Chapter-13
I was in London when I was brought to a horse fair to be sold by Mr. Barry’s agent. The bad thing about the horse fair was that a horse’s life depended on who won in the gamble.
I was on show. Many came to see me, made me walk and checked my mouth and hooves. Some appreciated me for my brisk walk and my looks, while some ignored me for the scar of injury on my knee.
One of the buyers was so irritating that he poked me at all sides and then fixed a deal at £23. Thankfully, Mr Barry’s agent didn’t agree with him.
Finally, a gentleman came towards me. He examined me carefully and gently and said that he would give £24 for me. After some bargaining, the deal was fixed at £24 and 10 shillings.
So, I was sold to the man called Jeremiah Barker, nick-named Jerry.
Jerry took me first to an inn where the bit and the bridle were put on me. After giving me a good amount of oats, my master put the saddle over me. Then we started off for London.
Riding through the quiet lanes and roads, we reached the city. The sun was down by then. We had covered such a long distance that I was in doubt if he would ever stop.
But soon, we came across a number of cabs where my master waved his hand to many drivers along the road. Finally, we halted in front of a house.
As we stood in front of the house with the door shut, my master whistled with his full strength. Just then, the door was flung open by a lady. A little girl and a little boy followed her outside.
The boy was Harry and he addressed the little girl as Dolly, who was his sister.
The next moment, all were standing around me. Harry with a lantern asked his father, “Is he nice or moody, Father?”
And my master said that I was gentle. Then arrangements were made to clean me and feed me up. Polly, Jerry’s wife, prepared the things of necessity to wash me up, while she ordered the children to get some bran mash for me.
Jerry rubbed me thoroughly while Polly served me the bran mash. After it was all done, I lay calm in my warm and soft bed and soon fell asleep.
My new master and mistress were very kind-hearted and gentle-faced. Harry was twelve years old. He was also similar: a well-tempered and kind lad. Her sister Dolly was also the same but eight years of age.
The family was quite gay. Jerry owned a cab where a horse named Captain worked during the morning and I substituted him at afternoon.
Jerry also disliked the bearing rein, so it was much relieving for me. Whenever I saw a pair with their heads held high, I would recall my hard days which were now over.
Jerry never insisted me to drive faster than my regular pace even though he was offered extra shillings. He never exerted extra stress on me. One of his qualities I liked was he never went out to drive the cab on Sundays. According to him, Sunday was the day when every creature could rest after toiling hard for six days.
He was much concerned about my health, so he believed that his horses should also rest on Sunday.
One day, two men in haste sat on the cab. They said they were surely going to miss the train at one o’clock if my master drove slowly. They even offered him an extra shilling but my master plainly backed out saying, “I can’t strain my horse for an extra shilling.”
Finally, they had to hire another cab to reach the station. When they had left, my master stroked my nose and softly remarked, “I can feel what you feel when you are harshly handled. Don’t worry; I won’t give you and pain.”
One day, a poor young woman carrying a heavy child came along the street. She asked Jerry if he knew the way to the St. Thomas hospital. She was a stranger in London and her child was sick.
“Poor fellow,” she said, “he is in a great deal of pain. If I could get him into the hospital, he might get well. Sir, how far is it?”
“I’m sorry, madam,” Jerry said, “but you can’t get there walking through these crowds. It is three miles away and that child is heavy.”
“Yes, but I am strong and if I knew the way, I could get there.”
“No, you can’t,” said Jerry, “You could be knocked down. Look, get into this cab and I’ll drive you to the hospital. And hurry, the rain is on its way.”
“No, sir,” she said, “I can’t do that. I only have enough money to get back home. Please tell me the way.”
“Look here, madam,” Jerry said, “I’ve got a wife and dear children at home. Now you get into that cab. I’ll take you there for free. I’d be ashamed of myself to take any money from you.”
“Heaven bless you!” the woman said, bursting into tears. Jerry helped the woman and her son into his cab.
As Jerry went to open the door, two officials of the town ran up calling out, “Cab!”
“Engaged,” cried Jerry. Ignoring him, both men pushed past the woman and sprang into the cab. Jerry looked as stern as a policeman. “This cab is engaged, sirs, by that lady.”
When they understood Jerry’s intent, they got out, calling him all sorts of bad names.
“Thank you a thousand times,” the woman said when they arrived at the hospital. “I could never have got her alone.”
“You’re kindly welcome, and I hope the dear child will get better soon.”
As he watched the woman and her child enter the hospital, Jerry said how pleased he was to have helped someone in their time of need. He patted my neck. I knew how he felt.
The rain was coming down fast. Just as we were leaving the hospital, I heard someone call for a cab. We stopped, and a lady came down the steps. Jerry seemed to know her at once. She pushed back her hat and said, “Jeremiah Barker! Is it you?” As she got closer, she said, “You are just the friend I want. It’s so very difficult to get a cab in this part of London today.”
“I would be happy to take you, ma’am. Where would you like to go?”
“To Paddington Station, please. And if we have the time, I would love to hear about Polly and the children.”
We got to the station in good time, and the lady stood all the way while talking to Jerry. I found out she had been Polly’s mistress. After asking many questions about her, the woman said, “How is the cab work in the winter? I know your wife was worried about you last year.”
“Yes. I had a bad cough that stayed with me into spring. But I am getting on pretty well. I wouldn’t know what to do if I didn’t have a horse to look after.”
“Well, Barker,” she said, “it is awful to risk your health in this work. If you ever decide to give up cab work, let me know.” Then she put something into his hand, saying, “Divide this between the two children. Polly will know how to spend it.”
Jerry thanked her and seemed very pleased. We left the station and hurried home to rest.
