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The Thrush’s Nest
Lestitwasalive,headdresseditpolitely;andthen,asitgavenoanswer,hewentnearerandfeltitcautiously.Hegaveitalittlepush,anditranfromhim,whichmadehimthinkitmustbealiveafterall;but,asithadrunfromhim,hewasnotafraid.Sohestretchedouthishandtopullittohim,butthistimeitranathim,andhewassoalarmedthatheleapttherailingandscuddedawaytohisboat.Youmustnotthink,however,thathewasacoward,forhecamebacknextnightwithacrustinonehandandastickintheother,buttheperambulatorhadgone,andheneversawanyotherone.Ihavepromisedtotellyoualsoabouthispaddle.Itwasachild’sspadewhichhehadfoundnearSt.Govor’sWell,andhethoughtitwasapaddle.
DoyoupityPeterPanformakingthesemistakes?Ifso,Ithinkitrathersillyofyou.WhatImeanisthat,ofcourse,onemustpityhimnowandthen,buttopityhimallthetimewouldbeimpertinence.HethoughthehadthemostsplendidtimeintheGardens,andtothinkyouhaveitisalmostquiteasgoodasreallytohaveit.Heplayedwithoutceasing,whileyouoftenwastetimebybeingmad-dogorMary-Annish.Hecouldbeneitherofthesethings,forhehadneverheardofthem,butdoyouthinkheistobepitiedforthat?
Oh,hewasmerry!Hewasasmuchmerrierthanyou,forinstance,asyouaremerrierthanyourfather.Sometimeshefell,likeaspinning-top,andfromsheermerriment.HaveyouseenagreyhoundleapingthefencesoftheGardens?ThatishowPeterleapsthem.
Andthinkofthemusicofhispipe.GentlemenwhowalkhomeatnightwritetothepaperstosaytheyheardanightingaleintheGardens,butitisreallyPeter’spipetheyhear.Ofcourse,hehadnomother—atleast,whatusewasshetohim!
