Mr Douglas was the name of a horse. He had come to the farm as a pony and he grew up feeling important because he was the only one on the farm who was called Mr! The other animals laughed at all the airs he put on and he felt very upset by it. In fact, he was so upset that he ran away one night when everyone was asleep.
He was found by a man wandering through the streets of a neighbouring town. He took the horse home and yoked him to a cart. He used to hire the cart to people for carrying goods. His old horse had died and Mr Douglas was strong and would be good for his work.
So, poor Douglas spent his days hauling timber and sacks of flour or sand, vegetables and even a whole flock of sheep! He used to be tired and hungry all the time and, as soon as he got a chance, he ran away again. This time, a dirty fellow in overalls saw him. He used to sell animals in fairs. He held Mr Douglas and sold him to a fair owner. Now Douglas had to take people for rides all over the fairground: gentleman who enjoyed whacking him with a stick, naughty children who pulled his mane and tail, fat ladies who giggled and did not know how to ride! It was agony.
Once again, he waited for the right time and ran away. A little boy who was whistling down a village road saw the horse and caught him. He got onto its back and took him along to a friend. His friend was a thief and could use the horse to run away after stealing things.
Mr Douglas was disgusted! He did not wish to work with such bad and wicked people. But there did not seem any way out. One night when the thief had gone into a house to steal things, Mr Douglas broke the rope and ran.
This time, he ran and he ran, all the way back to his old home in the farm. The other animals saw him coming and raised a cheer. All of them had missed the superior Mr Douglas. Their sounds brought the farmer out too. Mr Douglas was looking dirty and battered. Everyone crowded around him and he was so happy to be back that he quite forgot to be superior. He whinnied and nuzzled all his old friends. The farmer now called him ‘Dougie’.