Exerts From ‘In which Christopher Robin leads an Expotition to the North Pole’
(reproduced without permission from the children’s classic ‘Winnie – the – Pooh’ by A. A. Milne)
“We are all going on an Expedition,” said Christopher Robin.
“Going on an Expotition?” said Pooh eagerly. “I don’t think I’ve ever been on one of those. Where are we going to on this Expotition?”
“Expedition, silly old bear. It’s got an “x” in it.”
“Oh!” said Pooh. “I know.” But he didn’t really.
“We’re going to discover the North Pole.”
“Oh!” said Pooh again. “What is the North Pole?” he asked.
“It’s just a thing you discover,” said Christopher Robin carelessly, not being quite sure himself.
“Oh! I see” said Pooh.
…
So off they all went to discover the Pole.
…
As soon as he had finished his lunch Christopher Robin whispered to Rabbit, and Rabbit said “Yes, yes, of course,” and they walked a little way up the stream together.
“I didn’t want the others to hear,” said Christopher Robin.
“Quite so, said Rabbit, looking important.
“It’s – I wondered – It’s only – Rabbit, I suppose you don’t know. What does the North Pole look like?”
“Well,” said Rabbit, stroking his whiskers, “now you’re asking me.”
“I did know once, only I’ve sort of forgotten,” said Christopher Robin carelessly.
“It’s funny thing,” said Rabbit, “but I’ve sort of forgotten too, although I did know once.”
“I suppose it’s just a pole stuck in the ground?”
“Sure to be a pole,” said Rabbit, “because of calling it a pole, and if it’s a pole, well, I should think it would be sticking in the ground, shouldn’t you, because there’d be nowhere else to stick it.”
“Yes, that’s what I thought.”
“The only thing,” said Rabbit, “is, where is it sticking?”
“That’s what we’re looking for,” said Christopher Robin.
…
Christopher Robin was looking at Pooh.
“Pooh,” he said, “where did you find that pole?”
Pooh looked at the pole in his hands.
“I just found it,” he said. “I thought it ought to be useful. I just picked it up.”
“Pooh,” said Christopher Robin solemnly, “the Expedition is over. You have found the North Pole!”
“Oh!” said Pooh.
…
“Pooh’s found the North Pole,” said Christopher Robin. “Isn’t that lovely?”
Pooh looked modestly down.
“Is that it?” said Eeyore.
“Yes,” said Christopher Robin.
“Is that what we were looking for?”
“Yes,” said Pooh.
“Oh!” said Eeyore. “Well, anyhow, - it didn’t rain,” he said.
