In the middle of(Located at the central point or during the central part of [ɪn ðə ˈmɪdəl əv]) the summer(the warmest season of the year, occurring between spring and autumn [ðə ˈsəmər]) Moses(a proper noun, likely the name of a character [ˈmoʊzɪs]) the raven(a large black bird with a croaking call [ðə ˈreɪvən]) suddenly(quickly and unexpectedly [ˈsədənli]) reappeared(appeared again; returned [ˌriəˈpɪrd]) on the farm(at the agricultural land and buildings [ɔn ðə fɑrm]), after an absence of(following a period of not being present for [ˈæftər ən ˈæbsəns əv]) several years(more than two years but not many [ˈsɛvərəl jɪrz]). He was quite unchanged(He remained the same; there were no alterations in his appearance or behavior [hi wɑz kwaɪt ənˈʧeɪnʤd]), still did no work(continued to avoid any labor or exertion [stɪl dɪd noʊ wərk]), and talked in the same strain(and spoke in a similar manner or tone [ənd tɔkt ɪn ðə seɪm streɪn]) as ever(as always; as before [ɛz ˈɛvər]) about Sugarcandy Mountain(referring to a fictional or metaphorical place called Sugarcandy Mountain [əˈbaʊt sugarcandy ˈmaʊntən]). He would perch(He would sit or rest on something, typically a high or narrow place [hi wʊd pərʧ]) on a stump(on the remaining part of a tree trunk after the tree has fallen or been cut down [ɔn ə stəmp]), flap his black wings(move his wings up and down [flæp hɪz blæk wɪŋz]), and talk by the hour(and speak for a long time [ənd tɔk baɪ ðə aʊər]) to anyone who would listen(to anybody who was willing to pay attention [tɪ ˈɛniˌwən hu wʊd ˈlɪsən]). ‘Up there, comrades(A phrase used to get attention and to indicate a location above, followed by a term for friends or colleagues [əp ðɛr ˈkɑmˌrædz]),’ he would say solemnly(he would speak in a serious and dignified manner [hi wʊd seɪ ˈsɔləmli]), pointing to the sky(directing attention towards the heavens [ˈpɔɪntɪŋ tɪ ðə skaɪ]) with his large beak(using his big bird mouth [wɪθ hɪz lɑrʤ bik]) – ‘up there(in that high place; above [əp ðɛr]), just on the other side of(located immediately beyond [ʤɪst ɔn ðə ˈəðər saɪd əv]) that dark cloud(a mass of condensed water vapor in the sky that is dark in color [ðət dɑrk klaʊd]) that you can see(which is visible to you [ðət ju kən si])-there it lies(it is located there [ðɛr ɪt laɪz]), Sugarcandy Mountain(a fictional or metaphorical place called Sugarcandy Mountain [sugarcandy ˈmaʊntən]), that happy country(that joyful place or region [ðət ˈhæpi ˈkəntri]) where we poor animals(in which we unfortunate creatures [wɛr wi pur ˈænəməlz]) shall rest for ever(will have eternal rest [ʃæl rɛst fər ˈɛvər]) from our labours(from our hard work and efforts [frəm ɑr labours])!’ He even claimed(He asserted or stated as a fact [hi ˈivɪn kleɪmd]) to have been there(that he had visited that place [tɪ hæv bɪn ðɛr]) on one of his higher flights(during one of his journeys through the air at a greater altitude [ɔn wən əv hɪz haɪər flaɪts]), and to have seen(and that he had observed [ənd tɪ hæv sin]) the everlasting fields of clover(the never-ending areas of land covered in clover plants [ðə ˌɛvərˈlæstɪŋ fildz əv ˈkloʊvər]) and the linseed cake(and the solid mass of flaxseed residue after oil extraction [ənd ðə ˈlɪnˌsid keɪk]) and lump sugar(and sugar in the form of small, irregular pieces [ənd ləmp ˈʃʊgər]) growing on the hedges(growing on the bushes or shrubs forming a boundary [groʊɪŋ ɔn ðə ˈhɛʤɪz]). Many of the animals believed him(A significant number of the creatures accepted his stories as true [ˈmɛni əv ðə ˈænəməlz bɪˈlivd ɪm]). Their lives now(The existence they were currently living [ðɛr lɪvz naʊ]), they reasoned(they thought logically; they concluded [ðeɪ ˈrizənd]), were hungry and laborious(were characterized by a lack of food and a lot of hard work [wər ˈhəŋgri ənd ləˈbɔriəs]); was it not right and just(was it not