Белая птичка

           Healsobecameverylearnedinbird-lore,andknewaneast-windfromawest-windbyitssmell,andhecouldseethegrassgrowingandheartheinsectswalkingaboutinsidethetree-trunks.ButthebestthingSolomonhaddonewastoteachhimtohaveagladheart.Allbirdshavegladheartsunlessyourobtheirnests,andsoastheyweretheonlykindofheartSolomonknewabout,itwaseasytohimtoteachPeterhowtohaveone.

           Peter’sheartwassogladthathefelthemustsingalldaylong,justasthebirdssingforjoy,but,beingpartlyhuman,heneededaninstrument,sohemadeapipeofreeds,andheusedtositbytheshoreoftheislandofanevening,practisingthesoughofthewindandtherippleofthewater,andcatchinghandfulsoftheshineofthemoon,andheputthemallinhispipeandplayedthemsobeautifullythateventhebirdsweredeceived,andtheywouldsaytoeachother,“WasthatafishleapinginthewaterorwasitPeterplayingleapingfishonhispipe?”andsometimesheplayedthebirthofbirds,andthenthemotherswouldturnroundintheirneststoseewhethertheyhadlaidanegg.IfyouareachildoftheGardensyoumustknowthechestnut-treenearthebridge,whichcomesoutinflowerfirstofallthechestnuts,butperhapsyouhavenotheardwhythistreeleadstheway.ItisbecausePeterweariesforsummerandplaysthatithascome,andthechestnutbeingsonear,hearshimandischeated.