Ветер в ивах

           Leavingthewater-side,whererushesstoodthickandtallinastreamthatwasbecomingsluggishandlow,hewanderedcountry-wards,crossedafieldortwoofpasturagealreadylookingdustyandparched,andthrustintothegreatseaofwheat,yellow,wavy,andmurmurous,fullofquietmotionandsmallwhisperings.Hereheoftenlovedtowander,throughtheforestofstiffstrongstalksthatcarriedtheirowngoldenskyawayoverhishead—askythatwasalwaysdancing,shimmering,softlytalking;orswayingstronglytothepassingwindandrecoveringitselfwithatossandamerrylaugh.Here,too,hehadmanysmallfriends,asocietycompleteinitself,leadingfullandbusylives,butalwayswithasparemomenttogossip,andexchangenewswithavisitor.To-day,however,thoughtheywerecivilenough,thefield-miceandharvestmiceseemedpre-occupied.Manywerediggingandtunnellingbusily;others,gatheredtogetherinsmallgroups,examinedplansanddrawingsofsmallflats,statedtobedesirableandcompact,andsituatedconvenientlyneartheStores.Somewerehaulingoutdustytrunksanddress-baskets,otherswerealreadyelbow-deeppackingtheirbelongings;whileeverywherepilesandbundlesofwheat,oats,barley,beech-mastandnuts,layaboutreadyfortransport.

           "Here’soldRatty!"theycriedassoonastheysawhim."Comeandbearahand,Rat,anddon’tstandaboutidle!"

           "Whatsortofgamesareyouupto?"saidtheWaterRatseverely.