fair and morally correct [wɑz ɪt nɑt raɪt ənd ʤɪst]) that a better world(that a more favorable place or existence [ðət ə ˈbɛtər wərld]) should exist somewhere else(ought to be located in another place [ʃʊd ɪgˈzɪst ˈsəmˌwɛr ɛls])? A thing that was difficult to determine(Something that was hard to figure out [ə θɪŋ ðət wɑz ˈdɪfəkəlt tɪ dɪˈtərmən]) was the attitude of the pigs(was the way the pigs felt and behaved [wɑz ðə ˈætəˌtud əv ðə pɪgz]) towards Moses(in relation to Moses [təˈwɔrdz ˈmoʊzɪs]). They all declared contemptuously(They all stated with disdain and scorn [ðeɪ ɔl dɪˈklɛrd kənˈtɛmˌpʧuəsli]) that his stories about Sugarcandy Mountain were lies(that the narratives he told about Sugarcandy Mountain were untrue [ðət hɪz ˈstɔriz əˈbaʊt sugarcandy ˈmaʊntən wər laɪz]), and yet(but nevertheless; however [ənd jɛt]) they allowed him(they permitted him [ðeɪ əˈlaʊd ɪm]) to remain on the farm(to stay at the agricultural land and buildings [tɪ rɪˈmeɪn ɔn ðə fɑrm]), not working(without doing any labor [nɑt ˈwərkɪŋ]), with an allowance of(receiving a provision of [wɪθ ən əˈlaʊəns əv]) a gill of beer(a small amount of beer, a gill being a unit of liquid volume [ə gɪl əv bɪr]) a day(each day [ə deɪ]).
After(Following in time or sequence [ˈæftər]) his(belonging to him [hɪz]) hoof(the horny part of the foot of an ungulate animal, such as a horse, cow, or pig [huf]) had healed up(had recovered from an injury or wound [hæd hild əp]) Boxer(the name of a character, likely an animal [ˈbɑksər]) worked(exerted effort; performed labor [wərkt]) harder(with greater intensity or effort [ˈhɑrdər]) than(used for comparison [ðən]) ever(at any time; always [ˈɛvər]). Indeed(in truth; in fact [ˌɪnˈdid]) all(the whole number or quantity of [ɔl]) the animals(living creatures that are not human beings [ðə ˈænəməlz]) worked(exerted effort; performed labor [wərkt]) like(similar to [laɪk]) slaves(people who are owned by someone and forced to work for them [sleɪvz]) that year(referring to a specific year [ðət jɪr]). Apart from(excluding; besides [əˈpɑrt frəm]) the regular work(the normal or usual tasks [ðə ˈrɛgjələr wərk]) of the farm(the agricultural land and buildings [əv ðə fɑrm]), and(used to connect words or phrases [ənd]) the rebuilding(the act of constructing again [ðə riˈbɪldɪŋ]) of the windmill(a structure with sails that convert wind energy into rotational energy [əv ðə ˈwɪndˌmɪl]), there was(used to indicate the existence or presence of something [ðɛr wɑz]) the schoolhouse(a building used as a school [ðə ˈskuˌlhaʊs]) for(intended to be used by [fər]) the young pigs(baby pigs [ðə jəŋ pɪgz]), which(referring to the schoolhouse [wɪʧ]) was started(began to be built or established [wɑz ˈstɑrtɪd]) in March(a month of the year [ɪn mɑrʧ]). Sometimes(occasionally; now and then [ˈsəmˌtaɪmz]) the long hours(extended periods of work [ðə lɔŋ aʊərz]) on(being subjected to [ɔn]) insufficient food(not enough nourishment [ˌɪnsəˈfɪʃənt fud]) were hard(difficult [wər hɑrd]) to bear(to endure; to tolerate [tɪ bɛr]), but(used to introduce a statement that contrasts with or contradicts something [bət]) Boxer(the name of a character, likely an animal [ˈbɑksər]) never(at no time; not ever [ˈnɛvər]) faltered(lost strength or momentum; hesitated [ˈfɑltərd]). In nothing(in no aspect or detail [ɪn ˈnəθɪŋ]) that(referring to something previously mentioned [ðət]) he said(he spoke [hi sɛd]) or(used to connect alternatives [ər]) did(performed [dɪd]) was there(used to indicate the existence or presence of something [wɑz ðɛr]) any sign(any indication or evidence [ˈɛni saɪn]) that(introducing a clause expressing a reason or cause [ðət]) his strength(his physical power [hɪz strɛŋθ]) was not(wasn't [wɑz nɑt]) what(the thing that [wət]) it had been(it used to be [ɪt hæd bɪn]). It was(referring to a situation or condition [ɪt