Mole worked very hard all morning. He did his spring-cleaning (cleaning a house very well after winter). He used brooms and then he used dusters. He climbed up ladders and stood on chairs. Mole used a brush and a bucket of white paint.
Soon, Mole had dust in his throat and his eyes. There was white paint on his black fur. His back hurt and his arms were tired. It was a beautiful spring day outside. Mole felt the spring air in his dark house. Suddenly, Mole threw his brush on the floor.
Mole said, "I am tired of cleaning!" He ran out of his house without his coat. He went into a small, steep tunnel. This tunnel was like a road for him. Mole used his paws to dig.
Mole moved the dirt and he worked quickly. He said to himself, "Up we go! Up we go!" Suddenly, his nose came out into the sunlight. Mole rolled in the warm grass of a large meadow (a field with grass and flowers).
"This is wonderful!" Mole said. "This is better than cleaning with paint." The sun was hot on his fur and the wind was soft. He heard many happy birds singing. Mole was very happy because it was spring.
Mole walked across the field to a hedge (a row of small trees). An old rabbit stood at a gap in the bushes. The rabbit said, "You must pay a sixpence (an old, small piece of money) to use this road!" Mole did not listen and he pushed the rabbit over.
Mole walked along the side of the bushes. Other rabbits looked out from their holes. Mole laughed at the rabbits and walked away. The rabbits were angry and they started to argue. It was too late to stop Mole now.
Everything looked beautiful to Mole. He walked through the fields and near the trees. He saw birds building nests and flowers growing. All the animals were busy and happy. Mole was happy because he was not working.
Mole walked until he reached the edge of a river. Mole never saw a river before in his life. The river was like a strong animal. The water moved quickly and made happy sounds. It was full of light and sparkles.
Mole was very excited. He walked beside the river for a long time. Finally, he felt tired and sat on the grass. The river continued to move and tell stories. Mole looked across the water.
Mole saw a dark hole in the river bank. He thought it was a nice home for an animal. Then, Mole saw something bright and small in the hole. It twinkled like a tiny star. But it was not a star.
The bright thing winked at Mole. It was an eye! Then a small face appeared around the eye. It was a brown face with whiskers. It had small ears and thick hair.
It was the Water Rat! The two animals looked at each other.
"Hello, Mole!" said the Water Rat.
"Hello, Rat!" said the Mole.
"Do you want to come over here?" asked the Water Rat.
"How can I do that?" asked the Mole. Mole did not know about rivers.
The Water Rat did not say anything. He pulled a rope and moved a small boat. Mole did not see the boat before. It was blue outside and white inside. It was the perfect size for two animals.
The Water Rat moved the boat across the river with sculls (short wooden oars used to move a boat). He held up his paw to help Mole. "Step into the boat," said the Water Rat. Mole sat in the back of the real boat.
"This is a wonderful day!" Mole said. The Water Rat moved the boat away from the bank. "I have never been in a boat before," said Mole.
The Water Rat was very surprised. "What?" he cried. "You never lived in a boat? What did you do with your life?"
"Is it very nice?" Mole asked quietly. He looked at the soft cushions and the oars. He felt the boat move on the water.
"It is the only thing to do," the Water Rat said. "My young friend, there is nothing better than being in a boat. Just being in a boat is enough."
"Look out, Water Rat!" Mole cried suddenly.
It was too late. The boat hit the bank. The Water Rat fell on his back in the boat. His feet were in the air.
The Water Rat laughed and stood up. "It does not matter," the Water Rat said. "It does not matter if you arrive or if you stay. You are always busy in a boat. If you have no work today, let us go down the river together."
Mole was very happy. He sat back on the soft cushions. "What a great day!" Mole said. "Let us start now!"
"Wait a minute," the Water Rat said. He tied the boat to a ring on his dock. He went into his hole and came back with a large luncheon-basket (a box for carrying food for a picnic).
"Put that under your feet," the Water Rat told Mole. Then the Water Rat took the oars again.
"What is inside the basket?" Mole asked.
"There is cold chicken," the Water Rat said. "There is ham and beef. There are small pickles and salad. There is bread and many cold drinks."
"Stop!" Mole cried. "This is too much food!"
"Do you really think so?" the Water Rat asked. "I always take this food on my trips."
Mole did not hear the Water Rat. He was looking at the new world. He put his paw in the water and dreamed. The Water Rat was a good friend and did not talk.
"I like your black clothes," the Water Rat said after thirty minutes. "I want to buy a black suit one day."
"I am sorry," Mole said. "I was dreaming. This river is very new to me."
"It is the River," the Water Rat said.
"Do you really live by the river?" Mole asked. "That is a happy life."
"I live with the river and on the river," the Water Rat said. "It is my world. I do not want another world. It is fun in winter and in summer. Sometimes there are floods in February. Sometimes the water is low and I find things people dropped from boats."
"But is it lonely?" Mole asked. "Is it just you and the river?"
"No," the Water Rat said. "The bank is very busy now. There are otters and birds everywhere. Everyone wants me to do things."
Mole looked at the dark trees behind the fields. "What is over there?" Mole asked.
"That is the Wild Wood (a dark forest with many trees)," the Water Rat said. "We do not go there very much."
