Біла пташка
Lock-Out Time
Manynightsandevenmonthspassedbeforeheaskedthefairiesforhissecondwish;andIamnotsurethatIquiteknowwhyhedelayedsolong.Onereasonwasthathehadsomanygood-byestosay,notonlytohisparticularfriends,buttoahundredfavouritespots.Thenhehadhislastsail,andhisverylastsail,andhislastsailofall,andsoon.Again,anumberoffarewellfeastsweregiveninhishonour;andanothercomfortablereasonwasthat,afterall,therewasnohurry,forhismotherwouldneverwearyofwaitingforhim.ThislastreasondispleasedoldSolomon,foritwasanencouragementtothebirdstoprocrastinate.Solomonhadseveralexcellentmottoesforkeepingthemattheirwork,suchas“Neverputofflayingto-day,becauseyoucanlayto-morrow,”and“Inthisworldtherearenosecondchances,”andyetherewasPetergailyputtingoffandnonetheworseforit.Thebirdspointedthisouttoeachother,andfellintolazyhabits.
But,mindyou,thoughPeterwassoslowingoingbacktohismother,hewasquitedecidedtogoback.Thebestproofofthiswashiscautionwiththefairies.TheyweremostanxiousthatheshouldremainintheGardenstoplaytothem,andtobringthistopasstheytriedtotrickhimintomakingsucharemarkas“Iwishthegrasswasnotsowet,”andsomeofthemdancedoutoftimeinthehopethathemightcry,“Idowishyouwouldkeeptime!”Thentheywouldhavesaidthatthiswashissecondwish.Buthesmokedtheirdesign,andthoughonoccasionshebegan,“Iwish—”healwaysstoppedintime
