wrong with living with them, or like them. To be perfectly frank, stated Snowball, in a village full of humans, it was probably “a good idea” to live with them, and like them. And when an animal heard it said that the prosperity of the one was the prosperity of the other—well, it could sometimes be a lie, but it could also be the truth. Because really, when one thought about it, the prosperity of animals was the prosperity of men, and the prosperity of men was the prosperity of animals. As long as the two lived together in the same village—their fortunes were utterly dependent on one another. And one might as wellface up to it. Men and animals together in Willingdon. Yes, perhaps in competition, but also in fraternity.
Basic instruction in walking on two legs and wearing clothes would commence first thing Monday morning, said Snowball. And the animals supposed that, probably, there wasn’t anything wrong with walking on two legs or wearing clothes. They had all seen the pigs walking and wearing clothes for years. It just looked like it might put a little strain on the lower back, and be a little cramped—that was all.
For many years, said Snowball, sharing his history, he had been a student of the goat by his side, whom he called Thomas, as well as something broader, which he called “the village out there.” He had seen something called “economy,” and having analyzed this systemization of resources, he had arrived, with Thomas’s help, at a plan to revitalize the farm. And at this juncture he hesitated, suggesting that perhaps now it would be better to let Thomas himself take over. And Snowball preceded his yielding of the animal audience by introducing Thomas the goat as the most educated animal he had ever met, or even heard of. Upon him, this goat had been conferred the degrees of Doctor, Lawyer, Architect, and Engineer.
Taking his place on the soapbox, Thomas addressed the barnhouse. His elocution was so very sophisticated and genteel that many of the animals—dumbstruck—suddenly forgot to close their mouths, snouts, or beaks. Nobody had ever heard an animal talk like that.
“Dear me, thoroughly an honor to be so introduced by my esteemed colleague, Snowball, Animal Hero First Class. To address this issue of ‘betterness,’ inclusive of tomorrow and tomorrow’s tomorrow, and naturally,inclusive of all of you, and tomorrow’s all of you, I can, I am perfectly positive—and I say this without qualification, hesitation, or prevarication—provide the manner of your deliverance. I propose to you an electrical generator, which will light your stalls, warm your stalls, cool your stalls, plough your fields, seed your fields, reap/bind/sort your crops, milk your udders, knead your bread, and slice your turnips.”
There were gasps from all corners—this seemed too good to be possible.
“Also,” the goat drawled, “I assure you that I will furnish every stall with hot and cold water!”
Four sheep fell on their sides—two cooperative steers dragged them outside for a breath of fresh air.
“But how?” asked Norma for the entire barn.
To answer, Snowball thanked Thomas and resumed his place on the soapbox—
“Windmills. Two of them. And these will not only be much easier to build than the one we already have—they’ll run much more efficiently. With the help of Thomas, Doctor, Architect, Engineer and Lawyer, we’ll be finished in two months’ time.” (Another sheep passed out.) And the following morning, while the animals attended their first classes on walking and wearing clothes, Thomas and the pigs began to draft the plans for the Twin Mills.
III
MOSES THE RAVEN DID NOT MISS A SINGLE Sunday Meeting—though none of the animals could tell when Moses might come or go throughout the rest of the week, or where he spent his nights on those nights he did not remain on the farm. Nor did any of the other animals know that following every Sunday Meeting, Moses flew over the hayfield,
Basic instruction in walking on two legs and wearing clothes would commence first thing Monday morning, said Snowball. And the animals supposed that, probably, there wasn’t anything wrong with walking on two legs or wearing clothes. They had all seen the pigs walking and wearing clothes for years. It just looked like it might put a little strain on the lower back, and be a little cramped—that was all.
For many years, said Snowball, sharing his history, he had been a student of the goat by his side, whom he called Thomas, as well as something broader, which he called “the village out there.” He had seen something called “economy,” and having analyzed this systemization of resources, he had arrived, with Thomas’s help, at a plan to revitalize the farm. And at this juncture he hesitated, suggesting that perhaps now it would be better to let Thomas himself take over. And Snowball preceded his yielding of the animal audience by introducing Thomas the goat as the most educated animal he had ever met, or even heard of. Upon him, this goat had been conferred the degrees of Doctor, Lawyer, Architect, and Engineer.
Taking his place on the soapbox, Thomas addressed the barnhouse. His elocution was so very sophisticated and genteel that many of the animals—dumbstruck—suddenly forgot to close their mouths, snouts, or beaks. Nobody had ever heard an animal talk like that.
“Dear me, thoroughly an honor to be so introduced by my esteemed colleague, Snowball, Animal Hero First Class. To address this issue of ‘betterness,’ inclusive of tomorrow and tomorrow’s tomorrow, and naturally,inclusive of all of you, and tomorrow’s all of you, I can, I am perfectly positive—and I say this without qualification, hesitation, or prevarication—provide the manner of your deliverance. I propose to you an electrical generator, which will light your stalls, warm your stalls, cool your stalls, plough your fields, seed your fields, reap/bind/sort your crops, milk your udders, knead your bread, and slice your turnips.”
There were gasps from all corners—this seemed too good to be possible.
“Also,” the goat drawled, “I assure you that I will furnish every stall with hot and cold water!”
Four sheep fell on their sides—two cooperative steers dragged them outside for a breath of fresh air.
“But how?” asked Norma for the entire barn.
To answer, Snowball thanked Thomas and resumed his place on the soapbox—
“Windmills. Two of them. And these will not only be much easier to build than the one we already have—they’ll run much more efficiently. With the help of Thomas, Doctor, Architect, Engineer and Lawyer, we’ll be finished in two months’ time.” (Another sheep passed out.) And the following morning, while the animals attended their first classes on walking and wearing clothes, Thomas and the pigs began to draft the plans for the Twin Mills.
III
MOSES THE RAVEN DID NOT MISS A SINGLE Sunday Meeting—though none of the animals could tell when Moses might come or go throughout the rest of the week, or where he spent his nights on those nights he did not remain on the farm. Nor did any of the other animals know that following every Sunday Meeting, Moses flew over the hayfield,
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