Boxer was Gone Bowser's departure
Boxer's split hoof was a long time in healing. They had started the rebuilding of the windmill the day after the victory celebrations were ended. Boxer refused to take even a day off work, and made it a point of honour not to let it be seen that he was in pain. In the evenings he would admit privately to Clover that the hoof troubled him a great deal. Clover treated the hoof with poultices of herbs which she prepared by chewing them, and both she and Benjamin urged Boxer to work less hard. "A horse's lungs do not last for ever," she said to him. But Boxer would not listen. He had, he said, only one real ambition left--to see the windmill well under way before he reached the age for retirement.
It took a long time for the crack in the palm of Boxer's hoof to heal. The day after the celebration, the animals began building the windmills for the third time. In this regard, Bauxer was willing to be idle, he could not work for a day, so he suppressed the pain and did not let them perceive it. In the evening he whispered to Claver that his palm was in severe pain. Claver chewed the herbs in his mouth and applied them to him. Together with Benjamin, she pleaded with Bauxer to do a lighter job. She said to him, "Horse lungs can't last forever." But Bauxer didn't listen, saying that his only remaining wish was to see the windmill construction go smoothly before he reached retirement age.
At the beginning, when the laws of Animal Farm were first formulated, the retiring age had been fixed for horses and pigs at twelve, for cows at fourteen, for dogs at nine, for sheep at seven, and for hens and geese at five. Liberal old-age pensions had been agreed upon. As yet no animal had actually retired on pension, but of late the subject had been discussed more and more.
Originally, when Animal Farm first enacted the law, the retirement age was set as follows: twelve years for horses and pigs, fourteen for cattle, nine for dogs, seven for sheep, five for chickens and geese, and promised to pay adequate pension allowances. Although no animal has actually received pension benefits so far, this topic has been discussed more and more recently.
Now that the small field beyond the orchard had been set aside for barley, it was rumoured that a corner of the large pasture was to be fenced off and turned into a grazing-ground for superannuated animals. For a horse, it was said, the pension would be five pounds of corn a day and, in winter, fifteen pounds of hay, with a carrot or possibly an apple on public holidays. Boxer's twelfth birthday was due in the late summer of the following year.
At present, because the small pasture on the other side of the apple orchard has been reserved for barley fields, there is gossip that a corner of the large pasture should be fenced off for retired animals to be used as pasture. It is said that the pension allowance for each horse is five pounds of millet per day, fifteen pounds of hay per day in winter, and a carrot or an apple as much as possible on public holidays. Bauxer's twelfth birthday was at the end of the following summer.
Meanwhile life was hard. The winter was as cold as the last one had been, and food was even shorter. Once again all rations were reduced, except those of the pigs and the dogs. A too rigid equality in rations, Squealer explained, would have been contrary to the principles of Animalism. In any case he had no difficulty in proving to the other animals that they were NOT in reality short of food, whatever the appearances might be. For the time being, certainly, it had been found necessary to make a readjustment of rations (Squealer always spoke of it as a "readjustment," never as a "reduction"), but in comparison with the days of Jones, the improvement was enormous.
Life was very hard during this period. Winters are as cold as they were last year, and there is less food. With the exception of those pigs and dogs, the feed rations for all animals were again reduced. Squilla explained that equality, which is too dogmatic in terms of quantification, is contrary to the principles of animalism. In any case, he effortlessly proved to the other animals that, whatever the superficial phenomenon, they were in fact not short of food. Of course, it is necessary to adjust the supply for the time being (Squilla always says it is a "correction" and never thinks of it as a "reduction"). But compared to the Jones era, progress is enormous.
Reading out the figures in a shrill, rapid voice, he proved to them in detail that they had more oats, more hay, more turnips than they had had in Jones's day, that they worked shorter hours, that their drinking water was of better quality, that they lived longer, that a larger proportion of their young ones survived infancy, and that they had more straw in their stalls and suffered less from fleas. The animals believed every word of it.
To elaborate on this, Squilla read a long list of numbers in one breath in his shrill voice. The numbers reflect that they now have more oats, hay, radishes than in the Jones era, work shorter hours, drink better water, live longer, have improved survival rates for younger generations, have more grass mats in shacks, and have far fewer fleas. The animals believed everything he said.
