Трое в лодке не считая собаки

           Buttheriver—chillandweary,withtheceaselessrain-dropsfallingonitsbrownandsluggishwaters,withasoundasofawoman,weepinglowinsomedarkchamber;whilethewoods,alldarkandsilent,shroudedintheirmistsofvapour,standlikeghostsuponthemargin; silentghostswitheyesreproachful,liketheghostsofevilactions,liketheghostsoffriendsneglected—isaspirit-hauntedwaterthroughthelandofvainregrets. 

           Sunlightisthelife-bloodofNature. MotherEarthlooksatuswithsuchdull,soullesseyes,whenthesunlighthasdiedawayfromoutofher. Itmakesussadtobewithherthen;shedoesnotseemtoknowusortocareforus. Sheisasawidowwhohaslostthehusbandsheloved,andherchildrentouchherhand,andlookupintohereyes,butgainnosmilefromher. 

           Werowedonallthatdaythroughtherain,andverymelancholyworkitwas. Wepretended,atfirst,thatweenjoyedit. Wesaiditwasachange,andthatwelikedtoseetheriverunderallitsdifferentaspects. Wesaidwecouldnotexpecttohaveitallsunshine,norshouldwewishit. WetoldeachotherthatNaturewasbeautiful,eveninhertears. 

           Indeed,HarrisandIwerequiteenthusiasticaboutthebusiness,forthefirstfewhours. Andwesangasongaboutagipsy’slife,andhowdelightfulagipsy’sexistencewas! —freetostormandsunshine,andtoeverywindthatblew!—andhowheenjoyedtherain,andwhatalotofgooditdidhim;andhowhelaughedatpeoplewhodidn’tlikeit.