Calico Illustrated Classics: The Wind in the Willows
Believe me there is nothing as good as messing about in boats all day Look out Rat cried Mole suddenly It was too late The boat struck the bank full tilt Rat lay on his back at the bottom of the boat His heels were in the air Rat picked himself up and laughed It doesn’t matter if you even get anywhere in a boat As long as you are in a boat it’s a wonderful day said Rat Mole wiggled his toes as Rat steered toward a dock Why not spend the day with me asked Rat He scurried off the boat and brought back a lunch basket He lifted the lid to show Mole the treats inside Mole couldn’t believe his luck I can hardly wait to begin Soon Mole was lost in his thoughts He was thinking about this new world he had entered with his new friend He felt quite fortunate 8
After a half hour Rat felt it was okay to disturb Mole I like your jacket very much I beg your pardon said Mole You must think I’ve been rude just staring at the river all this time This is all so new to me He sucked in his breath So this is a river The river corrected Rat What a jolly life you have said Mole Rat agreed It’s my world I don’t want any other Whether it’s winter spring summer or fall the river is always exciting Isn’t it dull sometimes asked Mole Just you and the river Rat laughed You are new at this Actually the bank is crowded with animals Otters kingfishers moorhens and all sorts of creatures live here They always want to do something What lies over there asked Mole waving a paw toward the woods on one side of the river That Oh just the Wild Wood said Rat We riverbankers don’t go in there too often 9
Why not asked Mole nervously Aren’t there nice animals in there Well replied the Rat the squirrels are all right The rabbits are mixed Some are nice Others Well not so much Then he smiled And of course Badger lives there He lives in the heart of it He wouldn’t move anywhere else Nobody would ever bother Badger Who would try asked Mole Foxes and weasels and so on said Rat I’m friends with all of them but you can’t really trust them Mole knew that he shouldn’t dwell on possible trouble ahead so he changed the subject And what’s beyond the Wild Wood Ah said Rat Beyond the Wild Wood is the Wide World I’ve never been there and I’ll never go there You won’t either if you have any sense at all The Rat sighed Please don’t ever refer to it again Mole shuddered and promised to never mention the Wide World again 10
chapter 2 Meeting New Friends Mole and Rat continued on their adventure Rat brought the boat alongside the bank and helped Mole to shore Rat gave the wicker basket to Mole Mole wanted to empty the basket himself to thank Rat for lunch Mole shook out the tablecloth and lay it down on the grass Then he took out all sorts of mysterious packets and lay them out Finally Rat said Dig in Mole was happy to obey the orders As they ate Rat noticed Mole staring at something What are you looking at I see bubbles in the water said Mole A streak of bubbles traveling along the surface It looks funny 11
