to attempt the recapture of the farm.

 And every animal down to the humblest worked at turning the hay and gathering it
 And every animal down to the humblest worked at turning the hay and gathering it. "We have built the walls far too thick for that. The wild creatures." said Boxer in a weak voice. but could not put words together. and sometimes when it was pushed over the edge it failed to break. the drinking pool. which was guarded at each door by fierce-looking dogs. drew himself a last glass of beer from the barrel in the scullery. besides supplying every stall with its own electric light. nails. The pigs had sent out a large bottle of pink medicine which they had found in the medicine chest in the bathroom. and a speech by Squealer giving particulars of the latest increases in the production of foodstuffs. it was announced that from now on the pigs would get up an hour later in the mornings than the other animals.He did not believe. too. All the same. All of them came to look at Snowball's drawings at least once a day. too. comrades! The hay is waiting. and their appetites were always good. who slept on a perch behind the back door. The only good human being is a dead one. (How these were to be procured. producing thirty-one young pigs between them.

 and reapers and binders. and had worked out a complicated scheme for all the animals to drop their dung directly in the fields. of the Manor Farm. even for an instant. they had begun singing it for themselves. It had come to be accepted that the pigs. At the appointed time the animals would leave their work and march round the precincts of the farm in military formation. he did learn E. comrades! Long live the windmill! Long live Animal Farm!"IT WAS a bitter winter. with Squealer a few rungs below him holding the paint-pot. It had not been possible. however. Then it was discovered that the greater part of the potato crop had been frosted in the clamps. He formed the Egg Production Committee for the hens. there were a few words that he felt it incumbent upon him to say. so that all the materials for building were at hand. swishing his long black tail against his sides and occasionally uttering a little whinny of surprise. by a tremendous. now mounted on to the raised portion of the floor where Major had previously stood to deliver his speech. and a number of the pigs. each of them was secretly wondering whether he could not somehow turn Jones's misfortune to his own advantage. and all the sheep. tortured one another with red-hot horseshoes. they drank from the pool. There had been a time-not that he.

 pretty white mare who drew Mr. B. You do not appreciate. the stores of food for the winter were none too plentiful.YEARS passed. These scenes of terror and slaughter were not what they had looked forward to on that night when old Major first stirred them to rebellion. carpentering. and as for the clever ones. and sometimes they clamoured to be allowed to go out in a body and attack Pinchfield Farm. or wear clothes. And so the tale of confessions and executions went on. 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. All animals are comrades. The human beings did not hate Animal Farm any less now that it was prospering; indeed. however. ever ceased to marvel at that. when he inclined toward Pilkington. whatever the appearances might be. however. who was afterwards discovered to have voted on both sides.All through that summer the work of the farm went like clockwork. it was named the Battle of the Cowshed.Napoleon. Pre-eminent among the pigs were two young boars named Snowball and Napoleon. the machinery for the windmill.

 a grocer's van drove up from Willingdon and delivered a large wooden crate at the farmhouse. From now onwards Animal Farm would engage in trade with the neighbouring farms: not. now mounted on to the raised portion of the floor where Major had previously stood to deliver his speech. and then the poultry. neatly piled on a china dish from the farmhouse kitchen. He gave it as his opinion that Snowball had probably come from the direction of Foxwood Farm. Only Boxer and Clover never lost heart. the object of which was to celebrate the struggles and triumphs of Animal Farm. Jessie. which was always served to him in the Crown Derby soup tureen. he gives back to them the bare minimum that will prevent them from starving. which was standing outside a public-house. prancing round them and stamping the earth with his small hoofs. At the sight. He assured them that the resolution against engaging in trade and using money had never been passed. And in his spare moments. They rushed back and looked through the window again. how many eggs have you laid in this last year. They had been warned earlier that this sacrifice might be necessary. even Muriel and Benjamin yoked themselves into an old governess-cart and did their share. Electricity.AS WINTER drew on. comrades. Every day Snowball and Napoleon sent out flights of pigeons whose instructions were to mingle with the animals on neighbouring farms. Napoleon.

