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DREAM DAYS
DREAM DAYS
BY KENNETH GRAHAME
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DREAM DAYS
THE TWENTY…FIRST OF
OCTOBER
In the matter of general culture and attainments； we youngsters stood
on pretty level ground。 True； it was always happening that one of us
would be singled out at any moment； freakishly； and without regard to his
own preferences； to wrestle with the inflections of some idiotic language
long rightly dead； while another； from some fancied artistic tendency
which always failed to justify itself； might be told off without warning to
hammer out scales and exercises； and to bedew the senseless keys with
tears of weariness or of revolt。 But in subjects common to either sex； and
held to be necessary even for him whose ambition soared no higher than to
crack a whip in a circus…ring in geography； for instance； arithmetic； or
the weary doings of kings and queenseach would have scorned to excel。
And； indeed； whatever our individual gifts； a general dogged
determination to shirk and to evade kept us all at much the same dead
level；a level of ignorance tempered by insubordination。
Fortunately there existed a wide range of subjects； of healthier tone
than those already enumerated； in which we were free to choose for
ourselves； and which we would have scorned to consider education； and in
these we freely followed each his own particular line； often attaining an
amount of special knowledge which struck our ignorant elders as simply
uncanny。 For Edward； the uniforms； accoutrements； colours； and mottoes
of the regiments composing the British Army had a special glamour。 In
the matter of facings he was simply faultless； among chevrons； badges；
medals； and stars； he moved familiarly； he even knew the names of most
of the colonels in command； and he would squander sunny hours prone on
the lawn； heedless of challenge from bird or beast； poring over a tattered
Army List。 My own accomplishment was of another charactertook； as
it seemed to me； a wider and a more untrammelled range。 Dragoons
might have swaggered in Lincoln green； riflemen might have donned
sporrans over tartan trews； without exciting notice or comment from me。
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DREAM DAYS
But did you seek precise information as to the fauna of the American
continent； then you had come to the right shop。 Where and why the
bison 〃wallowed〃； how beaver were to be trapped and wild turkeys stalked；
the grizzly and how to handle him； and the pretty pressing ways of the
constrictor；in fine； the haunts and the habits of all that burrowed； strutted；
roared； or wriggled between the Atlantic and the Pacific；all this
knowledge I took for my province。 By the others my equipment was
fully recognized。 Supposing a book with a bear…hunt in it made its way
into the house； and the atmosphere was electric with excitement； still； it
was necessary that I should first decide whether the slot had been properly
described and properly followed up； ere the work could be stamped with
full approval。 A writer might have won fame throughout the civilized
globe for his trappers and his realistic backwoods； and all went for nothing。
If his pemmican were not properly compounded I damned his achievement；
and it was heard no more of。
Harold was hardly old enough to possess a special subject of his own。
He had his instincts； indeed； and at bird's…nesting they almost amounted to
prophecy。 Where we others only suspected eggs； surmised possible eggs；
hinted doubtfully at eggs in the neighbourhood； Harold went straight for
the right bush； bough； or hole as if he carried a divining…rod。 But this
faculty belonged to the class of mere gifts； and was not to be ranked with
Edward's lore regarding facings； and mine as to the habits of prairie…dogs；
both gained by painful study and extensive travel in those 〃realms of
gold；〃 the Army List and Ballantyne。
Selina's subject； quite unaccountably； happened to be naval history。
There is no laying down rules as to subjects； you just possess themor
rather； they possess youand their genesis or protoplasm is rarely to be
tracked down。 Selina had never so much as seen the sea； but for that
matter neither had I ever set foot on the American continent； the by…ways
of which I knew so intimately。 And just as I； if set down without warning
in the middle of the Rocky Mountains； would have been perfectly at home；
so Selina； if a genie had dropped her suddenly on Portsmouth Hard； could
have given points to most of its frequenters。 From the days of Blake
down to the death of Nelson （she never condescended further） Selina had
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DREAM DAYS
taken spiritual part in every notable engagement of the British Navy； and
even in the dark days when she had to pick up skirts and flee； chased by an
ungallant De Ruyter or Van Tromp； she was yet cheerful in the
consciousness that ere long she would be gleefully hammering the fleets
of the world； in the glorious times to follow。 When that golden period
arrived； Selina was busy indeed； and； while loving best to stand where the
splinters were flying the thickest。 she was also a careful and critical
student of seamanship and of manoeuvre。 She knew the order in which
the great line…of…battle ships moved into action； the vessels they
respectively engaged； the moment when each let go its anchor； and which
of them had a spring on its cable （while not understanding the phrase； she
carefully noted the fact）； and she habitually went into an engagement on
the quarter…deck of the gallant ship that reserved its fire the longest。
At the time of Selina's weird seizure I was unfortunately away from
home； on a loathsome visit to an aunt； and my account is therefore feebly
compounded from hearsay。 It was an absence I never ceased to regret
scoring it up； with a sense of injury； against the aunt。 There was a
splendid uselessness about the whole performance that specially appealed
to my artistic sense。 That it should have been Selina； too； who should
break out this waySelina； who had just become a regular subscriber to
the 〃Young Ladies' Journal；〃 and who allowed herself to be taken out to
strange teas with an air of resignation palpably assumedthis was a
special joy； and served to remind me that much of this dreaded convention
that was creeping over us might be； after all； only veneer。 Edward also
was absent； getting licked into shape at school； but to him the loss was
nothing。 With his stern practical bent he wouldn't have seen any sense in
itto recall one of his favourite expressions。 To Harold； however； for
whom the gods had always cherished a special tenderness； it was granted；
not only to witness； but also； priestlike； to feed the sacred fire itself。 And
if at the time he paid the penalty exacted by the sordid unimaginative ones
who temporarily rule the roast； he must ever after； one feels sure； have
carried inside him some of the white gladness of the acolyte who； greatly
privileged； has been permitted to swing a censer at the sacring of the very
Mass。
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DREAM DAYS
October was mellowing fast； and with it the year itself； full of tender
hints； in woodland and hedgerow； of a course well…nigh completed。
From all sides that still afternoon you caught the quick breathing and sob
of the runner nearing the goal。 Preoccupied and possessed； Selina had
strayed down the garden and out into the pasture beyond； where； on a bit
of rising ground that dominated the garden on one side and the down