Chapter 6

           EEYORE,theoldgreyDonkey,stoodbythesideofthestream,andlookedathimselfinthewater.

           "Pathetic,"hesaid.s’That’swhatitis.Pathetic."

           Heturnedandwalkedslowlydownthestreamfortwentyyards,splashedacrossit,andwalkedslowlybackontheotherside.Thenhelookedathimselfinthewateragain.

           "AsIthought,"hesaid."Nobetterfromthisside.Butnobodyminds.Nobodycares.Pathetic,that’swhatitis."

           Therewasacracklingnoiseinthebrackenbehindhim,andoutcamePooh.

           "Goodmorning,Eeyore,"saidPooh.

           "Goodmorning,PoohBear,"saidEeyoregloomily."Ifitisagoodmorning,"hesaid."WhichIdoubt,"saidhe.

           "Why,what’sthematter?"

           "Nothing,PoohBear,nothing.Wecan’tall,andsomeofusdon’t.That’sallthereistoit."

           "Can’tallwhat?"saidPooh,rubbinghisnose.

           "Gaiety.Song-and-dance.Herewegoroundthemulberrybush."

           "Oh!"saidPooh.Hethoughtforalongtime,andthenasked,"Whatmulberrybushisthat?"

           "Bon-hommy,"wentonEeyoregloomily."Frenchwordmeaningbonhommy,"heexplained."I’mnotcomplaining,butThereItIs."

           Poohsatdownonalargestone,andtriedtothinkthisout.Itsoundedtohimlikeariddle,andhewasnevermuchgoodatriddles,beingaBearofVeryLittleBrain.SohesangCottlestonPieinstead:

           Cottleslon,Cottleston,CottlestonPie.

           Aflycan’tbird,butabirdcanfly.

           AskmeariddleandIreply:

           "Cottleston,Cottleston,CottlestonPie."

           Thatwasthefirstverse.