Белая птичка
The Thrush’s Nest
Itwasthetimeofyearwhentheyshouldhavebeenpairing,butnotathrush’snestwasbuiltexceptthisbigone,andsoSolomonsoonranshortofthrusheswithwhichtosupplythedemandfromthemainland.Thestout,rathergreedychildren,wholooksowellinperambulatorsbutgetpuffedeasilywhentheywalk,wereallyoungthrushesonce,andladiesoftenaskspeciallyforthem.WhatdoyouthinkSolomondid?Hesentovertothehouse-topsforalotofsparrowsandorderedthemtolaytheireggsinoldthrushes’nestsandsenttheiryoungtotheladiesandsworetheywereallthrushes!ItwasknownafterwardontheislandastheSparrows’Year,andso,whenyoumeet,asyoudoubtlesssometimesdo,grown-uppeoplewhopuffandblowasiftheythoughtthemselvesbiggerthantheyare,verylikelytheybelongtothatyear.Youaskthem.
Peterwasajustmaster,andpaidhisworkpeopleeveryevening.Theystoodinrowsonthebranches,waitingpolitelywhilehecutthepapersixpencesoutofhisbank-note,andpresentlyhecalledtheroll,andtheneachbird,asthenameswerementioned,flewdownandgotsixpence.Itmusthavebeenafinesight.
Andatlast,aftermonthsoflabor,theboatwasfinished.Oh,thedeportmentofPeterashesawitgrowingmoreandmorelikeagreatthrush’snest!Fromtheverybeginningofthebuildingofithesleptbyitsside,andoftenwokeuptosaysweetthingstoit,andafteritwaslinedwithmudandthemudhaddriedhealwayssleptinit.
