Cowshed by Snowball himself. If he were gone.Nevertheless.

 Jones's clothes out of the wardrobes and put them on
 Jones's clothes out of the wardrobes and put them on. including the windmill. There were times when it seemed to the animals that they worked longer hours and fed no better than they had done in Jones's day. while Benjamin kept the flies off him. which are the mark of a human being. he had killed a dog by throwing it into the furnace. so that that year the hens barely hatched enough chicks to keep their numbers at the same level. who was marching ahead with a gun in his hands. intended to create a little disorder. and. They could not remember.All relations with Foxwood had been broken off; insulting messages had been sent to Pilkington. They were gored. had composed another song which began:Animal Farm. Starvation seemed to stare them in the face." he said. By the time he had finished speaking. Some of the animals talked of the duty of loyalty to Mr. Sure enough. Once again all rations were reduced. either Foxwood or Pinchfield." she said to him.He carried a whip in his trotter. who happened to be passing at this moment.

 A too rigid equality in rations. Nothing could be further from the truth! Their sole wish. who in fact was only stunned. braying at the top of his voice. attended by two or three dogs. and the animals were underfed. One of the cows broke in the door of the store-shed with her horn and all the animals began to help themselves from the bins. horses. The plot was for Snowball. I had only another month to go in any case. He turned to go. comrade-that Snowball was Jones's agent from the very beginning-yes. This time the stones had vanished too. Jones ties a brick round their necks and drowns them in the nearest pond. in a way they had never sung it before.Afterwards Squealer made a round of the farm and set the animals' minds at rest.About this time there occurred a strange incident which hardly anyone was able to understand. Starvation seemed to stare them in the face. majestically upright. The young pigs were piebald. Napoleon appeared to change countenance. Gradually the plans grew into a complicated mass of cranks and cog-wheels. Except through Whymper. "Boxer! Get out! Get out quickly! They're taking you to your death!"All the animals took up the cry of "Get out.

 Boldly enough the animals sallied forth to meet them. were more articulate. Jones. with the nine young dogs forming a semicircle round them. Two of the men had produced a crowbar and a sledge hammer. were hungry and laborious; was it not right and just that a better world should exist somewhere else? A thing that was difficult to determine was the attitude of the pigs towards Moses. the sheep. even Snowball and Napoleon. the horses whinnied it. Jones. Finally Napoleon raised his trotter for silence and announced that he had already made all the arrangements.The pigs had an even harder struggle to counteract the lies put about by Moses. and the produce of our labour would be our own. Having got there. This farm which he had the honour to control. then the debates must stop. to shatter to pieces below. inexperienced though the animals were. Not a pig appeared to be stirring. Squealer easily convinced them that the veterinary surgeon in Willingdon could treat Boxer's case more satisfactorily than could be done on the farm. but in comparison with the days of Jones. produced by themselves and for themselves. inspired by Snowball. Such were her thoughts.

 perpetually involved in lawsuits and with a name for driving hard bargains. and the animals crept silently away. "Are you certain that this is not something that you have dreamed.Comrade Napoleon!Thou are the giver ofAll that thy creatures love. The talk of setting aside a corner of the pasture for superannuated animals had long since been dropped. in the evenings. Jones. said that he refused to meddle in such matters. Emboldened by the collapse of the windmill. that a larger proportion of their young ones survived infancy. a paint-brush. The whole thing would be over in a fortnight. and after breakfast there was a ceremony which was observed every week without fail. The sight of their dead comrades stretched upon the grass moved some of them to tears. which appeared even more beautiful in their eyes than when it had been built the first time. she went to Mollie's stall and turned over the straw with her hoof. when the green fields of England should be untrodden by human feet. and brought in a handsome money profit. Without saying anything. That was how the mistake had arisen. Their relations with the human race were now not quite the same as they had been before.Purer shall its waters be. had all been prepared.This was early in March.

 and to fire it twice a year-once on October the twelfth. Squealer was sent to make the necessary explanations to the others. majestically upright. but it seemed to all of them that it was far worse now that it was happening among themselves. Napoleon appeared to be somewhat better. Moreover. comrades. that there was ever a ruling against beds? A bed merely means a place to sleep in. and his little eyes darted suspicious glances from side to side before he proceeded. He took his meals alone. but any animal who absented himself from it would have his rations reduced by half. Whymper to spread a contrary impression. They all declared contemptuously that his stories about Sugarcandy Mountain were lies. rapid voice.There were many more mouths to feed now. which had been unknown there since the expulsion of Jones. came in together. seized four of the pigs by the ear and dragged them. cutting them off. Slowly. but Boxer would never listen to her. You. It was not that these creatures did not work. that the pigs.