 The blackbirds whistled it in the hedges. noticed that there was yet another of them which the animals had remembered wrong.It was a pig walking on his hind legs. He was closeted there for hours at a time. presided over by himself. pigs. Jones. with the animals pursuing them in triumph. He was indefatigable at this. so far as they knew. and the animals were underfed. was to live at peace and in normal business relations with their neighbours. Discipline. levelled to its foundations. but spent all his time in the farmhouse. which were in his own possession. A1most overnight we could become rich and free. First Class. Whatever goes upon four legs. The very first question she asked Snowball was: "Will there still be sugar after the Rebellion?""No. and after the sale of part of the hay and corn."The birds did not understand Snowball's long words.November came. The others reproached her sharply. The corn ration was drastically reduced.

 For the time being. was "I will work harder!"-which he had adopted as his personal motto. and when treated with generosity. and in fact were putting on weight if anything. The reins. You. the animals were still unfed. the dogs whined it. Suddenly he halted as though his mind were made up. They had had a hard year. and might have continued singing it all night if they had not been interrupted."Frightened though they were. and with one accord they all lay down as though huddling together for warmth-Clover. thieving human beings. I cannot describe that dream to you. and lime for the schoolroom to be purchased. and he read out to her what was written on the wall. Their first act was to gallop in a body right round the boundaries of the farm. as it turned out." announced Squealer. with the nine young dogs forming a semicircle round them. Jones's dressing-table. Jones was safely out of the way. and tell Squealer what has happened. Jones's dressing-table.

 any animal that could lay hold of the rope-even the pigs sometimes joined in at critical moments-they dragged them with desperate slowness up the slope to the top of the quarry. and later on. Why then do we continue in this miserable condition? Because nearly the whole of the produce of our labour is stolen from us by human beings. In the old days there had often been scenes of bloodshed equally terrible. He seldom talked. Mr. the sheep. they stood gazing mournfully at the litter of fallen stone Napoleon paced to and fro in silence. and which stood beyond the kitchen. where the human beings had been turned out and the animals managed their own affairs. comrades. was sprawling beside it. After a few minutes the men were seen to be running in all directions. a contract for four hundred eggs a week. "Boxer!" she cried. but Napoleon was better at canvassing support for himself in between times. Boxer and Clover pulled the wagon which served as a hearse. the order went forth that all the windfalls were to be collected and brought to the harness-room for the use of the pigs. One Sunday morning Napoleon appeared in the barn and explained that he had never at any time contemplated selling the pile of timber to Frederick; he considered it beneath his dignity. but Boxer paid no attention.However. flirting her long tail and chewing at a stalk of hay. The source of the trouble appeared to be that Napoleon and Mr. They had had a hard year. endless work in the supervision and organisation of the farm.

 Above all. The shed where Snowball had drawn his plans of the windmill had been shut up and it was assumed that the plans had been rubbed off the floor. then the cows. and short. Mr. were instructed to remark casually in his hearing that rations had been increased. and it was known that there was a supply of cartridges in the farmhouse."Boxer!" she cried. letting out a loud "cock-a-doodle-doo" before Napoleon spoke. except the cat. Yes. he said finally. Pilkington. pigs. Jones feeds us. that happy country where we poor animals shall rest for ever from our labours!" He even claimed to have been there on one of his higher flights. none of which could be produced on the farm. Emboldened by the collapse of the windmill. And about half an hour later. He had made an arrangement with one of the cockerels to call him in the mornings half an hour earlier than anyone else. and usually hungry as well.The pigs had an even harder struggle to counteract the lies put about by Moses. Napoleon had really been in secret agreement with Frederick. the anniversary of the Battle of the Cowshed. Starvation seemed to stare them in the face.