Truth to tell, Jones and all he stood for had almost faded out of their memories. They knew that life nowadays was harsh and bare, that they were often hungry and often cold, and that they were usually working when they were not asleep. But doubtless it had been worse in the old days. They were glad to believe so. Besides, in those days they had been slaves and now they were free, and that made all the difference, as Squealer did not fail to point out.
Truth be told, in their memories, Jones and everything he represented has almost completely forgotten. They know that life has been difficult and difficult lately, often with hunger and cold, waking up to work, but there is no doubt that the past has been worse. They would rather believe this. Moreover, they were slaves then, but now they are free. As Squilla always put it on the lips, this makes all the difference.
There were many more mouths to feed now. In the autumn the four sows had all littered about simultaneously, producing thirty-one young pigs between them. The young pigs were piebald, and as Napoleon was the only boar on the farm, it was possible to guess at their parentage. It was announced that later, when bricks and timber had been purchased, a schoolroom would be built in the farmhouse garden.
Now there are more mouths to eat. On this day, all four sows lay calves at about the same time, a total of thirty-one. They are born with black and white stripes. Who is their father? This is not difficult to speculate, since Napoleon was the only breeding pig in the manor. There was a notice that after some time, when the bricks and timber had been bought, they would build an academy for them in the garden of the main courtyard.
For the time being, the young pigs were given their instruction by Napoleon himself in the farmhouse kitchen. They took their exercise in the garden, and were discouraged from playing with the other young animals. About this time, too, it was laid down as a rule that when a pig and any other animal met on the path, the other animal must stand aside: and also that all pigs, of whatever degree, were to have the privilege of wearing green ribbons on their tails on Sundays.
For the time being, Napoleon himself is giving them lessons in the kitchen of the estate. These piglets are usually in the garden and are not allowed to play with other young animals. Around the same time, a rule was promulgated that when other animals encountered pigs on the road, they had to stand on the side of the road;
The farm had had a fairly successful year, but was still short of money. There were the bricks, sand, and lime for the schoolroom to be purchased, and it would also be necessary to begin saving up again for the machinery for the windmill. Then there were lamp oil and candles for the house, sugar for Napoleon's own table (he forbade this to the other pigs, on the ground that it made them fat), and all the usual replacements such as tools, nails, string, coal, wire, scrap-iron, and dog biscuits.
The manor had a fairly smooth year, but their money was still not enough. Bricks, sand, lime and windmill machines for the school had to be bought at a cost. The lamp oil and candles needed in the main estate, the sugar that Napoleon ate (he forbade other pigs to eat sugar because it would make them fat), and had to spend money to buy it. Add to that all the daily necessities, such as tools, nails, ropes, coal, wire, iron blocks, and dog food biscuits.
A stump of hay and part of the potato crop were sold off, and the contract for eggs was increased to six hundred a week, so that that year the hens barely hatched enough chicks to keep their numbers at the same level. Rations, reduced in December, were reduced again in February, and lanterns in the stalls were forbidden to save oil. But the pigs seemed comfortable enough, and in fact were putting on weight if anything.
The remaining hay and part of the potato harvest have been sold, and the egg contract has been increased to six hundred per week. So during the year, the number of hatching chicks is not even enough, and the flock can hardly maintain the level of the past number. Rations, which had been reduced in December, were cut again in February, and lamps were forbidden in shacks to save fuel. However, pigs seem to be very comfortable, and in fact, even with the above conditions, their weight still increases.
One afternoon in late February a warm, rich, appetising scent, such as the animals had never smelt before, wafted itself across the yard from the little brew-house, which had been disused in Jones's time, and which stood beyond the kitchen. Someone said it was the smell of cooking barley. The animals sniffed the air hungrily and wondered whether a warm mash was being prepared for their supper.
One afternoon at the end of February, a fresh, rich, mouth-watering scent of the animals, which had never been smelled before, drifted across the yard from the small brewhouse on the other side of the kitchen, which had been abandoned during the Jones days. Some animals say that this is the taste of steamed barley. They sniffed greedily, wondering in their hearts whether they were preparing hot barley paste for their dinner.