 of course) and tramp steadily round and round the field with a pig walking behind and calling out "Gee up.All through that summer the work of the farm went like clockwork. Today we begin the hay harvest. or five hundred per cent. and the next moment she took to her heels and galloped away into the field. and might have continued singing it all night if they had not been interrupted. He said that the education of the young was more important than anything that could be done for those who were already grown up." said Boxer. when they were astonished to see Benjamin come galloping from the direction of the farm buildings. but he sang well enough. He assured them that the resolution against engaging in trade and using money had never been passed." and the others had to be content with this cryptic answer. was so great that it would have taken a lot of failures to outweigh it. The whole management and organisation of this farm depend on us. "Snowball has done this thing! In sheer malignity. Benjamin and Clover could only be with Boxer after working hours. The wheat crop was full of weeds. though their decisions had to be ratified by a majority vote. They had also dropped their championship of Jones. give several deep sniffs. levelled to its foundations. crept away in a body. even as things were.At one end of the big barn.

 indeed. giving birth between them to nine sturdy puppies. Then Napoleon stood up to reply. since that was where the ambush had been sprung. He had made an arrangement with one of the cockerels to call him in the mornings half an hour earlier than anyone else. you do not want Jones back?"Once again this argument was unanswerable. at least part of the time. clover was in season all the year round."All the other animals immediately raced back to the farmhouse to give Squealer the news. comrades. or touch money. menacing growls. but they accepted his explanation. there were days when they felt that they would sooner have had less figures and more food. and the animals toiled harder than ever. the sheep were sure to silence him with a tremendous bleating of "Four legs good."At this moment there was a tremendous uproar. or has wings. By the evening of that day Napoleon was back at work. Her old eyes looked dimmer than ever. what discouragements they had overcome. had already recovered and made off. and used to write them out once or twice every day to refresh his memory. The animals watched them.

 never shirking and never volunteering for extra work either. comrades. Only Boxer remained on his feet. emphasising the need for all animals to be ready to die for Animal Farm if need be. collect a load of broken stone. a little distance beyond the clouds. ad exclaim in a terrible voice. but merely warned the animals that this extra task would mean very hard work. even Muriel and Benjamin yoked themselves into an old governess-cart and did their share. There was. The boy did not stir. to give the signal for flight and leave the field to the enemy. Finding herself unable to read more than individual letters. Pilkington was about to spring some carefully prepared witticism on the company. and how many of those eggs ever hatched into chickens? The rest have all gone to market to bring in money for Jones and his men. at the sound of the mingled voices. H. is a friend. Clover. Soon there were five buckets of frothing creamy milk at which many of the animals looked with considerable interest. or engage in trade. nimble movements. Back in the yard Boxer was pawing with his hoof at the stable-lad who lay face down in the mud. had entered the five-barred gate and were coming up the cart-track that led to the farm.

""I have no wish to take life. Such jobs as weeding. the dogs had tasted blood.Yes. and the Manor Farm was theirs. however. mistaken ideas had been current. Pilkington's excellent and neighbourly speech. It was given out that the animals there practised cannibalism. To the amazement of everybody. Hidden under the straw was a little pile of lump sugar and several bunches of ribbon of different colours. except for being a little greyer about the muzzle. The next moment a choking roar of rage sounded from Napoleon's apartments. They knew that life nowadays was harsh and bare. For five days the hens held out. and when you had to watch your comrades torn to pieces after confessing to shocking crimes.) But he maintained that it could all be done in a year. he said. too. it was the biggest harvest that the farm had ever seen. set up a loud lowing. Napoleon was engaged in complicated negotiations with Frederick and Pilkington. and on the following Sunday it was announced that from now onwards all barley would be reserved for the pigs. all the sheep burst out into a tremendous bleating of-"Four legs good.

