Three days later(A period of three days passing [θri deɪz ˈleɪtər]) Mollie(a proper noun, likely the name of a character [ˈmɑli]) disappeared(vanished; went missing [ˌdɪsəˈpɪrd]). For some weeks(A period lasting several weeks [fər səm wiks]) nothing(no single thing [ˈnəθɪŋ]) was known(was understood or discovered [wɑz noʊn]) of(concerning [əv]) her whereabouts(the place where she is [hər ˈwɛrəˌbaʊts]), then(at that time; after that [ðɛn]) the pigeons(a type of bird [ðə ˈpɪʤənz]) reported(gave an account of; announced [ˌriˈpɔrtəd]) that(introducing a subordinate clause [ðət]) they(pronoun referring to the pigeons [ðeɪ]) had seen(past perfect tense of 'see' [hæd sin]) her(pronoun referring to Mollie [hər]) on(located at a place [ɔn]) the other side(the opposite side [ðə ˈəðər saɪd]) of(indicating position relative to something [əv]) Willingdon(a proper noun, likely the name of a place [willingdon]). She(pronoun referring to Mollie [ʃi]) was(past tense of 'is' [wɑz]) between(in the space separating (two objects or regions [bɪtˈwin]) the shafts(one of the two poles between which a horse is harnessed to a vehicle [ðə ʃæfts]) of(indicating origin, possession, or association [əv]) a smart dogcart(a stylish, light, two-wheeled vehicle [ə smɑrt dogcart]) painted(covered with paint [ˈpeɪnɪd]) red and black(having the colors red and black [rɛd ənd blæk]), which(introducing a relative clause [wɪʧ]) was standing(was positioned [wɑz ˈstændɪŋ]) outside(on the outer side of [ˈaʊtˈsaɪd]) a public-house(a building licensed for the sale and consumption of alcoholic drinks; a pub [ə public-house]). A fat red-faced man(A man who is overweight and has a red face [ə fæt red-faced mæn]) in(expressing the situation of something surrounded or enclosed [ɪn]) check breeches(trousers with a checkered pattern [ʧɛk breeches]) and(a conjunction indicating addition or sequence [ənd]) gaiters(a covering for the ankle and lower leg [gaiters]), who(introducing a relative clause referring to the man [hu]) looked like(resembled [lʊkt laɪk]) a publican(a person who owns or manages a public house [ə publican]), was stroking(was gently moving one's hand over (something), especially in affection [wɑz ˈstroʊkɪŋ]) her nose(the nose of Mollie [hər noʊz]) and(a conjunction indicating addition or sequence [ənd]) feeding(giving food to [ˈfidɪŋ]) her(pronoun referring to Mollie [hər]) with sugar(giving her sugar [wɪθ ˈʃʊgər]). Her coat(the fur or hair covering of Mollie [hər koʊt]) was(past tense of 'is' [wɑz]) newly clipped(recently cut short [ˈnuli klɪpt]) and(a conjunction indicating addition or sequence [ənd]) she(pronoun referring to Mollie [ʃi]) wore(had on; was wearing [wɔr]) a scarlet ribbon(a bright red ribbon [ə ˈskɑrlət ˈrɪbən]) round(surrounding [raʊnd]) her forelock(a lock of hair growing from the front of the head [hər forelock]). She(pronoun referring to Mollie [ʃi]) appeared(seemed [əˈpɪrd]) to be enjoying herself(to be having a good time [tɪ bi ˌɛnˈʤɔɪɪŋ hərˈsɛlf]), so(therefore [soʊ]) the pigeons(a type of bird [ðə ˈpɪʤənz]) said(stated [sɛd]). None(not one [nən]) of(indicating origin, possession, or association [əv]) the animals(the creatures [ðə ˈænəməlz]) ever(at any time [ˈɛvər]) mentioned(referred to [ˈmɛnʃənd]) Mollie(a proper noun, likely the name of a character [ˈmɑli]) again(once more [əˈgɛn]).
