The wind in the willows

The wind in the willows

Chapter 1 On the river Mole had been cleaning all morning and he had had enough. “ Bother! " he cried at last, flinging down his brush and heading for his tunnel to the outside world.

He scratched and he scrabbled and he scraped with his paws, until POP! he was out in the sun. “ This beats spring-cleaning! " Mole cried, dancing around a hedge.

As he wandered along, he came across a river. Mole had never in his life seen a river before. It chuckled and gurgled, rippling with glints and gleams and sparkles. Mole was bewitched.

He was gazing at the river, when a small brown creature appeared on the opposite bank. Then it winked - it was the Water Rat. Mole and Rat looked at each other for a moment. Hello Mole! Hello Rat!

“ Would you like to come over?" called Rat. " It's all very well to talk, " Mole grumbled. “ But I can't swim. " Rat stepped into a small boat and rowed across to Mole. “ Jump in! " he said, with a grin.