Hugh Lofting - Doctor Dolittle's Circus

"It's wonderful," said the Doctor, himself entirely captivated by the beauty of the scene. "It has character that meadow. Does this land belong to your farmer, Toggle?"

"No," said the plow horse. "I've often tried to break in here and graze. And I did get through the hedge, once or twice, but the owner always chased me out again. It belongs to a farmer who lives in the little house down there with the red roof."

"I see," said the Doctor. "I wonder how much a piece of ground like that would cost."

"Not very much, I shouldn't think," said Toggle. "Although it is large, the farmer has never raised anything but hay on it."

"But, Doctor," said Beppo, "why buy it? I thought you said Blossom was going to pay for my pensioning off."

"Yes," said the Doctor. "But he has only agreed to pay for your board and lodging. I've always had an idea I'd like to start a Home for Retired Cab and Wagon Horses. And this place is such an ideal one for aged horses that I thought, if I could, I'd buy it. Then we would form 'The Retired Cab and Wagon Horses' Association' and you could keep the place for your own for good."

"What a marvelous idea!" cried both horses together.

"But have you got enough money, Doctor?" asked Beppo. "Jip often told me that you were as poor as a church mouse."

"That is so—more or less," the Doctor agreed. "Money with me has always been a most uncertain thing. But, as you heard Too–Too come and tell me shortly after we had left the circus, I am now some twenty–six pounds to the good. I owe a sailor a lot of money for a boat, but his need is not so urgent as your own—I sent a bird to find out, so I know. I can make some more money later on to pay him with. Of course, twenty–six pounds is not enough to buy a piece of land that big, outright. But perhaps the farmer will let me pay so much down and the rest by installments every year. If he will, it become yours right away and nobody can take it away from you —unless I fail in my payments. Now, you two wait here and I'll go and see him about it."

Leaving the two horses by the gate, the Doctor set off across country for the little red–roofed house that Toggle had pointed out.

"They looked over a wide farm gate"

Now, the farmer who owned the land which the Doctor wished to buy was, at the moment when John Dolittle knocked upon his door, sitting at his parlor table talking to Toggle's farmer. He was sorely in need of twenty pounds to buy seed potatoes with. But Toggle's farmer, with many apologies, had been compelled to refuse him because he himself was very short of money at this time. It was this conversation which the Doctor's call interrupted.

"John Dolittle knocked upon his door"

The farmer was very hospitable and invited John Dolittle to come in and sit down at the table with his other guest. Mugs of fragrant cider were brought in by the host's wife. Then the Doctor described the piece of ground which Toggle had shown him and asked if it was for sale. And as it was one which the farmer seldom used he immediately said yes, it was. For how much, the Doctor asked. For one hundred and twenty pounds, the farmer told him.

"Well," said the Doctor. "I only have twenty–six pounds at present. Suppose I gave you that down and promised to pay the rest in twenty–pound installments every six months: would you let me have it?"

The farmer, seeing a chance of getting his seed potatoes, was going to agree at once, but the other, Toggle's farmer, broke into the conversation.

"What be you going to use the land for, stranger?" he asked. "You ain't thinkin' of puttin' up no glue factory, I hope."

"Oh, no," said the Doctor. "I want to make it into a rest farm for old horses—just a grazing ground. Practically nothing will be altered."

The two farmers thought the stranger must be crazy. But, as he and the plan he proposed seemed harmless enough, they readily gave in.

"By the way," said the Doctor, still speaking to Toggle's owner, "you have a friend of mine at your farm, a plow horse; he wears spectacles which I gave him years ago when he lived in Puddleby."

"Oh, aye," said the farmer. "I know 'un—Toggle. A queer beast, that. 'E wouldn't be parted from them specs for anything. What about 'im?"

"He is too old to work, isn't he?" said the Doctor. "You let him graze now most of the time, I understand. He wishes to use this same pasture with the horse I have brought to–day. Will you let him?"

"That I will," said the farmer. "But how come you to know all this about my cattle?"

"Oh, well," said the Doctor, looking sort of embarrassed, "I have ways of my own knowing what horses want. I'm a naturalist."

"Sounds like you was an unnaturalist to me," said the farmer, winking at his neighbor.

After a little discussion on how the first money would be sent, the bargain was closed and the Doctor was told that now, so long as his part of the arrangement was fulfilled, the land belonged to him.

"Not to me," he said as he rose and bade the farmers farewell. "The land belongs to the Association. I am turning it over to the horses themselves."

Having inquired of his host where he could find a carpenter, the Doctor left. And when, a half hour later, the two farmers walked across the field together they saw the strange naturalist and the carpenter busily putting up a large signboard in the middle of the pasture. On it was written in big letters:

REST FARM THIS LAND IS THE PROPERTY OF THE RETIRED CAB AND WAGON HORSES' ASSOCIA TION. TRESPASSERS AND VICIOUS DOGS WILL BE KICKED. BY ORDER, ( Signed, on behalf of the Committee.) BEPPO, President. TOGGLE, Vice–President.

NOTE―MEMBERSHIP FREE

FOR ADMISSION APPLY AT THE GATE

Well, after seeing the first two members of "The Association" enter into possession of their new quarters, John Dolittle bade Beppo and Toggle farewell and set off on his return journey.

As he passed down the road he looked back many times to watch the two old veterans prancing around their beautiful new home. The sight warmed his heart and he smiled as he hurried on.

"I'm not sure," he murmured to himself, "but I think that is almost the best job I ever did. Poor creatures! They are happy at last, growing young again after a life of hard work. I must establish some more institutions like that. I've one or two in mind. The Rat and Mouse Club, for instance. I'd like to see that started. Of course, I shall get in a frightful row over this from Dab–Dab when she finds out that I've spent all the money again. Oh, well, it's worth it. I'll send some London cab horses down to join them as soon as I get to the city again. Humph!"—(the Doctor paused and looked back)—"There they are—at it still—Beppo rolling down the hill and Toggle splashing through the brook.—Great heavens! I forgot all about the radishes. Why didn't Beppo remind me?"

He hurried back. On the way he met a lad playing in the road. Questioning him, he found he was the son of a farmer who had sold the land.

"Would you like to earn a shilling a week?" asked the Doctor.

"'Would you like to earn a shilling a week?'"

"I'd like to earn a shilling a month," said the boy. "I want to save up and buy some skates for next winter. I've only got ninepence so far."

"Do you know how to grow radishes?"

"Yes," answered the boy. "That's easy. They're about the only thing I can grow."

"Very good," said John Dolittle. "Now, you see that meadow where the horses are—and the shelter at the bottom? Well, I've just bought that land from your father. It's to be a home for horses. If you'll plant me a radish bed behind the shelter, the white kind, you know, I'll pay you a shilling a week for keeping it in order. Are you willing?"