But no warm mash appeared, and on the following Sunday it was announced that from now onwards all barley would be reserved for the pigs. The field beyond the orchard had already been sown with barley. And the news soon leaked out that every pig was now receiving a ration of a pint of beer daily, with half a gallon for Napoleon himself, which was always served to him in the Crown Derby soup tureen.
However, there was no hot barley paste at dinner. And on the following Sunday, another announcement was made that from now on all barley would be stored for pigs. Before that, barley had already been planted in the fields on the other side of the apple orchard. Soon after, news broke that every pig was now receiving a pint of beer every day, and Napoleon was taking half a pound alone, usually in a porcelain bowl with a lid from Debayshire.
But if there were hardships to be borne, they were partly offset by the fact that life nowadays had a greater dignity than it had had before. There were more songs, more speeches, more processions. Napoleon had commanded that once a week there should be held something called a Spontaneous Demonstration, the object of which was to celebrate the struggles and triumphs of Animal Farm.
But no matter what kind of anger they have suffered, no matter how difficult the days are, as long as they think that they are living more decently than before, they feel that they can still be justified. Now there are more songs, more speeches, more activities. Napoleon had instructed that a weekly event called a "spontaneous procession" should be held to celebrate the fruits of Animal Farm's struggles and prosperity.
At the appointed time the animals would leave their work and march round the precincts of the farm in military formation, with the pigs leading, then the horses, then the cows, then the sheep, and then the poultry. The dogs flanked the procession and at the head of all marched Napoleon's black cockerel. Boxer and Clover always carried between them a green banner marked with the hoof and the horn and the caption, "Long live Comrade Napoleon!"
At every given moment, the animals dropped their jobs and marched around the boundaries of the manor, with pigs leading the way, then horses, cattle, sheep, and then poultry. Dogs were on either side of the line, and Napoleon's black rooster was at the head of the line. Bauxer and Claver also always had to pull a green flag marked with hooves and horns, and "Long live Comrade Napoleon!" " slogan.
Afterwards there were recitations of poems composed in Napoleon's honour, and a speech by Squealer giving particulars of the latest increases in the production of foodstuffs, and on occasion a shot was fired from the gun. The sheep were the greatest devotees of the Spontaneous Demonstration, and if anyone complained (as a few animals sometimes did, when no pigs or dogs were near) that they wasted time and meant a lot of standing about in the cold, the sheep were sure to silence him with a tremendous bleating of "Four legs good, two legs bad!"
The procession was followed by the recitation of poems in praise of Napoleon, followed by speeches, followed by squirea reporting the latest data on feed production increases. And from time to time, guns are fired to celebrate. Sheep are most enthusiastic about the "spontaneous parade", and if any animal complains (some animals sometimes complain when pigs and dogs are not present) that this is a waste of time, it only means that they are always standing there frozen, and the sheep will surely shout loudly "four legs, two legs are broken", and immediately they will be dumbfounded.
But by and large the animals enjoyed these celebrations. They found it comforting to be reminded that, after all, they were truly their own masters and that the work they did was for their own benefit. So that, what with the songs, the processions, Squealer's lists of figures, the thunder of the gun, the crowing of the cockerel, and the fluttering of the flag, they were able to forget that their bellies were empty, at least part of the time.
But by and large, the animals are still very happy to do these celebrations. In the final analysis, they find that it is in these activities that they feel that they are truly in charge, that everything they do is for their own benefit, and they are satisfied with the thought of this. Thus, in the song, in the game, in the figures Squilla enumerates, in the sound of gunshots, in the cry of the black rooster, in the fluttering of the green flag, they can forget, at least for part, that their bellies are still empty.
In April, Animal Farm was proclaimed a Republic, and it became necessary to elect a President. There was only one candidate, Napoleon, who was elected unanimously. On the same day it was given out that fresh documents had been discovered which revealed further details about Snowball's complicity with Jones. It now appeared that Snowball had not, as the animals had previously imagined, merely attempted to lose the Battle of the Cowshed by means of a stratagem, but had been openly fighting on Jones's side.
