How we cite our quotes: (Chapter.Paragraph)
Quote #1
She'll be as good as Black Beauty by and bye. Kindness is all the physic she wants, poor thing! (8.11)
When Ginger comes to Birtwick, she's been mistreated for much of her early life. John Manly and Squire Gordon transform her behavior with kindness. By showing compassion for the way she was treated—rather than punishing her for bad behavior—they earn Ginger's complete trust.
Quote #2
I wouldn't vex our people for anything; I love them, I do. (9.10)
Sometimes love and compassion are this simple: Merrylegs loves his people, and that's his motivation for everything he does. He has strong, loving relationships with all the humans at Birtwick, who love him right back.
Quote #3
"I shall miss you very much, James, but we shall pull through, and there's nothing like doing a kindness when 'tis put in your way, and I am glad I can do it." (17.13)
Squire Gordon finds a better job for James Howard, Birtwick's first stable boy, out of a sense of compassion. He feels it wouldn't be right to deprive James of a good career opportunity even though it will mean finding a new stable boy at Birtwick. This kind of love and empathy is typical of the way Squire Gordon operates—he's really the best kind of human.