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Three Men in a Boat / Three Men on the Bummel

Three Men in a Boat / Three Men on the Bummel

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— 268 —<br />

“Because <strong>the</strong> sun could not get <str<strong>on</strong>g>in</str<strong>on</strong>g>side it.”<br />

The Professor felt he had discovered <strong>the</strong> poet of <strong>the</strong> class.<br />

“Because <strong>the</strong> sun could not get <str<strong>on</strong>g>in</str<strong>on</strong>g>to it, or, better, because <strong>the</strong><br />

sunbeams could not penetrate. And why could not <strong>the</strong> sunbeams<br />

penetrate <strong>the</strong>re?”<br />

“Please, sir, because <strong>the</strong> leaves were too thick.”<br />

“Very well,” said <strong>the</strong> Professor. “The girl lived <str<strong>on</strong>g>in</str<strong>on</strong>g> a dark and<br />

gloomy wood, through <strong>the</strong> leafy canopy of which <strong>the</strong> sunbeams<br />

were unable to pierce. Now, what grew <str<strong>on</strong>g>in</str<strong>on</strong>g> this wood?”<br />

He po<str<strong>on</strong>g>in</str<strong>on</strong>g>ted to <strong>the</strong> fourth boy.<br />

“Please, sir, trees, sir.”<br />

“And what else?”<br />

“Toadstools, sir.” This after a pause.<br />

The Professor was not quite sure about <strong>the</strong> toadstools, but<br />

<strong>on</strong> referr<str<strong>on</strong>g>in</str<strong>on</strong>g>g to <strong>the</strong> text he found that <strong>the</strong> boy was right; toadstools<br />

had been menti<strong>on</strong>ed.<br />

“Quite right,” admitted <strong>the</strong> Professor, “toadstools grew<br />

<strong>the</strong>re. And what else? What do you f<str<strong>on</strong>g>in</str<strong>on</strong>g>d underneath trees <str<strong>on</strong>g>in</str<strong>on</strong>g><br />

a wood?”<br />

“Please, sir, earth, sir.”<br />

“No; no; what grows <str<strong>on</strong>g>in</str<strong>on</strong>g> a wood besides trees?”<br />

“Oh, please, sir, bushes, sir.”<br />

“Bushes; very good. Now we are gett<str<strong>on</strong>g>in</str<strong>on</strong>g>g <strong>on</strong>. In this wood<br />

<strong>the</strong>re were trees and bushes. And what else?”<br />

He po<str<strong>on</strong>g>in</str<strong>on</strong>g>ted to a small boy near <strong>the</strong> bottom, who hav<str<strong>on</strong>g>in</str<strong>on</strong>g>g decided<br />

that <strong>the</strong> wood was too far off to be of any annoyance to<br />

him, <str<strong>on</strong>g>in</str<strong>on</strong>g>dividually, was occupy<str<strong>on</strong>g>in</str<strong>on</strong>g>g his leisure play<str<strong>on</strong>g>in</str<strong>on</strong>g>g noughts<br />

and crosses aga<str<strong>on</strong>g>in</str<strong>on</strong>g>st himself. Vexed and bewildered, but feel<str<strong>on</strong>g>in</str<strong>on</strong>g>g<br />

it necessary to add someth<str<strong>on</strong>g>in</str<strong>on</strong>g>g to <strong>the</strong> <str<strong>on</strong>g>in</str<strong>on</strong>g>ventory, he hazarded<br />

blackberries. This was a mistake; <strong>the</strong> poet had not menti<strong>on</strong>ed<br />

blackberries.<br />

“Of course, Klobstock would th<str<strong>on</strong>g>in</str<strong>on</strong>g>k of someth<str<strong>on</strong>g>in</str<strong>on</strong>g>g to eat,”<br />

commented <strong>the</strong> Professor, who prided himself <strong>on</strong> his ready<br />

wit. This raised a laugh aga<str<strong>on</strong>g>in</str<strong>on</strong>g>st Klobstock, and pleased <strong>the</strong><br />

Professor.

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