The first place that I can well remember was a large pleasant meadow with a pond of clear water in it. Some shady trees leaned over it, and
rushes and water-lilies grew at the deep end. Over the hedge on one
side we looked into a plowed field, and on the other we looked over a
gate at our master's house, which stood by the roadside.
While I was young I lived upon my mother's milk, as I could not eat
grass. In the daytime I ran by her side, and at night I lay down close by
her. When it was hot we used to stand by the pond in the shade of the
trees, and when it was cold we had a nice warm shed near the grove.
-Anna Sewell, Black Beauty