Ветер в ивах

           Thesunwasshiningbrightly,hiswetclotheswerequitedryagain,hehadmoneyinhispocketoncemore,hewasnearinghomeandfriendsandsafety,and,mostandbestofall,hehadhadasubstantialmeal,hotandnourishing,andfeltbig,andstrong,andcareless,andself-confident.

           Ashetrampedalonggaily,hethoughtofhisadventuresandescapes,andhowwhenthingsseemedattheirworsthehadalwaysmanagedtofindawayout;andhisprideandconceitbegantoswellwithinhim."Ho,ho!"hesaidtohimself,ashemarchedalongwithhischinintheair,"whatacleverToadIam!Thereissurelynoanimalequaltomeforclevernessinthewholeworld!Myenemiesshutmeupinprison,encircledbysentries,watchednightanddaybywarders;Iwalkoutthroughthemall,bysheerabilitycoupledwithcourage.Theypursuemewithengines,andpolicemen,andrevolvers;Isnapmyfingersatthem,andvanish,laughing,intospace.Iam,unfortunately,thrownintoacanalbyawomanfatofbodyandveryevil-minded.Whatofit?Iswimashore,Iseizeherhorse,Irideoffintriumph,andIsellthehorseforawholepocketfulofmoneyandanexcellentbreakfast!Ho,ho!IamTheToad,thehandsome,thepopular,thesuccessfulToad!"Hegotsopuffedupwithconceitthathemadeupasongashewalkedinpraiseofhimself,andsangitatthetopofhisvoice,thoughtherewasnoonetohearitbuthim.Itwas,perhaps,themostconceitedsongthatanyanimalevercomposed.