In January(Referring to the month of January [ɪn ˈʤænjuˌɛri]) there came(Indicates the arrival or occurrence of something [ðɛr keɪm]) bitterly hard weather(Extremely cold and harsh weather conditions [ˈbɪtərli hɑrd ˈwɛðər]). The earth(Referring to the ground or soil [ðə ərθ]) was like iron(Implies the ground was frozen solid and unyielding [wɑz laɪk aɪərn]), and nothing could be done(Indicates that no work or activity was possible [ənd ˈnəθɪŋ kʊd bi dən]) in the fields(Referring to agricultural land [ɪn ðə fildz]). Many meetings(A large number of gatherings or assemblies [ˈmɛni ˈmitɪŋz]) were held(Took place; were conducted [wər hɛld]) in the big barn(A large agricultural building used for storage [ɪn ðə bɪg bɑrn]), and the pigs(Referring to the pigs on the farm [ənd ðə pɪgz]) occupied themselves(Kept busy; engaged in activity [ˈɑkjəˌpaɪd ðɛmˈsɛlvz]) with planning out(Making detailed plans for [wɪθ ˈplænɪŋ aʊt]) the work(The tasks or activities [ðə wərk]) of the coming season(The next agricultural season [əv ðə ˈkəmɪŋ ˈsizən]). It had come to be accepted(It had become the established norm or belief [ɪt hæd kəm tɪ bi ækˈsɛptɪd]) that the pigs(Referring to the pigs on the farm [ðət ðə pɪgz]), who were manifestly cleverer(Who were clearly and obviously more intelligent [hu wər ˈmænəfɛstli cleverer]) than the other animals(Compared to the other animals on the farm [ðən ðə ˈəðər ˈænəməlz]), should decide(Were expected to make the decisions [ʃʊd ˌdɪˈsaɪd]) all questions(Every issue or matter [ɔl kˈwɛsʧənz]) of farm policy(Relating to the management and operation of the farm [əv fɑrm ˈpɑləsi]), though their decisions(Even though the pigs made the decisions [ðoʊ ðɛr dɪˈsɪʒənz]) had to be ratified(Needed to be formally approved [hæd tɪ bi ˈrætəˌfaɪd]) by a majority vote(By a vote where more than half agree [baɪ ə məˈʤɔrəti voʊt]). This arrangement(This system or agreement [ðɪs ərˈeɪnʤmənt]) would have worked well enough(Would have functioned adequately [wʊd hæv wərkt wɛl ɪˈnəf]) if it had not been(If it were not [ɪf ɪt hæd nɑt bɪn]) for the disputes(Because of the disagreements or arguments [fər ðə dɪˈspjuts]) between Snowball and Napoleon(Referring to the two pigs named Snowball and Napoleon [bɪtˈwin sˈnoʊˌbɔl ənd nəˈpoʊljən]). These two(Referring to Snowball and Napoleon [ðiz tu]) disagreed(Held different opinions; argued [dɪsəˈgrid]) at every point(On every issue or matter [æt ˈɛvəri pɔɪnt]) where disagreement was possible(Where there was potential for differing opinions [wɛr dɪsəˈgrimənt wɑz ˈpɑsəbəl]). If one of them(If either Snowball or Napoleon [ɪf wən əv ðɛm]) suggested(Proposed; recommended [səˈʤɛstɪd]) sowing a bigger acreage(Planting a larger area of land [soʊɪŋ ə ˈbɪgər ˈeɪkərɪʤ]) with barley(With the grain barley [wɪθ ˈbɑrli]), the other(The other one of Snowball and Napoleon [ðə ˈəðər]) was certain(Was sure; would definitely [wɑz ˈsərtən]) to demand(To insist on; to request forcefully [tɪ dɪˈmænd]) a bigger acreage(A larger area of land [ə ˈbɪgər ˈeɪkərɪʤ]) of oats(With the grain oats [əv oʊts]), and if one of them(And if either Snowball or Napoleon [ənd ɪf wən əv ðɛm]) said(Stated; declared [sɛd]) that such and such(That a particular; that a specific [ðət səʧ ənd səʧ]) a field(An area of land [ə fild]) was just right(Was perfectly suitable [wɑz ʤɪst raɪt]) for cabbages(For growing cabbages [fər ˈkæbɪʤɪz]), the other(The other one of Snowball and Napoleon [ðə ˈəðər]) would declare(Would state; would announce [wʊd dɪˈklɛr]) that it was useless(That it was not suitable or good for anything [ðət ɪt wɑz ˈjusləs]) for anything(For any purpose [fər ˈɛniˌθɪŋ]) except roots(Except for growing root vegetables [ɪkˈsɛpt ruts]). Each had(Each of them possessed [iʧ hæd]) his own following(His own group of supporters [hɪz oʊn ˈfɑloʊɪŋ]), and there were(And there existed [ənd ðɛr wər]) some violent debates(Some intense and heated arguments [səm ˈvaɪələnt dəˈbeɪts]). At the Meetings(During the gatherings or assemblies [æt ðə ˈmitɪŋz]) Snowball often won over(Snowball frequently convinced or persuaded [sˈnoʊˌbɔl ˈɔfən wən ˈoʊvər]) the majority(More than half of the people present [ðə məˈʤɔrəti]) by his brilliant speeches(Through his impressive and persuasive talks [baɪ hɪz ˈbrɪljənt