Питер Пэн в Кенсингтонском Саду
The Grand Tour Of The Gardens
Thebow-leggedchildrenintheGardensarethosewhohadtowalktoosoonbecausetheirfatherneededtheperambulator.
YoualwayswanttohaveayachttosailontheRoundPond,andintheendyourunclegivesyouone;andtocarryittothepondthefirstdayissplendid,alsototalkaboutittoboyswhohavenouncleissplendid,butsoonyouliketoleaveitathome.ForthesweetestcraftthatslipshermooringsintheRoundPondiswhatiscalledastick-boat,becausesheisratherlikeastickuntilsheisinthewaterandyouareholdingthestring.Thenasyouwalkround,pullingher,youseelittlemenrunningaboutherdeck,andsailsrisemagicallyandcatchthebreeze,andyouputinondirtynightsatsnugharbourswhichareunknowntothelordlyyachts.Nightpassesinatwink,andagainyourrakishcraftnosesforthewind,whalesspout,youglideoverburiedcities,andhavebrusheswithpirates,andcastanchoroncoralisles.Youareasolitaryboywhileallthisistakingplace,fortwoboystogethercannotadventurefarupontheRoundPond,andthoughyoumaytalktoyourselfthroughoutthevoyage,givingordersandexecutingthemwithdespatch,youknownot,whenitistimetogohome,whereyouhavebeenorwhatswelledyoursails;yourtreasure-troveisalllockedawayinyourhold,sotospeak,whichwillbeopened,perhaps,byanotherlittleboymanyyearsafterwards.
Butthoseyachtshavenothingintheirhold.Doesanyonereturntothishauntofhisyouthbecauseoftheyachtsthatusedtosailit?Ohno.Itisthestick-boatthatisfreightedwithmemories.Theyachtsaretoys,theirownerafresh-watermariner;theycancrossandrecrossapondonlywhilethestick-boatgoestosea.
