During the wars， a soldier looked after his horse with the greatest care. He gave it the best oats to eat and the clearest water to drink.

He rubbed it down when it got wet and covered it with a warm blanket on cold winter nights.

As a result， the horse was strong and swift and carried its master safely out of the dangers of war.

When peace came， however， the soldier changed. He put the horse out in a field full of thistles and gave it only a little moldy hay to eat.

The stable was a broken-down hut with a leaking roof and a floor made of mud； the only water was in a ditch under the hedge.

During the day the soldier made the horse work hard on his farm， carrying loads of wood and pulling heavy wagons.

After some time war broke out again. The soldier took out his heavy breastplate and boots， strapped on his pistols and helmet， and went to the field to catch his horse.

Hastily brushing the thistles from its coat， he laid the leather saddle on its back， pulled the bridle over its mangy ears and heaved himself up.

For a moment the horse stood motionless. Then gradually its thin legs began to bend and it sank slowly to the ground. The horse gave the soldier a look of reproach.

“Master，” it said， “youll have to fight on foot this time. You have made me work like a mule and fed me like a goat. I cannot change back into a horse in an instant just because you want me to.”

戰(zhàn)爭期間，有個士兵對他的馬悉心照料。給它吃最好的燕麥， 喝最干凈的水。

馬身上濕了，他就給它擦干；在寒冷的冬夜，他給它蓋上溫暖的毯子。

因此，這匹馬很健壯，跑得很快，馱著它的主人屢屢安全脫險。

戰(zhàn)爭結(jié)束了，士兵也變了。他把馬拉到長滿薊的野地里，只給它一點兒發(fā)霉的干草吃。

給它住的馬廄是間破舊不堪的茅草屋，屋頂是漏的，地面是泥土地；喝的水也只是樹籬旁小水溝里的水。

白天，士兵讓馬在農(nóng)場里干重活，不是馱木頭，就是拉大車。

過了一段時間，戰(zhàn)爭又爆發(fā)了。士兵拿出沉重的盔甲和靴子，帶上手槍和頭盔，去野地里牽回他的戰(zhàn)馬。

他匆匆地刷了刷馬身上的薊，放上皮馬鞍，往長癬的馬耳朵上套上籠頭，翻身上了馬背。

馬一動不動地站了一會兒。隨后，它干瘦的腿越來越彎，慢慢地倒在了地上。馬用責(zé)備的目光看了士兵一眼。

“主人，”馬說，“這回，您得徒步去打仗了。您讓我像騾子那樣干活兒，卻像喂山羊那樣喂我。我不可能如您所期望的那樣，瞬間變?yōu)橐黄?zhàn)馬的?！?/p>