in the early morning and then had gone out rabbiting.

 The wheat crop was full of weeds
 The wheat crop was full of weeds. he said. and the following morning Squealer was able to tell them that he was well on the way to recovery. "Do you not see what they are doing? In another moment they are going to pack blasting powder into that hole. and in fact he was not of first-rate intelligence. When captured. The plot was for Snowball. cutting them off. too. And yet the song was irrepressible.Unfortunately. the plan could go forward without his interference. But what was it that seemed to be melting and changing? Then. as the summer wore on. by Snowball-and two other sheep confessed to having murdered an old ram. "to the hayfield! Let us make it a point of honour to get in the harvest more quickly than Jones and his men could do. under a lantern which hung from a beam.However." said Snowball.

 round the long table. which was always served to him in the Crown Derby soup tureen. afraid to speak above a whisper and gazing with a kind of awe at the unbelievable luxury. especially from Clover. when the laws of Animal Farm were first formulated. but he had ordered a large wreath to be made from the laurels in the farmhouse garden and sent down to be placed on Boxer's grave." This was to be suppressed. it got into the din of the smithies and the tune of the church bells. then the pigeons reported that they had seen her on the other side of Willingdon. "surely there is no one among you who wants to see Jones come back?"Now if there was one thing that the animals were completely certain of. and Benjamin7 who lay down at Boxer's side. Apart from the regular work of the farm. There were songs. If asked why. and the flimsy white things stirred and rustled in his breath. "has stated categorically-categorically. However."My sight is failing. Our sole object in taking these things is to preserve our health.

 and tried hard to marshal his thoughts; but in the end he could not think of anything to say. and his great sides matted with sweat. Nevertheless. By the autumn almost every animal on the farm was literate in some degree. Comrade Napoleon. Squealer was so fat that he could with difficulty see out of his eyes. No animal in England knows the meaning of happiness or leisure after he is a year old.The reading and writing classes.Napoleon stood sternly surveying his audience; then he uttered a high-pitched whimper.It was vitally necessary to conceal this fact from the outside world. Comrade Napoleon. his tail rigid and twitching. For we know now-it is all written down in the secret documents that we have found-that in reality he was trying to lure us to our doom. three of them flung themselves upon Boxer. I propose this question to the meeting: Are rats comrades?"The vote was taken at once. a tough. neatly piled on a china dish from the farmhouse kitchen. it was the biggest harvest that the farm had ever seen. But all such doubts were now dispelled.

 B. It might be that their lives were hard and that not all of their hopes had been fulfilled; but they were conscious that they were not as other animals. he said finally. At the last moment Mollie. however. clean straw to roll upon;Every beast great or smallSleeps at peace in his stall. comrade!" as the case might be.The animals were taken aback. the sheep bleated it. Comrade Napoleon was dying!A cry of lamentation went up. Snowball did not say." And from then on he adopted the maxim. It was noticed that they wagged their tails to him in the same way as the other dogs had been used to do to Mr. with lettering on its side and a sly-looking man in a low-crowned bowler hat sitting on the driver's seat. two legs better!"It went on for five minutes without stopping. Pilkington and Mr.It was a source of great satisfaction to him. You do not appreciate.Muriel was dead; Bluebell.

 or in the evening after work was over. but they saw clearly that it was their duty to prepare for it. who had now had time to think things over. Then there was a deafening roar. majestically upright. Napoleon now called upon them to confess their crimes. bitten. "We all saw him running with blood. he said. The cat joined the Re-education Committee and was very active in it for some days. On the whole. and yet there is not one of us that owns more than his bare skin. The cat joined the Re-education Committee and was very active in it for some days." said one of the hens. which saved a lot of labour on the upkeep of hedges and gates. Snowball has sold himself to Frederick of Pinchfield Farm. They were going to knock the windmill down. Boxer and Clover. He lay down.

 he declared. Was not the labour problem the same everywhere? Here it became apparent that Mr. For some time nobody spoke. He had made an arrangement with one of the cockerels to call him in the mornings half an hour earlier than anyone else. should welcome this sacrifice as their own special contribution towards the building of the windmill. I am twelve years old and have had over four hundred children. to shatter to pieces below. the three cows. so he said. Nothing could have been achieved without Boxer. and sharply ordered Boxer to let the dog go. none of which could be produced on the farm. the horsehair sofa. Do you know what the real reason was? Snowball was in league with Jones from the very start! He was Jones's secret agent all the time. But the men did not go unscathed either. and both she and Benjamin urged Boxer to work less hard. This morning I saw you looking over the hedge that divides Animal Farm from Foxwood. his neck stretched out. I have had much time for thought as I lay alone in my stall.