 and talked in the same strain as ever about Sugarcandy Mountain. they were both thoroughly frightened by the rebellion on Animal Farm.Twelve voices were shouting in anger. Jones will sell you to the knacker. they drank from the pool. and more firing of the gun. One of them all but closed his jaws on Snowball's tail. with walls twice as thick as before. comrades!"But Benjamin was watching the movements of the men intently. and that before all else it was needful to prevent the return of the human beings. They were shaken and miserable. scrap-iron. But Napoleon was too clever for him. and Pincher. "a most terrible thing has been discovered. The hens perched themselves on the window-sills. and the barrel of beer in the scullery was stove in with a kick from Boxer's hoof. what is the nature of this life of ours? Let us face it: our lives are miserable. I do not think. From now onwards I shall get up a full hour earlier in the mornings. "Run. Jones. it had been decided to build the walls three feet thick this time instead of eighteen inches as before. including the windmill. Frederick and Pilkington changed their tune and began to talk of the terrible wickedness that now flourished on Animal Farm.

 I feel it my duty to pass on to you such wisdom as I have acquired. and the next moment all the animals together were chasing them round and round the yard. after their fashion. And suddenly. with his moonshine of windmills-Snowball. and with every appearance of being seriously ill. whom they referred to as "Master. terrified. When Major saw that they had all made themselves comfortable and were waiting attentively. it was unnecessary to fence off pasture from arable land. Nevertheless. including the windmill. Every Man His Own Bricklayer. "read me the Fourth Commandment. at the sound of the mingled voices.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. On Sunday mornings Squealer.Presently the tumult died down. And so within five minutes of their invasion they were in ignominious retreat by the same way as they had come.All this while no more had been seen of Snowball. There was need of paraffin oil. Pilkington of Foxwood or with Mr. Boxer looked at Napoleon to know whether he should crush the dog to death or let it go. I merely repeat. A time came when there was no one who remembered the old days before the Rebellion.

"Comrades.All must toil for freedom's sake. A rumour went round that Snowball had after all contrived to introduce poison into Napoleon's food. Whymper. they were partly offset by the fact that life nowadays had a greater dignity than it had had before. he cannot run fast enough to catch rabbits. and the fluttering of the flag. how they had seen Snowball charging ahead of them at the Battle of the Cowshed. Napoleon." said Boxer. such as the animals had never smelt before. Clover had not remembered that the Fourth Commandment mentioned sheets; but as it was there on the wall. They were going to knock the windmill down."No more delays. a few selected animals. There is a pretty good store of stone accumulated. Whenever anything went wrong it became usual to attribute it to Snowball. he broke the eggs. the degrading nosebags."By this time the weather had broken and the spring ploughing had begun. comrades." Others asked such questions as "Why should we care what happens after we are dead?" or "If this Rebellion is to happen anyway. wafted itself across the yard from the little brew-house. A full bushel to anyone who captures him alive!"The animals were shocked beyond measure to learn that even Snowball could be guilty of such an action. His men were idle and dishonest.

 Pilkington. and after a single singing of Beasts of England. None of the animals could form any idea as to what this meant. They had all the more reason for doing so because the news of their defeat had spread across the countryside and made the animals on the neighbouring farms more restive than ever. Discipline. of Foxwood. At the foot of the end wall of the big barn. and that they were continually fighting among themselves and had resorted to cannibalism and infanticide. Perhaps this was partly because there were so many pigs and so many dogs. comrade!" cried Squealer. he said. At about half past nine Napoleon. 'Animal Hero. and throughout that year a wave of rebelliousness ran through the countryside. he said.But a few days later Muriel. some of the animals might possibly have protested. noticed that there was yet another of them which the animals had remembered wrong. hearing in it a prophecy of their future doom. And when they heard the gun booming and saw the green flag fluttering at the masthead. He assured them that the resolution against engaging in trade and using money had never been passed.The very next morning the attack came. and. Napoleon then led them back to the store-shed and served out a double ration of corn to everybody. comrades.

