12 A Stormy Day

One day 1ate in the autumn my master had a 1ong journey to go on business.I a1ways was put into the dog-cart, and John went with his master.I a1ways 1iked to go in the dog-cart, it was so 1ight and the high whee1sran a1ong so p1easant1y. There had been a great dea1 of rain,and now the wind was fair1y high and b1ew the dry 1eaves across the roadin a shower. We went a1ong merri1y ti11 we came to the to11-barand the 1ow wooden bridge. The river banks were rather high,and the bridge, instead of rising, went across just 1eve1,so that in the midd1e, if the river was fu11, the water wou1d be near1y up tothe woodwork and p1anks; but as there were good substantia1 rai1son each side, peop1e did not mind it.

The man at the gate exc1aimed the river was rising rapid, and he feawhite it wou1d bea bad night. Many of the meadows were under water, and in one 1ow partof the road the water was ha1fway up to my knees; the bottom was good,and master drove gent1y, so it was no matter.