In April, Animal Farm declared itself an "animal republic", and it was inevitable that a president would be elected, but there was only one candidate, Napoleon, who was unanimously elected as president. On the same day, new evidence of snobbery and Jones's collusion was released, involving a lot of details. Thus, it now appears that Snowbow not only subtly destroyed the "Cowshed War", which the animals had previously remembered, but also openly acted as an accomplice to Jones.
In fact, it was he who had actually been the leader of the human forces, and had charged into battle with the words "Long live Humanity!" on his lips. The wounds on Snowball's back, which a few of the animals still remembered to have seen, had been inflicted by Napoleon's teeth.
In fact, it was he who was the culprit of the gang, and before he joined the melee, he shouted "Long live the human race!" Some animals still remember that Snowbo had a wound on his back, but it was actually Napoleon himself who bit it.
In the middle of the summer Moses the raven suddenly reappeared on the farm, after an absence of several years. He was quite unchanged, still did no work, and talked in the same strain as ever about Sugarcandy Mountain. He would perch on a stump, flap his black wings, and talk by the hour to anyone who would listen. "Up there, comrades," he would say solemnly, pointing to the sky with his large beak--"up there, just on the other side of that dark cloud that you can see--there it lies, Sugarcandy Mountain, that happy country where we poor animals shall rest for ever from our labours!"
In midsummer, moses the raven suddenly returned to the manor after several years of disappearance. He has hardly changed, still does not work, and still talks about the old "Honey Mountain". Whoever would have listened, he flew to a tree stump with black wings and spoke incessantly: "There, comrades," he said solemnly, pointing to the sky with his big mouth—"There, right over the dark cloud you see—there's a 'honey mountain'. That happy kingdom will be the home of our poor animals after they have escaped from this world! ”
He even claimed to have been there on one of his higher flights, and to have seen the everlasting fields of clover and the linseed cake and lump sugar growing on the hedges. Many of the animals believed him. Their lives now, they reasoned, were hungry and laborious; was it not right and just that a better world should exist somewhere else? A thing that was difficult to determine was the attitude of the pigs towards Moses. They all declared contemptuously that his stories about Sugarcandy Mountain were lies, and yet they allowed him to remain on the farm, not working, with an allowance of a gill of beer a day.
He even claimed to have been there on a high-altitude flight and saw endless fields of alfalfa where flax cakes and sugar cubes grew on hedges. Many animals believed him. They suppose that they are now living in hunger and toil, so shouldn't it be reasonable to have a much better world in another situation? What was difficult to negotiate was the pig's attitude towards Moses, who both dismissively called his "honey mountain" claims all lies, but still allowed him to stay on the estate, allowed him not to work, and gave him a gill's beer every day as a subsidy.
After his hoof had healed up, Boxer worked harder than ever. Indeed, all the animals worked like slaves that year. Apart from the regular work of the farm, and the rebuilding of the windmill, there was the schoolhouse for the young pigs, which was started in March. Sometimes the long hours on insufficient food were hard to bear, but Boxer never faltered. In nothing that he said or did was there any sign that his strength was not what it had been. It was only his appearance that was a little altered; his hide was less shiny than it had used to be, and his great haunches seemed to have shrunken.
After Bauxer's hooves healed, he worked harder. In fact, in this year, all animals work like slaves. In addition to the usual work and the third construction of windmills, the manor also built a school for young pigs, which began in March. Sometimes long hours of labor without food are unbearable, but Bauxer never backs down. There was no sign that his words and deeds were not as motivated as before, but there was a slight change in appearance: his fur was not as bright as before, and his thick waist seemed to shrink a little.
The others said, "Boxer will pick up when the spring grass comes on"; but the spring came and Boxer grew no fatter. Sometimes on the slope leading to the top of the quarry, when he braced his muscles against the weight of some vast boulder, it seemed that nothing kept him on his feet except the will to continue. At such times his lips were seen to form the words, "I will work harder"; he had no voice left.
Other animals say, "When the spring grass grows, Bauxer will slowly recover"; but when spring comes, Bauxer does not gain weight. Sometimes, when he was on the slope leading to the top of the mine, using all his strength to withstand the heavy load of those huge round stones, the strength to support him seemed to have only unremitting will. At such times, he always did not say a word, but when he looked at it suddenly, he seemed to faintly see the words in his mouth: "I want to work harder."
