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           IfyouareachildoftheGardensyoumustknowthechestnut-treenearthebridge,whichcomesoutinflowerfirstofallthechestnuts,butperhapsyouhavenotheardwhythistreeleadstheway.ItisbecausePeterweariesforsummerandplaysthatithascome,andthechestnutbeingsonear,hearshimandischeated.

           ButasPetersatbytheshoretootlingdivinelyonhispipehesometimesfellintosadthoughts,andthenthemusicbecamesadalso,andthereasonofallthissadnesswasthathecouldnotreachtheGardens,thoughhecouldseethemthroughthearchofthebridge.Heknewhecouldneverbearealhumanagain,andscarcelywantedtobeone,butoh!howhelongedtoplayasotherchildrenplay,andofcoursethereisnosuchlovelyplacetoplayinastheGardens.Thebirdsbroughthimnewsofhowboysandgirlsplay,andwistfultearsstartedinPeter’seyes.

           Perhapsyouwonderwhyhedidnotswimacross.Thereasonwasthathecouldnotswim.Hewantedtoknowhowtoswim,butnooneontheislandknewthewayexcepttheducks,andtheyaresostupid.Theywerequitewillingtoteachhim,butalltheycouldsayaboutitwas,’Yousitdownonthetopofthewaterinthisway,andthenyoukickoutlikethat.’Petertrieditoften,butalwaysbeforehecouldkickouthesank.Whathereallyneededtoknowwashowyousitonthewaterwithoutsinking,andtheysaiditwasquiteimpossibletoexplainsuchaneasythingasthat.Occasionallyswanstouchedontheisland,andhewouldgivethemallhisday’sfoodandthenaskthemhowtheysatonthewater,butassoonashehadnomoretogivethemthehatefulthingshissedathimandsailedaway.