wɑz]) only(merely; just [ˈoʊnli]) his appearance(the way he looked [hɪz əˈpɪrəns]) that(introducing a clause identifying the appearance [ðət]) was(linking verb [wɑz]) a little(slightly [ə ˈlɪtəl]) altered(changed; modified [ˈɔltərd]); his hide(animal skin [hɪz haɪd]) was(linking verb [wɑz]) less shiny(not as bright or glossy [lɛs ˈʃaɪni]) than(used for comparison [ðən]) it had used to be(it was previously [ɪt hæd juzd tɪ bi]), and(used to connect words or phrases [ənd]) his great haunches(his large, muscular hindquarters [hɪz greɪt haunches]) seemed(appeared [simd]) to have shrunken(to have become smaller [tɪ hæv ʃˈrəŋkən]). The others(the remaining animals [ðə ˈəðərz]) said(expressed verbally [sɛd]), ‘Boxer(the name of a character, likely an animal [‘‘boxer]) will pick up(will recover or improve [wɪl pɪk əp]) when(at the time that [wɪn]) the spring grass(grass that grows in the spring [ðə spərɪŋ græs]) comes on(begins to grow [kəmz ɔn])’; (end quote)but(used to introduce a statement that contrasts with or contradicts something [bət]) the spring grass(grass that grows in the spring [ðə spərɪŋ græs]) came(arrived [keɪm]) and(used to connect words or phrases [ənd]) Boxer(the name of a character, likely an animal [ˈbɑksər]) grew(became [gru]) no fatter(did not gain weight [noʊ ˈfætər]). Sometimes(occasionally; now and then [ˈsəmˌtaɪmz]) on(located on [ɔn]) the slope(a surface that inclines from the horizontal or vertical [ðə sloʊp]) leading to(going towards [ˈlidɪŋ tɪ]) the top(the highest point [ðə tɔp]) of the quarry(a place where stone is extracted [əv ðə kˈwɔri]), when(at the time that [wɪn]) he braced(he prepared himself physically or mentally [hi breɪst]) his muscles(bodily tissues that produce force and motion [hɪz ˈməsəlz]) against(in opposition to [əˈgɛnst]) the weight(the heaviness of something [ðə weɪt]) of(belonging to [əv]) some vast boulder(a very large rock [səm væst ˈboʊldər]), it seemed(it appeared [ɪt simd]) that(introducing a clause expressing a result or consequence [ðət]) nothing(no thing; not anything [ˈnəθɪŋ]) kept(held [kɛpt]) him(referring to Boxer [ɪm]) on his feet(upright; standing [ɔn hɪz fit]) except(not including; other than [ɪkˈsɛpt]) the will(the determination or desire [ðə wɪl]) to continue(to keep going [tɪ kənˈtɪnju]). At such times(during those moments [æt səʧ taɪmz]) his lips(the fleshy parts forming the edge of the mouth [hɪz lɪps]) were seen(were observed [wər sin]) to form(to shape [tɪ fɔrm]) the words(units of language [ðə wərdz]) ‘I will work harder(a statement of intention to increase effort [‘‘i wɪl wərk ˈhɑrdər])’; (end quote)he had(he possessed [hi hæd]) no voice left(unable to speak [noʊ vɔɪs lɛft]). Once again(again; another time [wəns əˈgɛn]) Clover(the name of a character, likely an animal [ˈkloʊvər]) and(used to connect words or phrases [ənd]) Benjamin(the name of a character, likely an animal [ˈbɛnʤəmən]) warned(advised against something [wɔrnd]) him(referring to Boxer [ɪm]) to take care(to be cautious and attentive [tɪ teɪk kɛr]) of his health(his physical well-being [əv hɪz hɛlθ]), but(used to introduce a statement that contrasts with or contradicts something [bət]) Boxer(the name of a character, likely an animal [ˈbɑksər]) paid no attention(did not listen or heed [peɪd noʊ əˈtɛnʃən]). His twelfth birthday(the anniversary of his birth, marking twelve years [hɪz twɛlfθ ˈbərθˌdeɪ]) was approaching(was getting closer [wɑz əˈproʊʧɪŋ]). He did not care(he was unconcerned [hi dɪd nɑt kɛr]) what happened(whatever occurred [wət ˈhæpənd]) so long as(provided that [soʊ lɔŋ ɛz]) a good store(a sufficient amount [ə gʊd stɔr]) of stone(rock [əv stoʊn]) was accumulated(was gathered or collected [wɑz əˈkjumjəˌleɪtɪd]) before(prior to [ˌbiˈfɔr]) he went(he retired [hi wɛnt]) on pension(receiving retirement benefits [ɔn ˈpɛnʃən]).