"'There you are!' cried the Toad, straddling and expanding himself. 'There's real life for you, embodied in that little cart. The open road, the dusty highway, the heath, the common, the hedgerows, the rolling downs! Camps, villages, towns, cities! Here today, up and off to somewhere else tomorrow. Travel, change, interest, excitement! The whole world before you, and a horizon that's always changing! And mind! this is the very finest cart of its sort that was ever built, without any exception. Come inside and look at the arrangements. Planned 'em all, I did!'
The Mole was tremendously interested and excited, and followed him eagerly up the steps and into the interior of the caravan. The Rat only snorted and thrust his hands deep into his pockets, remaining where he was.
It was indeed very compact and comfortable. Little sleeping bunks - a little table that folded up against the wall - a cooking stove, lockers, bookshelves, a bird-cage with a bird in it; and pots, pans, jugs and kettles of every size and variety.
'All complete!' said the Toad triumphantly, pulling open a locker. 'You see - biscuits, potted lobster, sardines - everything you can possibly want. Soda-water here - baccy there - letter-paper, bacon, jam, cards and dominoes - you'll find,' he continued, as they descended the steps again, 'you'll find that nothing whatever has been forgotten, when we make our start this afternoon."
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- II:The Open Road, The Wind in the Willows
Do you have the birdcage? I don't remember seeing it in Thistle the other day. Everything else, yes, all so neat and tidy. And downright pretty.
ReplyDeleteHappy wandering, dear friends. I'll miss you.
Oh dear, did we forget the birdcage and the little bird?
ReplyDelete