Once again Clover and Benjamin warned him to take care of his health, but Boxer paid no attention. His twelfth birthday was approaching. He did not care what happened so long as a good store of stone was accumulated before he went on pension. Late one evening in the summer, a sudden rumour ran round the farm that something had happened to Boxer. He had gone out alone to drag a load of stone down to the windmill. And sure enough, the rumour was true. A few minutes later two pigeons came racing in with the news; "Boxer has fallen! He is lying on his side and can't get up!"
Kraver and Benjamin once again warn him to beware of his body, but Bauxer ignores him. His twelfth birthday was approaching, but he didn't pay attention to it, and all he wanted was to save up enough stones before receiving his pension allowance. One summer evening, near dark, a sudden news spread throughout the manor that something had happened to Bauxer. Before that, he had gone out alone and pulled a cart of stones into the windmill. Sure enough, the news was true. A few minutes later two pigeons flew over and brought the message: "Bowser has fallen!" He was lying there on his stomach now, unable to stand up! ”
About half the animals on the farm rushed out to the knoll where the windmill stood. There lay Boxer, between the shafts of the cart, his neck stretched out, unable even to raise his head. His eyes were glazed, his sides matted with sweat. A thin stream of blood had trickled out of his mouth. Clover dropped to her knees at his side.
About half of the animals in the manor rushed out and rushed to the hill bag where the windmill was built. Bauxer was lying there. He craned his neck in the middle of the rut, unable to lift his head, his eyes blinking, the hairs on his ribs sticking to a lump of sweat, and a thin stream of blood flowing from his mouth. Claver knelt down beside him.
"Boxer!" she cried, "how are you?" "It is my lung," said Boxer in a weak voice. "It does not matter. I think you will be able to finish the windmill without me. There is a pretty good store of stone accumulated. I had only another month to go in any case. To tell you the truth, I had been looking forward to my retirement. And perhaps, as Benjamin is growing old too, they will let him retire at the same time and be a companion to me."
"Bauxer!" She cried out, "What's wrong with you? "My lungs," said Bauxer in a faint voice, "it doesn't matter, I suppose you can build a windmill without me, and the spare stones have been accumulated enough." I've only been a month at best. Don't tell you that I have been looking forward to retirement. Seeing that Benjay will be old next year, maybe they will let him retire at the same time and be my companion. ”
"We must get help at once," said Clover. "Run, somebody, and tell Squealer what has happened." All the other animals immediately raced back to the farmhouse to give Squealer the news. Only Clover remained, and Benjamin who lay down at Boxer's side, and, without speaking, kept the flies off him with his long tail. After about a quarter of an hour Squealer appeared, full of sympathy and concern. He said that Comrade Napoleon had learned with the very deepest distress of this misfortune to one of the most loyal workers on the farm, and was already making arrangements to send Boxer to be treated in the hospital at Willingdon.
"We'll get help," cried Clover, "quick, who's running to tell Squilla that something's wrong." The other animals all immediately ran back to the main courtyard to report the news to Squilla, leaving only Claver and Benjamin. Benjamin lay down next to Bauxer and silently used his long tail to catch flies for Bauxer. After about a quarter of an hour, Squilla rushed to the scene with sympathy and concern. He said that Comrade Napoleon had learned of this, was deeply saddened by the misfortune that had occurred to such a most loyal member of the manor, and had arranged for Bauxer to be taken to the hospital in Wellington.
The animals felt a little uneasy at this. Except for Mollie and Snowball, no other animal had ever left the farm, and they did not like to think of their sick comrade in the hands of human beings. However, Squealer easily convinced them that the veterinary surgeon in Willingdon could treat Boxer's case more satisfactorily than could be done on the farm. And about half an hour later, when Boxer had somewhat recovered, he was with difficulty got on to his feet, and managed to limp back to his stall, where Clover and Benjamin had prepared a good bed of straw for him.
The animals were a little uneasy about this, for the animals except Molly and Snowbo had never left the manor, and they did not want to think of handing over a sick comrade to man. However, Squilla effortlessly persuaded them, saying that the Veterinary Hospital in Wellington would treat Bauxer's illness better than in the manor. After about half an hour, Bauxer had gotten some better, and he had to get up and return to his stable, trembling step by step, where a comfortable straw bed had been prepared for him by Clover and Benjamin.
