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           Solomonexplainedhastilythatwhathemeantwasnotoneofthecumbrousboatsthathumansuse;theproposedboatwastobesimplyathrush’snestlargeenoughtoholdPeter.

           Butstill,toPeter’sagony,thethrushesweresulky.’Weareverybusypeople,’theygrumbled,’andthiswouldbeabigjob.’

           ’Quiteso,’saidSolomon,’and,ofcourse,Peterwouldnotallowyoutoworkfornothing.Youmustrememberthatheisnowincomfortablecircumstances,andhewillpayyousuchwagesasyouhaveneverbeenpaidbefore.PeterPanauthorisesmetosaythatyoushallallbepaidsixpenceaday.’

           Thenallthethrusheshoppedforjoy,andthatverydaywasbegunthecelebratedBuildingoftheBoat.Alltheirordinarybusinessfellintoarrears.Itwasthetimeoftheyearwhentheyshouldhavebeenpairing,butnotathrush’snestwasbuiltexceptthisbigone,andsoSolomonsoonranshortofthrusheswithwhichtosupplythedemandfromthemainland.Thestout,rathergreedychildren,wholooksowellinperambulatorsbutgetpuffedeasilywhentheywalk,wereallyoungthrushesonce,andladiesoftenaskspeciallyforthem.WhatdoyouthinkSolomondid?Hesentovertothehouse-topsforalotofsparrowsandorderedthemtolaytheireggsinoldthrushes’nests,andsenttheiryoungtotheladiesandsworetheywereallthrushes!ItwasknownafterwardsontheislandastheSparrow’sYear;andso,whenyoumeetgrown-uppeopleintheGardenswhopuffandblowasiftheythoughtthemselvesbiggerthantheyare,verylikelytheybelongtothatyear.Youaskthem.

           Peterwasajustmaster,andpaidhisworkpeopleeveryevening.Theystoodinrowsonthebranches,waitingpolitelywhilehecutthepapersixpencesoutofhisbank-note,andpresentlyhecalledtheroll,andtheneachbird,asthenameswerementioned,flewdownandgotsixpence.Itmusthavebeenafinesight.