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The Thrush’s Nest
Withsomuchmoney,hereflected,hecouldsurelyatlastcontrivetoreachtheGardens,andheconsideredallthepossibleways,anddecided(wisely,Ithink)tochoosethebestway.But,first,hehadtotellthebirdsofthevalueofShelley’sboat;andthoughtheyweretoohonesttodemanditback,hesawthattheyweregalled,andtheycastsuchblacklooksatSolomon,whowasrathervainofhiscleverness,thatheflewawaytotheendoftheisland,andsatthereverydepressedwithhisheadburiedinhiswings.NowPeterknewthatunlessSolomonwasonyourside,younevergotanythingdoneforyouintheisland,sohefollowedhimandtriedtoheartenhim.
NorwasthisallthatPeterdidtogainthepowerfuloldfellow’sgood-will.YoumustknowthatSolomonhadnointentionofremaininginofficeallhislife.Helookedforwardtoretiringbyandby,anddevotinghisgreenoldagetoalifeofpleasureonacertainyew-stumpintheFigswhichhadtakenhisfancy,andforyearshehadbeenquietlyfillinghisstocking.Itwasastockingbelongingtosomebathingpersonwhichhadbeencastupontheisland,andatthetimeIspeakofitcontainedahundredandeightycrumbs,thirty-fournuts,sixteencrusts,apen-wiper,andaboot-lace.Whenhisstockingwasfull,Solomoncalculatedthathewouldbeabletoretireonacompetency.Peternowgavehimapound.Hecutitoffhisbank-notewithasharpstick.
ThismadeSolomonhisfriendforever,andafterthetwohadconsultedtogethertheycalledameetingofthethrushes.Youwillseepresentlywhythrushesonlywereinvited.
TheschemetobeputbeforethemwasreallyPeter’s,butSolomondidmostofthetalking,becausehesoonbecameirritableifotherpeopletalked.Hebeganbysayingthathehadbeenmuchimpressedbythesuperioringenuityshownbythethrushesinnest-building,andthisputthemintogood-humouratonce,asitwasmeanttodo;forallthequarrelsbetweenbirdsareaboutthebestwayofbuildingnests.
