Go down and give the old General some hay." The old General was the name of a large white horse, quite old and steady, but of great strength.

When he was younger, he belonged to a general, who used to ride him upon the parade, and this was the origin of his name.
Josey, at this proposal, made haste down the ladder, and began to put some hay over into the old General's crib.

He then went round into the General's stall, and, patting him upon the neck, he asked him if his breakfast was good.
In the mean time, Oliver opened the great barn doors, and, taking a shovel, he began to clear away the snow from before them.

The sky in the east was by this time beginning to be quite bright; and a considerable degree of light from the sky, and from the new-fallen snow, came into the barn.

Josey got a shovel, and went out to help Oliver.