chapter1-1

MR. JONES, of the Manor Farm, had locked the hen−houses for the night, but was too drunk to remember toshut the popholes. With the ring of light from his lantern dancing from side to side, he lurched across theyard, kicked off his boots at the back door, drew himself a last glass of beer from the barrel in the scullery,and made his way up to bed, where Mrs. Jones was already snoring. 

As soon as the light in the bedroom went out there was a stirring and a fluttering all through the farmbuildings. Word had gone round during the day that old Major, the prize Middle White boar, had had astrange dream on the previous night and wished to communicate it to the other animals. It had been agreedthat they should all meet in the big barn as soon as Mr. Jones was safely out of the way. 

Old Major (so he wasalways called, though the name under which he had been exhibited was Willingdon Beauty) was so highlyregarded on the farm that everyone was quite ready to lose an hour's sleep in order to hear what he had to say.At one end of the big barn, on a sort of raised platform, Major was already ensconced on his bed of straw,under a lantern which hung from a beam. He was twelve years old and had lately grown rather stout, but hewas still a majestic−looking pig, with a wise and benevolent appearance in spite of the fact that his tushes hadnever been cut. Before long the other animals began to arrive and make themselves comfortable after theirdifferent fashions. First came the three dogs, Bluebell, Jessie, and Pincher, and then the pigs, who settleddown in the straw immediately in front of the platform. 

The hens perched themselves on the window−sills,the pigeons fluttered up to the rafters, the sheep and cows lay down behind the pigs and began to chew thecud. The two cart−horses, Boxer and Clover, came in together, walking very slowly and setting down theirvast hairy hoofs with great care lest there should be some small animal concealed in the straw. 

Clover was astout motherly mare approaching middle life, who had never quite got her figure back after her fourth foal.