--- title: The Wind in the Willows, chapter V, part 4: Dulce Domum (the carol, a magic supper, and a home to come back to) — a lesson of Mova's school · trees and pragmatics description: «The Wind in the Willows, chapter V, part 4: Dulce Domum (the carol, a magic supper, and a home to come back to)», a lesson of the books course of Mova's primary school, sentence by sentence with dependency trees and pragmatics. It begins: The field-mice sing an old carol about standing in the cold --- [Mova](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/) · [this page in HTML](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/school/books/44-willows-ch5-part4-the-carol-and-a-happy-homecoming/) [home](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/) / [corpora](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/) / [school](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/school/) / [Books](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/school/books/) / The Wind in the Willows, chapter V, pa… # The Wind in the Willows, chapter V, part 4: Dulce Domum (the carol, a magic supper, and a home to come back to) Lesson 44 of the books course of Mova's primary school: 31 sentences, each with its syntax tree and pragmatics. The lessons are written for Mova, and their agreed trees are part of Mova corpus 0.4 (CC BY-SA 4.0). How Mova does on its tests: [the lesson at school](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/school-run/books/44-willows-ch5-part4-the-carol-and-a-happy-homecoming/). - [0](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/school/books/44-willows-ch5-part4-the-carol-and-a-happy-homecoming/0/) — The field-mice sing an old carol about standing in the cold and snow, about Joseph and Mary finding a stable, and about the animals in the stable being the first to cry «Nowell!» As they finish, far-off church bells ring out above. - [1](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/school/books/44-willows-ch5-part4-the-carol-and-a-happy-homecoming/1/) — «Very well sung, boys!» cries the Rat. - [2](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/school/books/44-willows-ch5-part4-the-carol-and-a-happy-homecoming/2/) — «Come in and warm yourselves!» - [3](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/school/books/44-willows-ch5-part4-the-carol-and-a-happy-homecoming/3/) — Then the Mole remembers — there's nothing to give them! - [4](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/school/books/44-willows-ch5-part4-the-carol-and-a-happy-homecoming/4/) — «You leave all that to me,» says the Rat. - [5](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/school/books/44-willows-ch5-part4-the-carol-and-a-happy-homecoming/5/) — He whispers to the field-mouse with the lantern, a coin chinks, and off he runs to the shops with a big basket. - [6](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/school/books/44-willows-ch5-part4-the-carol-and-a-happy-homecoming/6/) — Meanwhile the others warm their chilly toes by the fire, and the Mole asks each one the names of his little brothers. - [7](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/school/books/44-willows-ch5-part4-the-carol-and-a-happy-homecoming/7/) — The Rat warms up some ale with spices, as people did in those days, and the field-mice sip and cough and laugh. - [8](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/school/books/44-willows-ch5-part4-the-carol-and-a-happy-homecoming/8/) — The Mole asks one of them to recite from last year's play, but the poor mouse is struck dumb with stage-fright. - [9](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/school/books/44-willows-ch5-part4-the-carol-and-a-happy-homecoming/9/) — Just then the shopper is back, staggering under a full basket, and soon the table is covered with good things. - [10](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/school/books/44-willows-ch5-part4-the-carol-and-a-happy-homecoming/10/) — Everyone eats, the field-mice tell the Mole all the local gossip, and the Rat quietly makes sure everyone has plenty. - [11](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/school/books/44-willows-ch5-part4-the-carol-and-a-happy-homecoming/11/) — The guests go home with pockets full of treats for their little brothers and sisters. - [12](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/school/books/44-willows-ch5-part4-the-carol-and-a-happy-homecoming/12/) — The Rat falls asleep at once. - [13](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/school/books/44-willows-ch5-part4-the-carol-and-a-happy-homecoming/13/) — The Mole looks round his little room and understands: he will go back to the big world above, but it is good to know this small home is his and will always welcome him. - [15](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/school/books/44-willows-ch5-part4-the-carol-and-a-happy-homecoming/15/) — «Goodman