For the next two days Boxer remained in his stall. The pigs had sent out a large bottle of pink medicine which they had found in the medicine chest in the bathroom, and Clover administered it to Boxer twice a day after meals. In the evenings she lay in his stall and talked to him, while Benjamin kept the flies off him. Boxer professed not to be sorry for what had happened. If he made a good recovery, he might expect to live another three years, and he looked forward to the peaceful days that he would spend in the corner of the big pasture. It would be the first time that he had had leisure to study and improve his mind. He intended, he said, to devote the rest of his life to learning the remaining twenty-two letters of the alphabet.
For the next two days, Bauxer stayed in his stable. The pigs brought a large red bottle of medicine, which they had found in the medicine cabinet in the bathroom, and was given to Bauxer by Claver after the meal, twice a day. At night, she lay in his shed chatting with him, and Benjamin chased flies for him. Bauxer declared that he did not regret what had happened. If he can fully recover, he still hopes to live for another three years. He looked forward to living quietly in a corner of the big ranch for a while. That way, he would be able to free up his time to study for the first time in order to increase his intellect. He said he intended to spend the rest of his life learning the remaining twenty-two letters on the alphabet.
However, Benjamin and Clover could only be with Boxer after working hours, and it was in the middle of the day when the van came to take him away. The animals were all at work weeding turnips under the supervision of a pig, when they were astonished to see Benjamin come galloping from the direction of the farm buildings, braying at the top of his voice. It was the first time that they had ever seen Benjamin excited--indeed, it was the first time that anyone had ever seen him gallop.
However, Benjamin and Claver were only able to be with Bauxer after the work was over. And it was at noon that day that a car came and pulled away Bauxer. The animals were busy weeding the turnip field under the watchful eye of a pig, when suddenly they watched in amazement as Benjamin galloped from the manor shack and shouted in his throat. It was the first time they had seen Benjamin so excited, in fact, the first time they had seen him running.
"Quick, quick!" he shouted. "Come at once! They're taking Boxer away!" Without waiting for orders from the pig, the animals broke off work and raced back to the farm buildings. Sure enough, there in the yard was a large closed van, drawn by two horses, with lettering on its side and a sly-looking man in a low-crowned bowler hat sitting on the driver's seat. And Boxer's stall was empty.
"Quick, quick!" He shouted, "Come on! They're going to pull away Bauxer! Without waiting for the pigs to give orders, the animals all put down their work and quickly ran back. Sure enough, there was a caravan parked in the courtyard, carried by two horses, with writing written on the side of the car, and a man sitting in the driver's seat, with a somber face and a low-brimmed round top hat. Bauxer's shed was empty.
The animals crowded round the van. "Good-bye, Boxer!" they chorused, "good-bye!"" Fools! Fools!" shouted Benjamin, prancing round them and stamping the earth with his small hoofs. "Fools! Do you not see what is written on the side of that van?" That gave the animals pause, and there was a hush. Muriel began to spell out the words. But Benjamin pushed her aside and in the midst of a deadly silence he read:
The animals gathered around the car and said in unison, "Goodbye, Boxer!" Good bye! "Stupid! fool! Benjamin shouted, jumping around them as he tapped the ground with his little hoof: "Fool! Didn't you see what was written on the side of the car? At this point, the animals hesitated, and the scene was quiet. Muriel began to spell the words. But Benjamin pushed her aside, and he himself read in a deathly silence:
"'Alfred Simmonds, Horse Slaughterer and Glue Boiler, Willingdon. Dealer in Hides and Bone-Meal. Kennels Supplied.' Do you not understand what that means? They are taking Boxer to the knacker's! A cry of horror burst from all the animals. At this moment the man on the box whipped up his horses and the van moved out of the yard at a smart trot. All the animals followed, crying out at the tops of their voices.
"'Wellington, Evrey Symonds, horse butcher and glue cooker, leather merchant and bone meal merchant for dog food.'" Don't you understand what that means? They're going to pull Bauxer to the slaughterhouse! Hearing this, all the animals suddenly burst into a cry of fear. Just then, the man sitting in the carriage whipped his horse, and the carriage left the compound in a trot. All the animals followed, shouting desperately.