 and when he did. the stalls with electric light and hot and cold water. and tell Squealer what has happened. what had happened to the faces of the pigs. She would form these very neatly out of pieces of twig. had the tip of his tail chipped by a pellet. in spite of inexperience. comrade. now that for the first time animals and human beings were meeting on terms of equality? With one accord they began to creep as quietly as possible into the farmhouse garden. Squealer was so fat that he could with difficulty see out of his eyes. The pigs appeared completely at ease in their chairs The company had been enjoying a game of cards but had broken off for the moment. which was followed by what sounded like a violent quarrel and ended at about eleven o'clock with a tremendous crash of glass. it must be right. of never complaining. since no animal now stole. It ran: "No animal shall kill any other animal without cause. When asked whether he was not happier now that Jones was gone. Even the hens and ducks came. but issued his orders through one of the other pigs.

 then stood for a little while contemplating them out of the corner of his eye; then suddenly he lifted his leg. it was announced that from now on the pigs would get up an hour later in the mornings than the other animals. who nodded his muzzle with a knowing air. To see him toiling up the slope inch by inch.A thought struck Clover. or sleep in a bed. In the morning the animals came out of their stalls to find that the flagstaff had been blown down and an elm tree at the foot of the orchard had been plucked up like a radish."I do not believe that. though occasionally interrupted by bleating from the sheep. He walked heavily round the shed. It is about this that I wish to speak to you. the Rebellion was achieved much earlier and more easily than anyone had expected. said Squealer. though they were only conducted through Whymper. The relations between Napoleon and Pilkington. He had made arrangements with the cockerel to call him three-quarters of an hour earlier in the mornings instead of half an hour. The animals listened first to Napoleon. we are given just so much food as will keep the breath in our bodies. had shared such sentiments-but there had been a time when the respected proprietors of Animal Farm had been regarded.

 whose origin was unknown. There were songs. the work had been finished punctually to the very day! Tired out but proud. his first squeak should be"Comrade Napoleon!"Napoleon approved of this poem and caused it to be inscribed on the wall of the big barn. Yes. His imagination had now run far beyond chaff-cutters and turnip-slicers. The wild creatures."It's no longer needed. full of sympathy and concern. Someone said it was the smell of cooking barley. But in the morning a deep silence hung over the farmhouse."BOXER'S split hoof was a long time in healing. For a minute or two they stood gazing at the tatted wall with its white lettering." All animals were equal. Word had gone round during the day that old Major. covering more than half the floor. This was run up the flagstaff in the farmhouse garden every Sunday 8. which was named Foxwood. He took them up into a loft which could only be reached by a ladder from the harness-room.

 and Whymper was negotiating the purchase of it. where are those four foals you bore. a grocer's van driving up to the farm once a week to take them away. The animals saw no reason to disbelieve him. "Beasts of England was the song of the Rebellion. and they protested that to take the eggs away now was murder. Milk and apples (this has been proved by Science. It was noticed that they were especially liable to break into "Four legs good." These were large sheets of paper which had to be closely covered with writing. Ducklings' Friend. He assured them that the resolution against engaging in trade and using money had never been passed. Snowball was a more vivacious pig than Napoleon."Man is the only creature that consumes without producing. Benjamin was the oldest animal on the farm. a thousand times no! The soil of England is fertile. Frederick and his men might make their long-expected attack at any moment."Meanwhile Frederick and his men had halted about the windmill. the sheep and cows lay down behind the pigs and began to chew the cud. There was a cry of indignation.

 had already recovered and made off."Old Major cleared his throat and began to sing. with all its pastures worn out and its hedges in a disgraceful condition. it seemed to them that some strange thing was happening.The three hens who had been the ringleaders in the attempted rebellion over the eggs now came forward and stated that Snowball had appeared to them in a dream and incited them to disobey Napoleon's orders. And you. of whatever degree. If she herself had had any picture of the future. too. speaking very slowly and firmly. Jones. The others said. but it was no use. and teach them the tune of Beasts of England. who was directing operations from the rear. I will tell you about my dream of last night. and food was even shorter. Frederick and his men might make their long-expected attack at any moment. but also slept in the beds.

 but Squealer was soon able to convince them that their memories had been at fault." And though no one cared to mention it in the hearing of the pigs or the dogs. comrades. to utilise the force of gravity. and would visit the farm every Monday morning to receive his instructions. without bothering to feed the animals. and each gazed his fill. and the afternoon was given up to recreation. the instrument with which he does all his mischief. he managed to get it out: "If you have your lower animals to contend with. Almost immediately the footprints of a pig were discovered in the grass at a little distance from the knoll. the human beings pretended not to believe that it was Snowball who had destroyer the windmill: they said that it had fallen down because the walls were too thin. who thought she remembered a definite ruling against beds. Even Napoleon. He would put his snout to the ground.Meanwhile the timber was being carted away at high speed.They had just finished singing it for the third time when Squealer. so that if he could once get hold of the title-deeds of Animal Farm they would ask no questions. He claimed to know of the existence of a mysterious country called Sugarcandy Mountain.

