Троє в човні крім собаки

           Thepropercoursetopursueistoofferyournameandaddress,andleavetheowner,ifhereallyhasanythingtodowiththematter,tosummonyou,andprovewhatdamageyouhavedonetohislandbysittingdownonabitofit. Butthemajorityofpeoplearesointenselylazyandtimid,thattheyprefertoencouragetheimpositionbygivingintoitratherthanputanendtoitbytheexertionofalittlefirmness. 

           Whereitisreallytheownersthataretoblame,theyoughttobeshownup. Theselfishnessoftheriparianproprietorgrowswitheveryyear. IfthesemenhadtheirwaytheywouldclosetheriverThamesaltogether. Theyactuallydothisalongtheminortributarystreamsandinthebackwaters. Theydrivepostsintothebedofthestream,anddrawchainsacrossfrombanktobank,andnailhugenotice-boardsoneverytree. Thesightofthosenotice-boardsrouseseveryevilinstinctinmynature. IfeelIwanttoteareachonedown,andhammeritovertheheadofthemanwhoputitup,untilIhavekilledhim,andthenIwouldburyhim,andputtheboardupoverthegraveasatombstone. 

           ImentionedthesefeelingsofminetoHarris,andhesaidhehadthemworsethanthat. Hesaidhenotonlyfelthewantedtokillthemanwhocausedtheboardtobeputup,butthatheshouldliketoslaughterthewholeofhisfamilyandallhisfriendsandrelations,andthenburndownhishouse. Thisseemedtometobegoingtoofar,andIsaidsotoHarris;butheanswered: 

           "Notabitofit.Serve’emalljollywellright,andI’dgoandsingcomicsongsontheruins." 

           IwasvexedtohearHarrisgooninthisblood-thirstystrain. Weneveroughttoallowourinstinctsofjusticetodegenerateintomerevindictiveness.