The Wind in the Willows

by Kenneth Grahame

One chapter of this childhood favorite tugs strongest at my heartstrings: “Dulce Domum,” in which one whiff of his cozy subterranean home proves irresistible to Mole, and he plunges underground, his friend Rat on his heels. It’s Christmas, and poor Mole realizes that his cupboards are bare. “I’ve nothing to give you,” he cries. But enterprising Rat, assisted by a group of caroling field mice, secures the provisions for a festive supper. It’s a testament to the power of a simple meal, the companionship of friends—and home.