Трое в лодке не считая собаки

           WhenIwasayoungman,Iusedtolistentothesetalesfrommyelders,andtakethemin,andswallowthem,anddigesteverywordofthem,andthencomeupformore; butthenewgenerationdonotseemtohavethesimplefaithoftheoldtimes. We—George,Harris,andmyself—tooka"raw’un"upwithusoncelastseason,andwepliedhimwiththecustomarystretchersaboutthewonderfulthingswehaddoneallthewayup. 

           Wegavehimalltheregularones—thetime-honouredliesthathavedonedutyuptheriverwitheveryboating-manforyearspast—andaddedsevenentirelyoriginalonesthatwehadinventedforourselves,includingareallyquitelikelystory, founded,toacertainextent,onanallbuttrueepisode,whichhadactuallyhappenedinamodifieddegreesomeyearsagotofriendsofours —astorythatamerechildcouldhavebelievedwithoutinjuringitself,much. 

           Andthatyoungmanmockedatthemall,andwantedustorepeatthefeatsthenandthere,andtobetustentoonethatwedidn’t. 

           Wegottochattingaboutourrowingexperiencesthismorning,andtorecountingstoriesofourfirsteffortsintheartofoarsmanship. MyownearliestboatingrecollectionisoffiveofuscontributingthreepenceeachandtakingoutacuriouslyconstructedcraftontheRegent’sParklake,dryingourselvessubsequently,inthepark-keeper’slodge.