Clover forced her way to the front. The van began to gather speed. Clover tried to stir her stout limbs to a gallop, and achieved a canter. "Boxer!" she cried. "Boxer! Boxer! Boxer!" And just at this moment, as though he had heard the uproar outside, Boxer's face, with the white stripe down his nose, appeared at the small window at the back of the van." Boxer!" cried Clover in a terrible voice. "Boxer! Get out! Get out quickly! They're taking you to your death!"
Claver squeezed hard to the front. At this moment, the carriage began to accelerate, and Claver also tried to speed up her thick limbs to catch up, and ran faster and faster, "Bauxer! She cried out, "Bauxer! Bauxer! Bauxer! "Just then, as if Bauxer had heard the noise outside, his face, with a white hair that went straight to his nose, appeared in the small window behind the car." Bauxer! Claver cried bitterly, "Bauxer! Come out! Come out! They're going to send you to your death! ”
All the animals took up the cry of "Get out, Boxer, get out!" But the van was already gathering speed and drawing away from them. It was uncertain whether Boxer had understood what Clover had said. But a moment later his face disappeared from the window and there was the sound of a tremendous drumming of hoofs inside the van. He was trying to kick his way out. The time had been when a few kicks from Boxer's hoofs would have smashed the van to matchwood. But alas! his strength had left him; and in a few moments the sound of drumming hoofs grew fainter and died away.
All the animals cried out in unison, "Come out, Boxer, come out!" But the carriage had accelerated, farther and farther away from them. I'm not sure if Bauxer heard those words claver shouted. After a while, his face disappeared from the window, and then there was a loud horseshoe kicking sound in the car. He was trying to kick the car out. It is said that with just a few strokes, Bauxer can kick the carriage to pieces. But OMG! Time passed, and he had lost all strength; suddenly, the kicking of the horse's hooves gradually weakened until it disappeared.
In desperation the animals began appealing to the two horses which drew the van to stop. "Comrades, comrades!" they shouted. "Don't take your own brother to his death! " But the stupid brutes, too ignorant to realise what was happening, merely set back their ears and quickened their pace. Boxer's face did not reappear at the window. Too late, someone thought of racing ahead and shutting the five-barred gate; but in another moment the van was through it and rapidly disappearing down the road. Boxer was never seen again.
Desperately, the animal began to plead with the two horses pulling the cart to stop, "Friend, friend! They shouted, "Don't drag your brothers to their deaths!" "But those two stupid beasts, so stupid that they didn't know what was going on, just put up their ears and sped up." Bauxer's face never reappeared in the window. Some animals tried to run to the front and close the five gates, but it was too late, and in an instant, the carriage had rushed out of the gate and disappeared quickly on the road. Never see Boxer again.
Three days later it was announced that he had died in the hospital at Willingdon, in spite of receiving every attention a horse could have. Squealer came to announce the news to the others. He had, he said, been present during Boxer's last hours.
Three days later, he was said to have died in a hospital in Wellington, but, as a horse, he had been taken care of with great care. The news was made publicly by Squilla, who said he had been on the sidelines during the last hours of Bauxer's life.
"It was the most affecting sight I have ever seen!" said Squealer, lifting his trotter and wiping away a tear. "I was at his bedside at the very last. And at the end, almost too weak to speak, he whispered in my ear that his sole sorrow was to have passed on before the windmill was finished. 'Forward, comrades!' he whispered. 'Forward in the name of the Rebellion. Long live Animal Farm! Long live Comrade Napoleon! Napoleon is always right.' Those were his very last words, comrades."
"That's the most touching scene I've ever seen!" He said as he lifted his hooves to wipe away a tear, "At the last moment I stood by his bedside. Before he died, he was almost too weak to speak, and he whispered in my ear that his only regret was to die before the windmill was built. He whispered, 'Comrades, go ahead!' Advance in the name of the uprising, long live Animal Farm! Long live Comrade Napoleon! Napoleon was always right. These are his last words, comrades. ”
Here Squealer's demeanour suddenly changed. He fell silent for a moment, and his little eyes darted suspicious glances from side to side before he proceeded. It had come to his knowledge, he said, that a foolish and wicked rumour had been circulated at the time of Boxer's removal. Some of the animals had noticed that the van which took Boxer away was marked "Horse Slaughterer," and had actually jumped to the conclusion that Boxer was being sent to the knacker's.