 were unable to learn the Seven Commandments by heart. Second Class"). No animal shall kill any other animal. that Comrade Napoleon sprang forward with a cry of 'Death to Humanity!' and sank his teeth in Jones's leg? Surely you remember that. and I think I may say that I understand the nature of life on this earth as well as any animal now living. three sheep. who had just come in to lay again. and that Napoleon had created a new decoration. it was a fact that every animal on the farm knew it. early in the spring. Man serves the interests of no creature except himself. and decreed that any animal giving so much as a grain of corn to a hen should be punished by death. bitten. had been a capable farmer. was sprawling beside it. The animals slain in the battle were given a solemn funeral. it was laid down as a rule that when a pig and any other animal met on the path. then. In the general rejoicings the unfortunate affair of the banknotes was forgotten. he would ask the company to rise to their feet and make certain that their glasses were full. Then they saw what Clover had seen. As the summer wore on. the prize Middle White boar. were owned by the pigs jointly.

 they said. comrades. when the animals got to close quarters. and finally squeezed herself in between Boxer and Clover; there she purred contentedly throughout Major's speech without listening to a word of what he was saying. Weak or strong. And we had worked on it for two years!""What matter? We will build another windmill. The blackbirds whistled it in the hedges. He seized the gun which always stood in a corner of his bedroom. And very comfortable beds they are too! But not more comfortable than we need. clever or simple. they stood gazing mournfully at the litter of fallen stone Napoleon paced to and fro in silence. with a flock of geese hissing after them and pecking at their calves all the way. not working. The windmill was in ruins. He does not give milk. the stores of food for the winter were none too plentiful."What is that gun firing for?" said Boxer. Did we not see for ourselves how he attempted-fortunately without success-to get us defeated and destroyed at the Battle of the Cowshed?"The animals were stupefied. No question. she tugged gently at his mane and led him round to the end of the big barn. and to have seen the everlasting fields of clover and the linseed cake and lump sugar growing on the hedges. There is a pretty good store of stone accumulated. Without any further prompting they confessed that they had been secretly in touch with Snowball ever since his expulsion. B.

 had composed another song which began:Animal Farm. he said. Not one of them.But everyone worked according to his capacity The hens and ducks. a number of dogcarts drove up to the farm. It must be due to some fault in ourselves. comrades. he had killed a dog by throwing it into the furnace. and how he had not paused for an instant even when the pellets from Jones's gun had wounded his back. 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. comrades!" cried Napoleon when the footprints had been examined. pass on this message of mine to those who come after you. and then the building began. While Major was speaking four large rats had crept out of their holes and were sitting on their hindquarters. Whymper to spread a contrary impression. so the pigeons said. For a moment there was great alarm; it was feared that the men might have harmed her in some way. and a sheep dropped dead. or has wings. At the Meeting on the following Sunday the question of whether or not to begin work on the windmill was to be put to the vote.None of the other animals on the farm could get further than the letter A. in a way they had never sung it before. surely. but there were constant rumours that Napoleon was about to enter into a definite business agreement either with Mr.

 They were fine upstanding beasts. by a tremendous. Without any further prompting they confessed that they had been secretly in touch with Snowball ever since his expulsion. it was found necessary to leave certain tasks undone. Several nights a week. besides supplying every stall with its own electric light. The dog shrieked for mercy and the other two fled with their tails between their legs. who happened to be passing at this moment. He assured them that the resolution against engaging in trade and using money had never been passed. with two ounces of corn for each bird and three biscuits for each dog. The seasons came and went. then the cows. Without saying anything. when they grow old and toothless. She was telling them that all animals were now comrades and that any sparrow who chose could come and perch on her paw; but the sparrows kept their distance.All relations with Foxwood had been broken off; insulting messages had been sent to Pilkington. Napoleon. and the flimsy white things stirred and rustled in his breath. he would not say with hostility. To the amazement of everybody. almost too weak to speak. Napoleon ended his speech with his usual cry of "Long live Animal Farm!" and after the singing of Beasts of England the animals were dismissed. Man is the only real enemy we have. And every animal down to the humblest worked at turning the hay and gathering it.

All must toil for freedom's sake. was to be ploughed up. but they were promptly silenced by a tremendous growling from the dogs. and when he did. but Squealer asked them shrewdly. Jones. Mollie?""He didn't! I wasn't! It isn't true!" cried Mollie. And in his spare moments. and the enormous difference that would be made in their lives when the sails were turning and the dynamos running-when they thought of all this. And-I was a long way away. The flag was green. It was well seasoned. what discouragements they had overcome. He would put his snout to the ground. his neck stretched out. It is about this that I wish to speak to you. however. There was only one candidate. it was he who had advocated it in the beginning. simply took advantage of it. some had four. They took their exercise in the garden. but Snowball proved to them that this was not so. Frederick should be boiled alive.

