This is a quote
from
The Wind in the Willows
by Kenneth Grahame.
Illustrated by John Worsley
The river rat offers the mole a ride in his boat.
The rats reaction is not hard to understand for those of us that think
the same way he does.
|
The Rat sculled smartly across and made fast. Then he held up
his forepaw as the Mole stepped gingerly down. `Lean on that!' he
said. `Now then, step lively!' and the Mole to his surprise and rapture
found himself actually seated in the stern of a real boat.
`This has been a wonderful day!' said he, as the Rat shoved off and
took to the sculls again. `Do you know, I`ve never been in a boat
before in all my life.'
`What?' cried the Rat, open-mouthed: `Never been in a--you never--well
I--what have you been doing, then?'
`Is it so nice as all that?' asked the Mole shyly, though he was quite
prepared to believe it as he leant back in his seat and surveyed the cushions,
the oars, the rowlocks, and all the fascinating fittings, and felt the
boat sway lightly under him.
`Nice? It's the ONLY thing,' said the Water Rat solemnly, as he
leant forward for his stroke. `Believe me, my young friend, there
is NOTHING--absolute nothing--half so much worth doing as simply messing
about in boats. Simply messing,' he went on dreamily: `messing--about--in--boats;
messing----' |