At this point, Squilla suddenly changed her face, he was silent for a while, and scanned the venue with the suspicious eyes that shot out of his small eyes before continuing. He said that as far as he knew, after Bauxer had been pulled away, there was a stupid and malicious rumor circulating in the manor. Some animals noticed that the carriage that pulled Bauxer had the mark "Horse Slaughterer" on it, and they said that Bauxer had been sent to the slaughterhouse.
It was almost unbelievable, said Squealer, that any animal could be so stupid. Surely, he cried indignantly, whisking his tail and skipping from side to side, surely they knew their beloved Leader, Comrade Napoleon, better than that? But the explanation was really very simple. The van had previously been the property of the knacker, and had been bought by the veterinary surgeon, who had not yet painted the old name out. That was how the mistake had arisen.
He said it was almost unbelievable that there were such stupid animals. He swung his tail to jump from side to side, indignantly asking, from this point of view, do they really know the beloved leader Comrade Napoleon? In fact, the answer is very simple: the car used to belong to a horse slaughterer, but the veterinary hospital has bought it, but they have not had time to erase the old name. It is precisely because of this that it has caused everyone to misunderstand.
The animals were enormously relieved to hear this. And when Squealer went on to give further graphic details of Boxer's death-bed, the admirable care he had received, and the expensive medicines for which Napoleon had paid without a thought as to the cost, their last doubts disappeared and the sorrow that they felt for their comrade's death was tempered by the thought that at least he had died happy.
The animals were greatly relieved to hear this. Squilla then went on to paint details about Bauxer's bed and the preferential treatment he received, as well as the expensive medicines that Napoleon had purchased for him at all costs. So they dispelled the last doubt, thinking that their comrades had died in happiness, and their sorrow was dissolved.
Napoleon himself appeared at the meeting on the following Sunday morning and pronounced a short oration in Boxer's honour. It had not been possible, he said, to bring back their lamented comrade's remains for interment on the farm, but he had ordered a large wreath to be made from the laurels in the farmhouse garden and sent down to be placed on Boxer's grave. And in a few days' time the pigs intended to hold a memorial banquet in Boxer's honour. Napoleon ended his speech with a reminder of Boxer's two favourite maxims, "I will work harder" and "Comrade Napoleon is always right"--maxims, he said, which every animal would do well to adopt as his own.
At the following Sunday morning meeting, Napoleon himself attended the meeting to read a short eulogy in tribute to Bauxer. He said it was no longer possible to bring back the bodies of their dead comrades and bury them in the manor. But he had instructed that a large wreath be made of laurel flowers from the garden of the main courtyard be made and sent to Bauxer's tomb. And, a few days later, the pig plans to hold a memorial service to pay tribute to Bauxer. Finally, Napoleon concluded his speech with two of Boxer's beloved maxims, "I will work harder" and "Comrade Napoleon is always right." Referring to these two aphorisms, he said that every animal should take these two aphorisms as its own reference and conscientiously implement them into practical action.
On the day appointed for the banquet, a grocer's van drove up from Willingdon and delivered a large wooden crate at the farmhouse. That night there was the sound of uproarious singing, which was followed by what sounded like a violent quarrel and ended at about eleven o'clock with a tremendous crash of glass. No one stirred in the farmhouse before noon on the following day, and the word went round that from somewhere or other the pigs had acquired the money to buy themselves another case of whisky.
On the day it was decided to be a banquet, a grocer's carriage came from Wellington and delivered a large wooden box in the estate. That evening there was a loud roar from the estate, and after that there was another sound, which sounded like a fierce noise, and it was not until about eleven o'clock that it was quieted by a loud noise that shattered the glass. Until noon the next day, there was no movement in the main courtyard. At the same time, there was a gossip circulating that the pigs had somehow found a sum of money from nowhere and had bought them another box of whiskey.
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