ˈspiʧɪz]), but Napoleon(Referring to the pig named Napoleon [bət nəˈpoʊljən]) was better(Was more skilled [wɑz ˈbɛtər]) at canvassing support(At gathering or soliciting support [æt ˈkænvəsɪŋ səˈpɔrt]) for himself(For his own benefit [fər hɪmˈsɛlf]) in between times(In the periods between the meetings [ɪn bɪtˈwin taɪmz]). He was(Referring to Napoleon [hi wɑz]) especially successful(Particularly effective [əˈspɛʃəli səkˈsɛsfəl]) with the sheep(In dealing with the sheep on the farm [wɪθ ðə ʃip]). Of late(Recently; lately [əv leɪt]) the sheep(Referring to the sheep on the farm [ðə ʃip]) had taken to(Had started to; had developed the habit of [hæd ˈteɪkən tɪ]) bleating(Making the characteristic sound of sheep [bleating]) ‘Four legs good, two legs bad(A slogan or motto used by the sheep [‘‘four lɛgz gʊd tu lɛgz bad’*’])’ both in and out of season(At all times; constantly [boʊθ ɪn ənd aʊt əv ˈsizən]), and they often(And they frequently [ənd ðeɪ ˈɔfən]) interrupted(Broke into; disrupted [ˌɪntərˈəptɪd]) the Meeting(The gathering or assembly [ðə ˈmitɪŋ]) with this(With this slogan or motto [wɪθ ðɪs]). It was noticed(It was observed; it was seen [ɪt wɑz ˈnoʊtɪst]) that they were(That the sheep were [ðət ðeɪ wər]) especially liable(Particularly likely [əˈspɛʃəli ˈlaɪəbəl]) to break into(To start suddenly [tɪ breɪk ˈɪntu]) ‘Four legs good, two legs bad(The slogan or motto used by the sheep [‘‘four lɛgz gʊd tu lɛgz bad’*’])’ at crucial moments(At important or decisive times [æt ˈkruʃəl ˈmoʊmənts]) in Snowball’s speeches(During Snowball's talks [ɪn sˈnoʊˌbɔlz ˈspiʧɪz]). Snowball had made(Snowball had undertaken [sˈnoʊˌbɔl hæd meɪd]) a close study(A detailed examination [ə kloʊz ˈstədi]) of some back numbers(Of some past issues [əv səm bæk ˈnəmbərz]) of the Farmer and Stock-breeder(A farming magazine [əv ðə ˈfɑrmər ənd stock-breeder]) which he had found(That he had discovered [wɪʧ hi hæd faʊnd]) in the farmhouse(In the main house on the farm [ɪn ðə ˈfɑrmˌhaʊs]), and was full of(And was filled with [ənd wɑz fʊl əv]) plans(Ideas; schemes [plænz]) for innovations(For new ideas or methods [fər ˌɪnəˈveɪʃənz]) and improvements(And enhancements [ənd ˌɪmˈpruvmənts]). He talked learnedly(He spoke in an educated and knowledgeable manner [hi tɔkt learnedly]) about field-drains(About drainage systems in fields [əˈbaʊt field-drains]), silage(Fermented and stored green fodder [silage]) and basic slag(A fertilizer [ənd ˈbeɪsɪk slæg]), and had worked out(And had developed [ənd hæd wərkt aʊt]) a complicated scheme(A complex plan [ə ˈkɑmpləˌkeɪtəd skim]) for all the animals(For every animal on the farm [fər ɔl ðə ˈænəməlz]) to drop their dung(To excrete their feces [tɪ drɔp ðɛr dəŋ]) directly in the fields(Straight onto the fields [dɪˈrɛkli ɪn ðə fildz]), at a different spot(In a different location [æt ə ˈdɪfərənt spɑt]) every day(Each day [ˈɛvəri deɪ]), to save the labour(To reduce the effort [tɪ seɪv ðə ˈleɪbər]) of cartage(Of transporting manure [əv cartage]). Napoleon produced(Napoleon created or offered [nəˈpoʊljən prəˈdust]) no schemes(No plans or ideas [noʊ skimz]) of his own(That were his own [əv hɪz oʊn]), but said quietly(But stated calmly [bət sɛd kˈwaɪətli]) that Snowball's(That Snowball's plans [ðət sˈnoʊˌbɔlz]) would come to nothing(Would fail; would not succeed [wʊd kəm tɪ ˈnəθɪŋ]), and seemed(And appeared [ənd simd]) to be biding his time(To be waiting for the right moment [tɪ bi ˈbaɪdɪŋ hɪz taɪm]). But of all(But regarding all [bət əv ɔl]) their controversies(Their disagreements or disputes [ðɛr ˈkɑntrəˌvərsiz]), none was so bitter(None was as intense or hostile [nən wɑz soʊ ˈbɪtər]) as the one(As the dispute [ɛz ðə wən]) that took place(That occurred [ðət tʊk pleɪs]) over the windmill(Regarding the construction of a windmill [ˈoʊvər ðə ˈwɪndˌmɪl]).