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           Hewasusuallyveryhappyandgay,andthereasonwasthatSolomonhadkepthispromiseandtaughthimmanyofthebirdways.Tobeeasilypleased,forinstance,andalwaystobereallydoingsomething,andtothinkthatwhateverhewasdoingwasathingofvastimportance.Peterbecameverycleverathelpingthebirdstobuildtheirnests;soonhecouldbuildbetterthanawood-pigeon,andnearlyaswellasablackbird,thoughneverdidhesatisfythefinches,andhemadenicelittlewater-troughsnearthenestsanddugupwormsfortheyoungoneswithhisfingers.Healsobecameverylearnedinbird-lore,andknewaneastwindfromawestwindbyitssmell,andhecouldseethegrassgrowingandheartheinsectswalkingaboutinsidethetree-trunks.ButthebestthingSolomonhaddonewastoteachhimtohaveagladheart.Allbirdshavegladheartsunlessyourobtheirnests,andso,astheyweretheonlykindofheartSolomonknewabout,itwaseasytohimtoteachPeterhowtohaveone.

           Peter’sheartwassogladthathefelthemustsingalldaylong,justasthebirdssingforjoy,but,beingpartlyhuman,heneededaninstrument,sohemadeapipeofreeds,andheusedtositbytheshoreoftheislandofanevening,practisingthesoughofthewindandtherippleofthewater,andcatchinghandfulsoftheshineofthemoon,andheputthemallinhispipeandplayedthemsobeautifullythateventhebirdsweredeceived,andtheywouldsaytoeachother,’WasthatafishleapinginthewaterorwasitPeterplayingleapingfishonhispipe?’Andsometimesheplayedthebirthofbirds,andthenthemotherswouldturnroundintheirneststoseewhethertheyhadlaidanegg.