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We saw a light at the hall-door and at the upper windows, and as we came up mistress ran
out, saying, ‘Are you really safe, my dear? Oh! I have been so anxious, fancying all sorts of

things. Have you had no accident?’

‘No, my dear; but if your Black Beauty had not been wiser than we were we should all have
been carried down the river at the wooden bridge.’ I heard no more, as they went into the
house, and John took me to the stable. Oh, what a good
supper he gave me that night, a good bran mash and anxious: worried and nervous
some crushed beans with my oats, and such a thick bed of bran mash: a food for horses made
with bran and hot water
straw! and I was glad of it, for I was tired.

—Anna Sewell

About the Author
Anna Sewell (1820−1878) was an English novelist, who only had one published book—Black Beauty—to her credit.
Black Beauty was first published in 1877. Sewell didn’t write the book for children but for adults who worked with
horses because ‘a special aim was to induce kindness, sympathy and an understanding treatment of horses’. Sewell died
five months after the publication of Black Beauty.

Time to answer

A. Choose the correct option.

1. Who is the narrator of the story?

Beauty the master

John James

2. Which of the following lines helps in effectively disclosing the identity of the narrator?

One day late in the autumn my master had a long journey to go on business.

I stopped still, and I believe I trembled; of course, I did not turn round or run away;
I was not brought up to that.

We were going along at a good pace, but the moment my feet touched the first part
of the bridge I felt sure there was something wrong.

I always liked to go in the dog-cart, it was so light and the high wheels ran along so
pleasantly.

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