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wood…pigeon； and nearly as well as a blackbird； though never did
he satisfy the finches； and he made nice little water…troughs
near the nests and dug up worms for the young ones with his
fingers。 He also became very learned in bird…lore； and knew an
east…wind from a west…wind by its smell； and he could see the
grass growing and hear the insects walking about inside the
tree…trunks。 But the best thing Solomon had done was to teach
him to have a glad heart。 All birds have glad hearts unless you
rob their nests； and so as they were the only kind of heart
Solomon knew about； it was easy to him to teach Peter how to have
one。
Peter's heart was so glad that he felt he must sing all day long；
just as the birds sing for joy； but； being partly human； he
needed an instrument； so he made a pipe of reeds； and he used to
sit by the shore of the island of an evening； practising the
sough of the wind and the ripple of the water； and catching
handfuls of the shine of the moon； and he put them all in his
pipe and played them so beautifully that even the birds were
deceived； and they would say to each other； 〃Was that a fish
leaping in the water or was it Peter playing leaping fish on his
pipe？〃 and sometimes he played the birth of birds； and then the
mothers would turn round in their nests to see whether they had
laid an egg。 If you are a child of the Gardens you must know the
chestnut…tree near the bridge； which comes out in flower first of
all the chestnuts； but perhaps you have not heard why this tree
leads the way。 It is because Peter wearies for summer and plays
that it has come； and the chestnut being so near； hears him and
is cheated。
But as Peter sat by the shore tootling divinely on his pipe he
sometimes fell into sad thoughts and then the music became sad
also； and the reason of all this sadness was that he could not
reach the Gardens； though he could see them through the arch of
the bridge。 He knew he could never be a real human again； and
scarcely wanted to be one； but oh； how he longed to play as other
children play； and of course there is no such lovely place to
play in as the Gardens。 The birds brought him news of how boys
and girls play； and wistful tears started in Peter's eyes。
Perhaps you wonder why he did not swim across。 The reason was
that he could not swim。 He wanted to know how to swim； but no
one on the island knew the way except the ducks； and they are so
stupid。 They were quite willing to teach him； but all they could
say about it was； 〃You sit down on the top of the water in this
way； and then you kick out like that。〃 Peter tried it often； but
always before he could kick out he sank。 What he really needed
to know was how you sit on the water without sinking； and they
said it was quite impossible to explain such an easy thing as
that。 Occasionally swans touched on the island； and he would give
them all his day's food and then ask them how they sat on the
water； but as soon as he had no more to give them the hateful
things hissed at him and sailed away。
Once he really thought he had discovered a way of reaching the
Gardens。 A wonderful white thing； like a runaway newspaper；
floated high over the island and then tumbled； rolling over and
over after the manner of a bird that has broken its wing。 Peter
was so frightened that he hid； but the birds told him it was only
a kite； and what a kite is； and that it must have tugged its
string out of a boy's hand； and soared away。 After that they
laughed at Peter for being so fond of the kite； he loved it so
much that he even slept with one hand on it； and I think this was
pathetic and pretty； for the reason he loved it was because it
had belonged to a real boy。
To the birds this was a very poor reason； but the older ones felt
grateful to him at this time because he had nursed a number of
fledglings through the German measles； and they offered to show
him how birds fly a kite。 So six of them took the end of the
string in their beaks and flew away with it； and to his amazement
it flew after them and went even higher than they。
Peter screamed out； 〃Do it again！〃 and with great good…nature
they did it several times； and always instead of thanking them he
cried； 〃Do it again！〃 which shows that even now he had not quite
forgotten what it was to be a boy。
At last； with a grand design burning within his brave heart； he
begged them to do it once more with him clinging to the tail； and
now a hundred flew off with the string； and Peter clung to the
tail； meaning to drop off when he was over the Gardens。 But the
kite broke to pieces in the air； and he would have drowned in the
Serpentine had he not caught hold of two indignant swans and made
them carry him to the island。 After this the birds said that
they would help him no more in his mad enterprise。
Nevertheless； Peter did reach the Gardens at last by the help of
Shelley's boat； as I am now to tell you。
XV
The Thrush's Nest
Shelley was a young gentleman and as grown…up as he need ever
expect to be。 He was a poet； and they are never exactly
grown…up。 They are people who despise money except what you need
for to…day； and he had all that and five pounds over。 So； when
he was walking in the Kensington Gardens； he made a paper boat of
his bank…note； and sent it sailing on the Serpentine。
It reached the island at night： and the look…out brought it to
Solomon Caw； who thought at first that it was the usual thing； a
message from a lady； saying she would be obliged if he could let
her have a good one。 They always ask for the best one he has；
and if he likes the letter he sends one from Class A； but if it
ruffles him he sends very funny ones indeed。 Sometimes he sends
none at all； and at another time he sends a nestful； it all
depends on the mood you catch him in。 He likes you to leave it
all to him； and if you mention particularly that you hope he will
see his way to making it a boy this time； he is almost sure to
send another girl。 And whether you are a lady or only a little
boy who wants a baby…sister； always take pains to write your
address clearly。 You can't think what a lot of babies Solomon
has sent to the wrong house。
Shelley's boat； when opened； completely puzzled Solomon； and he
took counsel of his assistants； who having walked over it twice；
first with their toes pointed out； and then with their toes
pointed in； decided that it came from some greedy person who
wanted five。 They thought this because there was a large five
printed on it。 〃Preposterous！〃 cried Solomon in a rage； and he
presented it to Peter； anything useless which drifted upon the
island was usually given to Peter as a play…thing。
But he did not play with his precious bank…note； for he knew what
it was at once； having been very observant during the week when
he was an ordinary boy。 With so much money； he reflected； he
could surely at last contrive to reac