Joseph toiled through the snow— / Saw the star o'er a stable low; / Mary she might not further go». - [16](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/school/books/44-willows-ch5-part4-the-carol-and-a-happy-homecoming/16/) — The last verse asks: «Who were the first to cry Nowell? / Animals all, as it befell» (Nowell = Noel, a Christmas shout of joy; befell = happened). - [18](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/school/books/44-willows-ch5-part4-the-carol-and-a-happy-homecoming/18/) — The Mole: «O, Ratty! … Whatever are we doing? - [20](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/school/books/44-willows-ch5-part4-the-carol-and-a-happy-homecoming/20/) — «Are there any shops open at this hour of the night?» — «Why, certainly, sir … At this time of the year our shops keep open to all sorts of hours.» - [21](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/school/books/44-willows-ch5-part4-the-carol-and-a-happy-homecoming/21/) — The Mole hears bits: «Fresh, mind!—no, a pound of that will do—see you get Buggins's, for I won't have any other—no, only the best … no tinned stuff». - [22](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/school/books/44-willows-ch5-part4-the-carol-and-a-happy-homecoming/22/) — Then «a chink of coin passing from paw to paw». - [24](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/school/books/44-willows-ch5-part4-the-carol-and-a-happy-homecoming/24/) — The Mole makes «each of them recite the names of his numerous brothers, who were too young … to go out a-carolling this year». - [25](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/school/books/44-willows-ch5-part4-the-carol-and-a-happy-homecoming/25/) — The Rat finds the beer is «Old Burton»: «Now we shall be able to mull some ale!» (Mulled ale = beer warmed with spices.) The mice sip «and coughing and choking (for a little mulled ale goes a long way)». - [26](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/school/books/44-willows-ch5-part4-the-carol-and-a-happy-homecoming/26/) — In the old days even children were given a little; today we know alcohol is harmful for children and they must not drink it. - [27](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/school/books/44-willows-ch5-part4-the-carol-and-a-happy-homecoming/27/) — Last year's field-mouse play was about «a field-mouse who was captured at sea by a Barbary corsair (a pirate from North Africa), and made to row in a galley; and when he escaped and got home again, his lady-love had gone into a convent». - [28](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/school/books/44-willows-ch5-part4-the-carol-and-a-happy-homecoming/28/) — The field-mouse asked to recite «giggled shyly … and remained absolutely tongue-tied» — «nothing could overcome his stage-fright». - [30](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/school/books/44-willows-ch5-part4-the-carol-and-a-happy-homecoming/30/) — «The Rat said little or nothing, only taking care that each guest had what he wanted, and plenty of it, and that Mole had no trouble or anxiety about anything.» - [33](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/school/books/44-willows-ch5-part4-the-carol-and-a-happy-homecoming/33/) — Sleep takes him «as a swathe of barley is folded into the arms of the reaping machine». - [34](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/school/books/44-willows-ch5-part4-the-carol-and-a-happy-homecoming/34/) — The Mole sees «how plain and simple—how narrow, even—it all was; but clearly, too, how much it all meant to him». - [36](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/school/books/44-willows-ch5-part4-the-carol-and-a-happy-homecoming/36/) — He «knew he must return to the larger stage. - [37](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/school/books/44-willows-ch5-part4-the-carol-and-a-happy-homecoming/37/) — But it was good to think he had this to come back to». - [38](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/school/books/44-willows-ch5-part4-the-carol-and-a-happy-homecoming/38/) — Talk in this lesson: «craic» (Ireland) = fun, good times; «eejit» (Ireland) = idiot; «sweet as» (NZ) = great, no problem; «can or not» (Singapore) = is it possible?; «ate» = did it brilliantly. - ← previous: [The Wind in the Willows, chapter V, part 3: Dulce Domum (a dusty home, a sardine supper, and voices outside)](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/school/books/43-willows-ch5-part3-sardines-and-carol-singers/) - next →: [The Wind in the Willows, chapter VI, part 1: Mr. Toad (the hour of Toad, and off with those motor-clothes!)](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/school/books/45-willows-ch6-part1-the-hour-of-toad/) - ↑ back to [Books](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/school/books/)