good is inclined to show his joy by prancing⁶ about, and when tired he likes to lie down; but he must learn not to follow these inclinations⁷ when he is in harness or under the saddle.

 

Just think what a disagreeable thing it would be to have a bit in your mouth! A piece of hard, cold metal pressing on your tongue, and held on by straps⁸ about your head so that you cannot get rid of it. I thought it was dreadful at first, but after a while grew so used to it that I did not mind it.

 

It was so with all the other things. It took time to make me reconciled to submit to them, but by degrees they seemed easier and easier, and now, as I have a kind master, I am glad that I am able to be useful to him.

 

 

1 wagon   

n.四轮马车，手推车，面包车；无盖运货列车

参考例句：

• We have to fork the hay into the wagon.我们得把干草用叉子挑进马车里去。
• The muddy road bemired the wagon.马车陷入了泥泞的道路。

2 drawn   

v.拖，拉，拔出；adj.憔悴的，紧张的

参考例句：

• All the characters in the story are drawn from life.故事中的所有人物都取材于生活。
• Her gaze was drawn irresistibly to the scene outside.她的目光禁不住被外面的风景所吸引。

3 bridle   

n.笼头，束缚；vt.抑制，约束；动怒

参考例句：

• He learned to bridle his temper.他学会了控制脾气。
• I told my wife to put a bridle on her tongue.我告诉妻子说话要谨慎。

4 hitched   

（免费）搭乘他人之车( hitch的过去式和过去分词 )； 搭便车； 攀上； 跃上

参考例句：

• They hitched a ride in a truck. 他们搭乘了一辆路过的货车。
• We hitched a ride in a truck yesterday. 我们昨天顺便搭乘了一辆卡车。

5 trot   

n.疾走，慢跑；n.老太婆；现成译本；(复数）trots:腹泻（与the 连用）；v.小跑，快步走，赶紧

参考例句：

• They passed me at a trot.他们从我身边快步走过。
• The horse broke into a brisk trot.马突然快步小跑起来。

6 prancing   

v.（马）腾跃( prance的现在分词 )

参考例句：

• The lead singer was prancing around with the microphone. 首席歌手手执麦克风，神气地走来走去。
• The King lifted Gretel on to his prancing horse and they rode to his palace. 国王把格雷特尔扶上腾跃着的马，他们骑马向天宫走去。 来自辞典例句

7 inclinations   

倾向( inclination的名词复数 )； 倾斜； 爱好； 斜坡

参考例句：

• She has artistic inclinations. 她有艺术爱好。
• I've no inclinations towards life as a doctor. 我的志趣不是行医。

8 straps   

n.带子( strap的名词复数 )；挎带；肩带；背带v.用皮带捆扎( strap的第三人称单数 )；用皮带抽打；包扎；给…打绷带

参考例句：

• the shoulder straps of her dress 她连衣裙上的肩带
• The straps can be adjusted to suit the wearer. 这些背带可进行调整以适合使用者。