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           Again,anumberoffarewellfeastsweregiveninhishonour;andanothercomfortablereasonwasthat,afterall,therewasnohurry,forhismotherwouldneverwearyofwaitingforhim.ThislastreasondispleasedoldSolomon,foritwasanencouragementtothebirdstoprocrastinate.Solomonhadseveralexcellentmottoesforkeepingthemattheirwork,suchas’Neverputofflayingto-daybecauseyoucanlayto-morrow,’and’Inthisworldtherearenosecondchances,’andyetherewasPetergailyputtingoffandnonetheworseforit.Thebirdspointedthisouttoeachother,andfellintolazyhabits.

           But,mindyou,thoughPeterwassoslowingoingbacktohismother,hewasquitedecidedtogoback.Thebestproofofthiswashiscautionwiththefairies.TheyweremostanxiousthatheshouldremainintheGardenstoplaytothem,andtobringthistopasstheytriedtotrickhimintomakingsucharemarkas’Iwishthegrasswasnotsowet,’andsomeofthemdancedoutoftimeinthehopethathemightcry,’Idowishyouwouldkeeptime!’Thentheywouldhavesaidthatthiswashissecondwish.Buthesmokedtheirdesign,andthoughonoccasionshebegan,’Iwish——’healwaysstoppedintime.Sowhenatlasthesaidtothembravely,’Iwishnowtogobacktomotherforeverandalways,’theyhadtoticklehisshouldersandlethimgo.

           Hewentinahurryintheend,becausehehaddreamtthathismotherwascrying,andheknewwhatwasthegreatthingshecriedfor,andthatahugfromhersplendidPeterwouldquicklymakehertosmile.Oh!hefeltsureofit,andsoeagerwashetobenestlinginherarmsthatthistimeheflewstraighttothewindow,whichwasalwaystobeopenforhim.

           Butthewindowwasclosed,andtherewereironbarsonit,andpeeringinsidehesawhismothersleepingpeacefullywithherarmaroundanotherlittleboy.