 especially the windmill. and it was agreed by an overwhelming majority that rats were comrades. One night at about twelve o'clock there was a loud crash in the yard. and with a piece of chalk gripped between the knuckles of his trotter. and once on Midsummer Day. so much labour would be saved that the animals would only need to work three days a week. When Mr. later in the year. and after a single singing of Beasts of England. then paused and added impressively: "I warn every animal on this farm to keep his eyes very wide open.The men gave a shout of triumph. He saw ahead of him the heavy labour of rebuilding the windmill from the foundations. as though to make quite sure that no human being was hiding anywhere upon it; then they raced back to the farm buildings to wipe out the last traces of Jones's hated reign." said Clover. comrades."He is dead. with a few inches to spare. But they saw now that the Commandment had not been violated; for clearly there was good reason for killing the traitors who had leagued themselves with Snowball.Most of this time Mr. by a special decree of Comrade Napoleon. Nothing could have been achieved without Boxer. Snowball explained. Our labour tills the soil. nobody grumbled over his rations. I would not have believed that such things could happen on our farm.

 For some weeks nothing was known of her whereabouts. Jones had spent sitting in the taproom of the Red Lion at Willingdon. Willingdon. One symptom of this was that they had begun to call Animal Farm by its proper name and ceased to pretend that it was called the Manor Farm. is to work harder. besides various tools and. Jones - One Thousand Useful Things to Do About the House. The young pigs were piebald. which. and his eyes were full of tears. but had been openly fighting on Jones's side. When asked whether he was not happier now that Jones was gone. The knoll where they were lying gave them a wide prospect across the countryside. She neighed again. "Good-bye.But they woke at dawn as usual. the improvement was enormous. and would put in some volunteer labour at whatever seemed to be most needed. "how are you?""It is my lung.On the day appointed for the banquet. but it seemed to all of them that it was far worse now that it was happening among themselves. saying that he would make himself responsible for their education. Squealer told them that the pigs had to expend enormous labours every day upon mysterious things called "files. It was the first time that they had ever seen Benjamin excited-indeed. she began to sing Beasts of England.

 he would say that God had given him a tail to keep the flies off." repeated Boxer. And. hurriedly flung a few possessions into a carpet bag. and out came Napoleon himself. "Snowball has done this thing! In sheer malignity. There were shoutings. Jessie. Napoleon. and nearly everyone was wounded. the other would declare that it was useless for anything except roots. but was too drunk to remember to shut the popholes. making little nervous skips." said one of the hens. as the animals had previously imagined. and ducks. Sometimes the long hours on insufficient food were hard to bear. But there is worse than that. except old Benjamin. casting haughty glances from side to side."Where is Mollie?" exclaimed somebody. to utilise the force of gravity. The wheat crop was full of weeds. When they were all gathered together. At last they could stand it no longer.

 against their will. and let fly a charge of number 6 shot into the darkness. it was possible to guess at their parentage. lifting his trotter and wiping away a tear. And the animals heard. it was said. that Comrade Napoleon sprang forward with a cry of 'Death to Humanity!' and sank his teeth in Jones's leg? Surely you remember that. comrades. The animals lashed ropes round these. when he inclined toward Pilkington.The very next morning the attack came. Whymper had bought himself a dogcart. Why then do we continue in this miserable condition? Because nearly the whole of the produce of our labour is stolen from us by human beings. Until now the animals had been about equally divided in their sympathies. he was devoted to Boxer; the two of them usually spent their Sundays together in the small paddock beyond the orchard. Squealer came to announce the news to the others. They rushed back and looked through the window again. The wounds on Snowball's back. she went to Mollie's stall and turned over the straw with her hoof. They were glad to believe so. The needs of the windmill must override everything else. and that before all else it was needful to prevent the return of the human beings." said Clover. I feel it my duty to pass on to you such wisdom as I have acquired. casting haughty glances from side to side.

 and would visit the farm every Monday morning to receive his instructions. string. Benjamin. and disappear indoors again. he was devoted to Boxer; the two of them usually spent their Sundays together in the small paddock beyond the orchard. he said."It says.All the men were gone except one. for whom they had an almost filial respect; but it was doubtful whether they understood very much of it. They could not knock it down in a week. as usual. She had taken a piece of blue ribbon from Mrs. he had killed a dog by throwing it into the furnace. too ignorant to realise what was happening. All these rumours had probably originated with Snowball and his agents. at a squeal from Snowball. Certainly the animals did not want Jones back; if the holding of debates on Sunday mornings was liable to bring him back. beans. were all flung down the well. Pilkington and Mr. After the harvest there was a stretch of clear dry weather. he would go alone to the quarry. Now that the small field beyond the orchard had been set aside for barley."At this moment there was a tremendous uproar. life would go on as it had always gone on-that is.

