The Thrush’s Nest

           Shelleywasayounggentlemanandasgrown-upasheneedeverexpecttobe.Hewasapoet;andtheyareneverexactlygrown-up.Theyarepeoplewhodespisemoneyexceptwhatyouneedforto-day,andhehadallthatandfivepoundsover.So,whenhewaswalkingintheKensingtonGardens,hemadeapaperboatofhisbank-note,andsentitsailingontheSerpentine.

           Itreachedtheislandatnight;andthelook-outbroughtittoSolomonCaw,whothoughtatfirstthatitwastheusualthing,amessagefromalady,sayingshewouldbeobligedifhecouldletherhaveagoodone.Theyalwaysaskforthebestonehehas,andifhelikestheletterhesendsonefromClassA,butifitruffleshimhesendsveryfunnyonesindeed.Sometimeshesendsnoneatall,andatanothertimehesendsanestful;italldependsonthemoodyoucatchhimin.Helikesyoutoleaveitalltohim,andifyoumentionparticularlythatyouhopehewillseehiswaytomakingitaboythistime,heisalmostsuretosendanothergirl.Andwhetheryouarealadyoronlyalittleboywhowantsababy-sister,alwaystakepainstowriteyouraddressclearly.Youcan’tthinkwhatalotofbabiesSolomonhassenttothewronghouse.

           Shelley’sboat,whenopened,completelypuzzledSolomon,andhetookcounselofhisassistants,whohavingwalkedoverittwice,firstwiththeirtoespointedout,andthenwiththeirtoespointedin,decidedthatitcamefromsomegreedypersonwhowantedfive.Theythoughtthisbecausetherewasalargefiveprintedonit.’Preposterous!’criedSolomoninarage,andhepresentedittoPeter;anythinguselesswhichdriftedupontheislandwasusuallygiventoPeterasaplaything.

           Buthedidnotplaywithhispreciousbank-note,forheknewwhatitwasatonce,havingbeenveryobservantduringtheweekwhenhewasanordinaryboy.