Posted by Thomas Wales (twales@…>)
Greetings my friends. I am in the middle of reading “The Wind in the
Willows” to my grandchildren and wanted to send this as my holiday
greeting to all of you. Have a most happy holiday season.
TW, Pemaquid., ME (A long term messer…)
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"The Rat said nothing, but stooped and unfastened a rope and hauled
on it; then lightly stepped into a little boat which the Mole had
not observed. It was painted blue outside and white within, and was
just the size for two animals; and the Mole’s whole heart went out
to it at once, even though he did not yet fully understand its uses.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----’`Look ahead, Rat!’ cried the Mole suddenly.
It was too late. The boat struck the bank full tilt. The dreamer,
the joyous oarsman, lay on his back at the bottom of the boat, his
heels in the air.
--about in boats--or WITH boats,' the Rat went on composedly, picking himself up with a pleasant laugh.In or out of ‘em, it
doesn’t matter. Nothing seems really to matter, that’s the charm of
it. Whether you get away, or whether you don’t; whether you arrive
at your destination or whether you reach somewhere else, or whether
you never get anywhere at all, you’re always busy, and you never do
anything in particular; and when you’ve done it there’s always
something else to do, and you can do it if you like, but you’d much
better not. Look here! If you’ve really nothing else on hand this
morning, supposing we drop down the river together, and have a long day of it?’The Mole waggled his toes from sheer happiness, spread his chest
with a sigh of full contentment, and leaned back blissfully into the
soft cushions.WHAT a day I'm having!' he said.Let us start at once!’
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