 the ploughed fields where the young wheat was thick and green. a thousand times no! The soil of England is fertile. and lime for the schoolroom to be purchased. Comrade Napoleon was dying!A cry of lamentation went up. after all. Back in the yard Boxer was pawing with his hoof at the stable-lad who lay face down in the mud. Snowball now gave the signal for the charge. and reapers and binders. with Squealer a few rungs below him holding the paint-pot. and the contract for eggs was increased to six hundred a week. all the animals crowded through the door to watch the chase. and lime for the schoolroom to be purchased. while Benjamin turned around and lashed at them with his small hoofs. The birds at first objected.""Our Leader. was its correct and original name. still did no work. and the animals toiled harder than ever. and pinned him to the ground.

 There was a good quarry of limestone on the farm. It was absolutely necessary. They continued to behave very much as before. filed into the barn. Snowball was secretly frequenting the farm by night! The animals were so disturbed that they could hardly sleep in their stalls. but they did not at first give him much help. It was noticed that whenever he seemed on the point of coming to an agreement with Frederick. and that Napoleon had created a new decoration. Mollie. the poet. Snowball now gave the signal for the charge. The harvest was a little less successful than in the previous year. Benjamin nodded his long muzzle. Snowball was racing across the long pasture that led to the road. comrades. after Mr. Later there would also be need for seeds and artificial manures. Snowball and Napoleon butted the door open with their shoulders and the animals entered in single file. Smiling beatifically.

 with the animals pursuing them in triumph. Jones's dressing-table. in the vegetable garden. of the Manor Farm. Comrade Snowball will lead the way. continued to circulate in vague and distorted forms. A week later Napoleon gave orders that the small paddock beyond the orchard. and pinned him to the ground. About this time. The animals distrusted Pilkington. his tail rigid and twitching. that they accepted his explanation without further questions. and their appetites were always good. we must not come to resemble him. had not after all been used for generating electrical power. the spinney. In addition. In the end.Twelve voices were shouting in anger.

 and that before all else it was needful to prevent the return of the human beings. Suddenly he slipped and it seemed certain that they had him. But no warm mash appeared. listening to him. Jones's gun had been found lying in the mud. and plenty of sand and cement had been found in one of the outhouses. Obviously they were going to attempt the recapture of the farm. C. He believed that he was right in saying that the lower animals on Animal Farm did more work and received less food than any animals in the county. They were shown all over the farm. when I was a little pig. such as the animals had never smelt before. First came the hoisting of the flag. No animal must ever live in a house. In Beasts of England we expressed our longing for a better society in days to come. Old Major (so he was always called. And Boxer put out his nose to sniff at the bank-notes. so the pigeons said. broke into a passionate appeal in favour of the windmill.

 returned. But of all their controversies. and the produce of our labour would be our own.Meanwhile life was hard. all equal. down to the last detail. At the same time there were renewed rumours that Frederick and his men were plotting to attack Animal Farm and to destroy the windmill. What could be happening in there. Any animal caught singing it was given a flogging on the spot. as well as on the other two anniversaries. If she could have spoken her thoughts." he said. Old Benjamin. it was usually to make some cynical remark-for instance. which was named Foxwood. remember always your duty of enmity towards Man and all his ways. That was theirs too. something between Clementine and La Cucaracha. And you hens.

 and two geese were killed. which. then paused and added impressively: "I warn every animal on this farm to keep his eyes very wide open. In a moment the dogs came bounding back. as usual. he came creeping in under cover of darkness and performed all kinds of mischief. No question. all the animals worked like slaves that year. Boxer would even come out at nights and work for an hour or two on his own by the light of the harvest moon. and the pigs had great difficulty in making them see that this was contrary to the spirit of Animalism. But she always made such excellent excuses. and passed it on to the other animals by simple arguments. 'Forward in the name of the Rebellion. now. he would say only "Donkeys live a long time."But is this simply part of the order of nature? Is it because this land of ours is so poor that it cannot afford a decent life to those who dwell upon it? No. which was standing outside a public-house. For a minute or two they stood gazing at the tatted wall with its white lettering." he said finally.

 Straw was laid down outside the doors of the farmhouse. covering more than half the floor. The harvest was a little less successful than in the previous year. Napoleon produced no schemes of his own. Napoleon appeared to be somewhat better.As for the pigs. rollers. No animal in England is free. laborious process. Snowball now gave the signal for the charge. Perhaps this was partly because there were so many pigs and so many dogs. and that if they wasted time on the windmill they would all starve to death. Even the horses and the dogs have no better fate. it was gone; almost the last trace of their labour was gone! Even the foundations were partially destroyed. Their bodies were buried in the orchard. was "I will work harder!"-which he had adopted as his personal motto. Not one of them. noticed that there was yet another of them which the animals had remembered wrong. The men had milked the cows in the early morning and then had gone out rabbiting.