Black Beauty, Part 47 summary

What happens

1. Skinner’s drivers work the horses without Sunday rest, and the narrator suffers exhaustion and cruel whipping.
2. At the railway station, Grace protests against the heavy load, but her father dismisses her and the driver accepts the luggage.
3. The narrator collapses on Ludgate Hill, where people unload the cab and help him recover enough to stand.
4. A farrier says prolonged rest could restore him, but Skinner refuses to keep a horse that cannot work.
5. Skinner accepts advice to feed and rest him before sale, and the stableman willingly provides care.
6. On the twelfth day after his collapse, the narrator goes to a sale outside London with fresh hope.

In this part

What to notice

The diagnosis identifies excessive labor as the cause of collapse. Skinner’s response shows that he rejects extended recovery because it does not suit his business.

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