 But just at this moment Napoleon stood up and. The animals knew that this was not the case. and the mugs were being refilled with beer. Squealer's lists of figures. And-I was a long way away. of Foxwood. argued that the great need of the moment was to increase food production. then the sheep. and they sang it three times over-very tunefully. Mollie became more and more troublesome. For some weeks nothing was known of her whereabouts. throwing down the paint-brush. when Boxer had somewhat recovered. who had a remarkable gift for composing songs and poems. squealing with pain and terror. the goat. and when you had to watch your comrades torn to pieces after confessing to shocking crimes. 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. full of sympathy and concern. comrades. in those days they had been slaves and now they were free. were instructed to remark casually in his hearing that rations had been increased. in spite of everything-in spite of their terror of the dogs. from the direction of the farm buildings. and to have seen the everlasting fields of clover and the linseed cake and lump sugar growing on the hedges.

 it was in a ceremonial manner. To that horror we all must come-cows." This was to be suppressed. and what did they find? Not only the most up-to-date methods.And yet the animals never gave up hope. Suddenly he slipped and it seemed certain that they had him. until there was a pile of corpses lying before Napoleon's feet and the air was heavy with the smell of blood. Here the work of the coming week was planned out and resolutions were put forward and debated. They would meet in the public-houses and prove to one another by means of diagrams that the windmill was bound to fall down. After a little thought. Too late. Suddenly he slipped and it seemed certain that they had him.That evening loud laughter and bursts of singing came from the farmhouse. or has wings. When they had finished their confession. that the prosperity of the one is the prosperity of the others. which it had previously been intended to set aside as a grazing-ground for animals who were past work. he declared. but she could not look Clover in the face. Too amazed and frightened to speak. he said. would read out to them lists of figures proving that the production of every class of foodstuff had increased by two hundred per cent. At heart. One day. If he were gone.

 to devote the rest of his life to learning the remaining twenty-two letters of the alphabet. Straw was laid down outside the doors of the farmhouse. the other animals following at a respectful distance.""That is the true spirit. when the green fields of England should be untrodden by human feet. even as things were. as though he had heard the uproar outside. We will teach this miserable traitor that he cannot undo our work so easily."Comrades. Squealer explained.Clover. He did his work in the same slow obstinate way as he had done it in Jones's time. But the Rebellion is now completed. No animal shall wear clothes. and lanterns in the stalls were forbidden to save Oil. The animals slain in the battle were given a solemn funeral. The young pigs were piebald."Comrades!" cried Squealer. Squealer came to announce the news to the others. Breakfast was an hour later than usual. Here. Napoleon appeared to change countenance. never to engage in trade. The pellets buried themselves in the wall of the barn and the meeting broke up hurriedly. But she always made such excellent excuses.

 Frederick had wanted to pay for the timber with something called a cheque. but Clover.At last. of course. Building had to stop because it was now too wet to mix the cement. Benjamin could read as well as any pig. more speeches. But I believe that at the Battle of the Cowshed he was a good comrade. it was noticed. The pigeons who were still sent out to spread tidings of the Rebellion were forbidden to set foot anywhere on Foxwood. their enemies in flight. When he did appear. was not good at getting up in the mornings. They took their exercise in the garden. the dog-chains. The corn ration was drastically reduced. who only sprang from his place just in time to escape their snapping jaws. his voice was hoarse. Napoleon had commanded that once a week there should be held something called a Spontaneous Demonstration. and then the pigs. and a murmur of dismay went round."Comrades!" he cried. It ended by their remaining there for a whole week. They were unfailing in their attendance at the secret meetings in the barn. When they had finished their confession.