 Boxer and Clover. but the windmill compensated for everything.4. Jones. comrades!" cried Napoleon." said Squealer. The pellets scored bloody streaks along Snowball's back. This very morning we begin rebuilding the windmill. Their lives now. "Boxer!" she cried. there was the question of the defence of the farm. They continued to behave very much as before. not even Frederick. rather fierce-looking Berkshire boar. came racing up the path on his bicycle. drive out the humans. The young pigs were piebald.For the first few minutes the animals could hardly believe in their good fortune. Major continued:"I have little more to say. the very day that those great muscles of yours lose their power. Snowball stood up and. were too strong for them; and suddenly. here and now I pronounce the death sentence upon Snowball. It ran: "No animal shall kill any other animal without cause.

 And in many ways the animal method of doing things was more efficient and saved labour. Squealer came to announce the news to the others. There."Comrades!" cried Squealer. more turnips than they had had in Jones's day. He does not give milk. and the dog slunk away. Who will believe that I did not do this on purpose?""No sentimentality. occasionally snuffing at the ground. whom Mr. the remaining animals. If Pilkington and his men would help them. They were just getting their clutches ready for the spring sitting. as the animals had previously imagined. to save the labour of cartage. so she said. For myself I do not grumble. it would have been to say that this was not what they had aimed at when they had set themselves years ago to work for the overthrow of the human race. sand. In their spare moments the animals would walk round and round the half-finished mill. but had been openly fighting on Jones's side. well knowing that the outside world was watching them and that the envious human beings would rejoice and triumph if the mill were not finished on time. reduced in December. In these days Napoleon rarely appeared in public.

"That is our victory. There were only four dissentients. His two slogans. But she always made such excellent excuses. the stores of food for the winter were none too plentiful. it must be right. which was named Foxwood. silage. The grass and the bursting hedges were gilded by the level rays of the sun. In the general rejoicings the unfortunate affair of the banknotes was forgotten.They limped into the yard.It had come to his knowledge. and fresh precautions for Napoleon's safety were taken. who had now had time to think things over. So far as he knew.As soon as the light in the bedroom went out there was a stirring and a fluttering all through the farm buildings. He was rumoured to be hiding on one of the neighbouring farms. There was. Nothing could have been achieved without Boxer. four pigeons were sent to Foxwood with a conciliatory message. some of the animals were disturbed when they heard that the pigs not only took their meals in the kitchen and used the drawing-room as a recreation room. She was late for work every morning and excused herself by saying that she had overslept. Frequently it took a whole day of exhausting effort to drag a single boulder to the top of the quarry."Comrades!" cried Squealer.

 He assured them that the resolution against engaging in trade and using money had never been passed. comrades. string. though no one would have dared to sing it aloud. Frederick. the other animals following at a respectful distance. but appeared to lead to a hole in the hedge. But suddenly the dogs sitting round Napoleon let out deep. Boxer's face did not reappear at the window. Frederick was the more anxious to get hold of it. "should be considered as clothes. badly. with all the brainwork we have to do nowadays. there were a few words that he felt it incumbent upon him to say. it was usually to make some cynical remark-for instance." said Clover. Never had the farm-and with a kind of surprise they remembered that it was their own farm.As soon as the light in the bedroom went out there was a stirring and a fluttering all through the farm buildings. Unable at first to speak.Benjamin felt a nose nuzzling at his shoulder. They were always cold. the three dogs and the cat. She neighed again. The four young pigs who had protested when Napoleon abolished the Meetings raised their voices timidly.

 then the sails would have to be made and after that there would be need for dynamos and cables. when the terror caused by the executions had died down. comrades. The birds at first objected. Never listen when they tell you that Man and the animals have a common interest. to devote the rest of his life to learning the remaining twenty-two letters of the alphabet. They were glad to believe so. is the answer to all our problems. The two with the hammer and the crowbar were drilling a hole near the base of the windmill. then they capitulated and went back to their nesting boxes. however." said Boxer. who looked like a publican. Boxer!" they chorused. they secretly trembled. including the windmill. Napoleon himself was not seen in public as often as once in a fortnight. Major raised his trotter for silence. A pile of straw in a stall is a bed. in fact. Its owner.The whole farm was deeply divided on the subject of the windmill. Wistful glances were sent in the direction of Foxwood.With one accord they dashed down to the spot.

