Белая птичка
The Little Nursery Governess
”Butinsteadofbeingappalledbythisheasked,sparkling,whetherImeantthathewouldstillbeabirdflyingaboutintheKensingtonGardens.
DavidknowsthatallchildreninourpartofLondonwereoncebirdsintheKensingtonGardens;andthatthereasontherearebarsonnurserywindowsandatallfenderbythefireisbecauseverylittlepeoplesometimesforgetthattheyhavenolongerwings,andtrytoflyawaythroughthewindoworupthechimney.
Childreninthebirdstagearedifficulttocatch.Davidknowsthatmanypeoplehavenone,andhisdelightonasummerafternoonistogowithmetosomespotintheGardenswheretheseunfortunatesmaybeseentryingtocatchonewithsmallpiecesofcake.
Thatthebirdsknowwhatwouldhappeniftheywerecaught,andareevenalittleundecidedaboutwhichisthebetterlife,isobvioustoeverystudentofthem.Thus,ifyouleaveyouremptyperambulatorunderthetreesandwatchfromadistance,youwillseethebirdsboardingitandhoppingaboutfrompillowtoblanketinatwitterofexcitement;theyaretryingtofindouthowbabyhoodwouldsuitthem.
QuitetheprettiestsightintheGardensiswhenthebabiesstrayfromthetreewherethenurseissittingandareseenfeedingthebirds,notagrownupnearthem.Itisfirstabittomeandthenabittoyou,andallthetimesuchajabberingandlaughingfrombothsidesoftherailing.Theyarecomparingnotesandinquiringforoldfriends,andsoon;butwhattheysayIcannotdetermine,forwhenIapproachtheyallflyaway.
ThefirsttimeIeversawDavidwasontheswardbehindtheBaby’sWalk.
