Троє в човні крім собаки

           Thenthebigpipesarefilledandlighted,andthepleasantchatgoesroundinmusicalundertone;while,inthepausesofourtalk,theriver,playingroundtheboat,prattlesstrangeoldtalesandsecrets,singslowtheoldchild’ssongthatithassungsomanythousandyears—willsingsomanythousandyearstocome,beforeitsvoicegrowsharshandold —asongthatwe,whohavelearnttoloveitschangingface,whohavesooftennestledonitsyieldingbosom,think,somehow,weunderstand,thoughwecouldnottellyouinmerewordsthestorythatwelistento. 

           Andwesitthere,byitsmargin,whilethemoon,wholovesittoo,stoopsdowntokissitwithasister’skiss,andthrowshersilverarmsarounditclingingly; andwewatchitasitflows,eversinging,everwhispering,outtomeetitsking,thesea—tillourvoicesdieawayinsilence,andthepipesgoout—tillwe,common-place,everydayyoungmenenough,feelstrangelyfullofthoughts,halfsad,halfsweet,anddonotcareorwanttospeak—tillwelaugh,and,rising,knocktheashesfromourburnt-outpipes,andsay"Good-night,"and,lulledbythelappingwaterandtherustlingtrees,wefallasleepbeneaththegreat,stillstars, anddreamthattheworldisyoungagain—youngandsweetassheusedtobeerethecenturiesoffretandcarehadfurrowedherfairface,ereherchildren’ssinsandfollieshadmadeoldherlovingheart—sweetasshewasinthosebygonedayswhen,anew-mademother,shenursedus,herchildren,uponherowndeepbreast —erethewilesofpaintedcivilizationhadluredusawayfromherfondarms,andthepoisonedsneersofartificialityhadmadeusashamedofthesimplelifeweledwithher,andthesimple,statelyhomewheremankindwasbornsomanythousandsyearsago.