 Snowball also busied himself with organising the other animals into what he called Animal Committees. Jones feeds us.The pigs had an even harder struggle to counteract the lies put about by Moses. and walked out without uttering a word. he said. Jones. they raised a terrible outcry. He lay down. had not after all been used for generating electrical power. even for an instant. But there is another matter that must be attended to first. "We have no means of making sugar on this farm.At the gate they paused. at which he yelled horribly. lashed out with their sticks and their heavy boots. It should therefore be regarded as a leg. and in a terrible voice Napoleon demanded whether any other animal had anything to confess. they all raced out into the pasture together. with a wise and benevolent appearance in spite of the fact that his tushes had never been cut. And thereafter. a little distance beyond the clouds. It was surmounted by a portrait of Napoleon." At the same time Napoleon assured the animals that the stories of an impending attack on Animal Farm were completely untrue. with very round cheeks.

 Comrade Snowball will lead the way. For we have reason to think that some of Snowball's secret agents are lurking among us at this moment! "Four days later. the pool. and in spite of the efforts of Napoleon and Boxer to rally them. and found traces of Snowball almost everywhere. and not having to support five extravagant human beings as well. and teach them the tune of Beasts of England." And though no one cared to mention it in the hearing of the pigs or the dogs. 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 Benjamin pushed her aside and in the midst of a deadly silence he read:" 'Alfred Simmonds. By the time he had finished speaking. the anniversary of the Rebellion. a few selected animals. Are the Seven Commandments the same as they used to be. In the end."A bird's wing. who in fact was only stunned. comrades!" cried Napoleon." cried Snowball. and again Squealer was able to convince them that this was not the case.At about the same time it was given out that Napoleon had arranged to sell the pile of timber to Mr. things had been better or worse than now. it was he who had advocated it in the beginning. two legs bad" at crucial moments in Snowball's speeches.

 but also slept in the beds. The mechanical details came mostly from three books which had belonged to Mr.The mystery of where the milk went to was soon cleared up. the quarrelling and biting and jealousy which had been normal features of life in the old days had almost disappeared. For five days the hens held out. Snowball now gave the signal for the charge. Their method was to fly up to the rafters and there lay their eggs. beasts of Ireland. Napoleon had denounced such ideas as contrary to the spirit of Animalism. the order went forth that all the windfalls were to be collected and brought to the harness-room for the use of the pigs. His twelfth birthday was approaching. together with the regular work of the farm. he would move rapidly to and fro. but greatly preferred him to Frederick. Mr. bangings on the table."So the animals trooped down to the hayfield to begin the harvest. had agreed to act as intermediary between Animal Farm and the outside world. The fear and despair they had felt a moment earlier were drowned in their rage against this vile. The animals watched them. All men are enemies. rushed forward and prodded and butted the men from every side. She knew that. the dynamos would be installed.

" seemed to him a sufficient answer to all problems. inexperienced though the animals were. and Whymper was negotiating the purchase of it. comrades. exhausting effort-for the harvest had to be gathered at almost the same time-the windmill was finished. frisking from side to side. It was not that these creatures did not work. Bluebell. however. Clover forced her way to the front. none of which could be produced on the farm. Some hams hanging in the kitchen were taken out for burial. and a speech by Squealer giving particulars of the latest increases in the production of foodstuffs. except the cat. Napoleon had accepted. but Boxer never faltered. I am twelve years old and have had over four hundred children. It was not for this that they had built the windmill and faced the bullets of Jones's gun. lashed out with their sticks and their heavy boots. And you hens. comrades. Comrade Napoleon. and managed to limp back to his stall.For the next two days Boxer remained in his stall.

 comrades. All were agreed that no animal must ever live there. And finally there was a tremendous baying of dogs and a shrill crowing from the black cockerel. which a few of the animals still remembered to have seen. no animal had killed another animal. which was guarded at each door by fierce-looking dogs. merely set back their ears and quickened their pace. Dealer in Hides and Bone-Meal. With some difficulty (for it is not easy for a pig to balance himself on a ladder) Snowball climbed up and set to work. That night there came from the farmhouse the sound of loud singing. giving birth between them to nine sturdy puppies. No creature called any other creature "Master. Henceforward the farm was to be known as "The Manor Farm"-which. Throughout the whole period of his seeming friendship with Pilkington.""Ah. and it was agreed by an overwhelming majority that rats were comrades. and before I die. But as the animals outside gazed at the scene. Then it was discovered that the greater part of the potato crop had been frosted in the clamps. The human beings could not contain their rage when they heard this song. He paced up and down without a word." This was merely a legend which had been spread some time after the Battle of the Cowshed by Snowball himself. If he were gone.Nevertheless.