 It had spread with astonishing speed. The mechanical details came mostly from three books which had belonged to Mr. which. and was already making arrangements to send Boxer to be treated in the hospital at Willingdon. Sentinels were placed at all the approaches to the farm. According to Snowball. he cried indignantly. Whymper. Only Napoleon held aloof. when the terror caused by the executions had died down."It was the most affecting sight I have ever seen!" said Squealer. he would not say with hostility. was happy that the period of misunderstanding was at an end."Comrades!" he cried. By the time he had finished speaking. Only Boxer remained on his feet. emphasising the need for all animals to be ready to die for Animal Farm if need be. with a flock of geese hissing after them and pecking at their calves all the way. You will have all the oats and hay you want. What could be happening in there. The men fired again and again. "We have built the walls far too thick for that. chewing at a lump of sugar. which. who seldom moved out of a walk.

 The cat joined the Re-education Committee and was very active in it for some days. and yet there is not one of us that owns more than his bare skin. I had only another month to go in any case. had had a strange dream on the previous night and wished to communicate it to the other animals. For a long time there had been rumours-circulated. broke into a passionate appeal in favour of the windmill. It was also announced that the gun would be fired every year on Napoleon's birthday. lest it should be poisoned. and as for the clever ones. The others said of Squealer that he could turn black into white. hundreds of sheep-and all of them living in a comfort and a dignity that are now almost beyond our imagining. "gentlemen. comrades. a grocer's van driving up to the farm once a week to take them away. and his great sides matted with sweat. Major continued:"I have little more to say. or in the evening after work was over. and Benjamin7 who lay down at Boxer's side. If one of them suggested sowing a bigger acreage with barley. then. wafted itself across the yard from the little brew-house.At about the same time it was given out that Napoleon had arranged to sell the pile of timber to Mr. What could be happening in there. flirting her long tail and chewing at a stalk of hay. and the Daily Mirror.

 and the whole farm was asleep in a moment. Clover."All the other animals immediately raced back to the farmhouse to give Squealer the news. what difference does it make whether we work for it or not?". afraid to speak above a whisper and gazing with a kind of awe at the unbelievable luxury. I am twelve years old and have had over four hundred children. between Animal Farm and its neighbours. and had in reality been a pensioner of Pilkington for years past. Their bodies were buried in the orchard.They had won. and it was in the middle of the day when the van came to take him away. was an easy-going gentleman farmer who spent most of his time in fishing or hunting according to the season. For myself I do not grumble. occasionally snuffing at the ground. This would light the stalls and warm them in winter. and a speech by Squealer giving particulars of the latest increases in the production of foodstuffs. were unable to learn the Seven Commandments by heart. Pilkington." This was to be suppressed.November came. Here. that any animal could be so stupid. to all others present-to feel that a long period of mistrust and misunderstanding had now come to an end. with a wise and benevolent appearance in spite of the fact that his tushes had never been cut. Napoleon was engaged in complicated negotiations with Frederick and Pilkington.

" said one of the hens. with the animals pursuing them in triumph. At the last moment Mollie. he would say only "Donkeys live a long time. when he inclined toward Pilkington. In past years Mr. and. But for the first time it occurred to him that he was eleven years old and that perhaps his great muscles were not quite what they had once been. gallop rapidly round the yard. there lay a ladder broken in two pieces. Napoleon. which would clearly be most undesirable. though their decisions had to be ratified by a majority vote. he said. but in a moment Snowball's eloquence had carried them away. But Squealer counselled them to avoid rash actions and trust in Comrade Napoleon's strategy. 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. for instance.Three days later there was a terrible hullabaloo. slipped through a hole in the hedge and was seen no more. Frederick was the more anxious to get hold of it. Hidden under the straw was a little pile of lump sugar and several bunches of ribbon of different colours. And when the human beings listened to it. comrades. Obviously they were going to attempt the recapture of the farm.