"Are the people there nice?" Mole asked. He felt a little nervous.
"Well," the Water Rat said. "The squirrels are okay. The rabbits are sometimes okay. Badger lives there. Nobody bothers Badger. They should not bother him."
"Who would bother him?" Mole asked.
"There are others," the Water Rat explained. "There are weasels and foxes. They are okay sometimes, but you cannot always trust them."
Mole knew it was not polite to talk about trouble. He changed the subject. "What is beyond the Wild Wood?" he asked.
"Beyond the Wild Wood is the Wide World (the large world outside this area)," the Water Rat said. "That does not matter to us. I never go there. You should not go there either. Now, here is the place for our lunch."
They left the main river and went into a small lake. There was green grass and old trees. They could hear the sound of a weir (a small wall in the river that controls the water). It was very beautiful.
The Water Rat tied the boat to the bank. Mole asked to unpack the basket. The Water Rat was happy to rest on the grass. Mole took out the tablecloth and all the food.
"Now, eat!" the Water Rat said. Mole was very hungry. He started his spring-cleaning very early and he did not eat breakfast.
Later, Mole looked at the water. "I see bubbles on the water," Mole said. "That is funny."
The Water Rat made a sound. A wet face appeared at the bank. An otter climbed out and shook the water from his fur. An otter is an animal that lives in the water and has thick fur.
"Why did you not invite me, Water Rat?" the Otter asked. He looked at the food.
"This was a quick plan," the Water Rat said. "This is my friend, Mr. Mole."
"I am happy to meet you," the Otter said. "The river is very busy today. I came here for some peace."
Then they heard a noise in the bushes. A head with black and white stripes looked out.
"Come here, Badger!" the Water Rat shouted.
Badger walked forward a little. Then he saw people and he turned around. He disappeared into the trees.
"Badger hates crowds," the Water Rat said. "We will not see him again today. Otter, who is on the river?"
"Toad is on the river," the Otter said. "He has a new boat and new clothes."
The Water Rat and the Otter laughed. "Toad always has a new hobby," the Water Rat said. "Last year he had a house-boat. He gets tired of things quickly and starts something new."
"Toad is a good fellow," the Otter said. "But he is not good in a boat!"
They saw a boat on the main river. A short, fat animal was rowing very badly. It was Toad. The Water Rat shouted to him, but Toad did not stop.
"Toad will fall out of that boat," the Water Rat said.
Suddenly, a small fly flew over the water. The Otter jumped into the water with a "cloop" sound. The fly was gone and the Otter was gone too.
Mole looked down. The Otter was not there. Mole saw bubbles on the water again. Mole did not say anything because it was polite.
"We should move now," the Water Rat said. "Who wants to pack the basket?"
"I will do it," Mole said.
Packing the basket was not as fun as unpacking it. Mole finished the work and tied the basket. Then he saw a plate on the grass. He did the work again. Then the Water Rat saw a fork. Finally, Mole found the mustard jar under him. He finished the work at last.
The sun was low in the sky. The Water Rat moved the boat slowly toward home. He was dreaming and quiet. But Mole was feeling proud. He thought he could row a boat too.
"Water Rat! I want to row now!" Mole said.
The Water Rat smiled. "Not yet," he said. "It is not easy. You need lessons."
Mole was quiet, but he was jealous. He thought he could row as well as the Water Rat. Suddenly, Mole jumped up and grabbed the oars. The Water Rat was surprised and fell backwards.
"Stop it!" the Water Rat cried. "You will tip the boat over!"
Mole tried to pull the oars through the water. He missed the water and his legs went up. He fell on top of the Water Rat. Then, the boat turned over.
Sploosh! Mole was in the river.
The water was very cold and very wet. Mole went down under the water. He was very scared. Then, a strong paw grabbed his neck. It was the Water Rat. The Water Rat was laughing.
The Water Rat gave Mole an oar to hold. Then the Water Rat swam and pushed Mole to the shore. Mole sat on the bank. He was wet and very sad.
The Water Rat rubbed Mole with a cloth. "Now, run up and down the path," the Water Rat said. "You must get warm and dry. I will go get the basket."
Mole ran on the path. He felt very ashamed. The Water Rat jumped into the water. He got the boat and the luncheon-basket.
When they were ready to leave, Mole sat in the back of the boat. He spoke in a low voice. "Water Rat, you are a good friend. I am very sorry. I was a fool. Please forgive me."
"That is okay!" the Water Rat said. "I like the water. I am always wet. Do not worry about it. I want you to stay at my house for a while. I can teach you to row and swim."
Mole was very happy. He wiped a tear from his eye. The Water Rat looked away to be kind.
When they got home, the Water Rat made a fire. He gave Mole a dressing-gown (a long, soft coat to wear inside a house) and slippers. They sat by the fire.
The Water Rat told Mole many stories about the river. He told stories about floods and big fish. He told stories about adventures with the Otter and the Badger.
They had a wonderful supper. Afterward, Mole was very sleepy. The Water Rat took Mole to the best bedroom. Mole was very content. He heard the river outside his window and he went to sleep.
This was the first of many days for Mole. He learned to swim and to row. He loved the river. He was a very happy animal.