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to find。
It had everythingeverything a garden can have； or ever has had。
There were wide； wide lawns with carved stone seats； green with moss。
Over the lawns hung weeping…willows； and their feathery bough…tips
brushed the velvet grass when they swung with the wind。 The old flagged
paths had high； clipped； yew hedges either side of them； so that they
looked like the narrow streets of some old town； and through the hedges；
doorways had been made； and over the doorways were shapes like vases
and peacocks and half…moons all trimmed out of the living trees。 There
was a lovely marble fish…pond with golden carp and blue water…lilies in it
and big green frogs。 A high brick wall alongside the kitchen garden was all
covered with pink and yellow peaches ripening in the sun。 There was a
wonderful great oak； hollow in the trunk； big enough for four men to hide
inside。 Many summer…houses there were； toosome of wood and some of
stone； and one of them was full of books to read。 In a corner； among some
rocks and ferns； was an outdoor fire…place； where the Doctor used to fry
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liver and bacon when he had a notion to take his meals in the open air。
There was a couch as well on which he used to sleep； it seems； on warm
summer nights when the nightingales were singing at their best； it had
wheels on it so it could be moved about under any tree they sang in。 But
the thing that fascinated me most of all was a tiny little tree…house； high up
in the top branches of a great elm； with a long rope ladder leading to it。
The Doctor told me he used it for looking at the moon and the stars
through a telescope。
It was the kind of a garden where you could wander and explore for
days and daysalways coming upon something new； always glad to find
the old spots over again。 That first time that I saw the Doctor's garden I
was so charmed by it that I felt I would like to live in italways and
always and never go outside of it again。 For it had everything within its
walls to give happiness； to make living pleasantto keep the heart at peace。
It was the Garden of Dreams。
One peculiar thing I noticed immediately I came into it； and that was
what a lot of birds there were about。 Every tree seemed to have two or
three nests in it。 And heaps of other wild creatures appeared to be making
themselves at home there； too。 Stoats and tortoises and dormice seemed to
be quite common； and not in the least shy。 Toads of different colors and
sizes hopped about the lawn as though it belonged to them。 Green lizards
（which were very rare in Puddleby） sat up on the stones in the sunlight and
blinked at us。 Even snakes were to be seen。
〃You need not be afraid of them；〃 said the Doctor； noticing that I
started somewhat when a large black snake wiggled across the path right
in front of us。 〃These fellows are not poisonous。 They do a great deal of
good in keeping down many kinds of garden…pests。 I play the flute to them
sometimes in the evening。 They love it。 Stand right up on their tails and
carry on no end。 Funny thing； their taste for music。〃
〃Why do all these animals come and live here？〃 I asked。 〃I never saw
a garden with so many creatures in it。〃
〃Well； I suppose it's because they get the kind of food they like； and
nobody worries or disturbs them。 And then； of course； they know me。 And
if they or their children get sick I presume they find it handy to be living in
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THE VOYAGES OF DOCTOR DOOLITTLE
a doctor's gardenLook！ You see that sparrow on the sundial； swearing at
the blackbird down below？ Well； he has been coming here every summer
for years。 He comes from London。 The country sparrows round about here
are always laughing at him。 They say he chirps with such a Cockney
accent。 He is a most amusing birdvery brave but very cheeky。 He loves
nothing better than an argument； but he always ends it by getting rude。 He
is a real city bird。 In London he lives around St。 Paul's Cathedral。
'Cheapside；' we call him。〃
〃Are all these birds from the country round here？〃 I asked。
〃Most of them；〃 said the Doctor。 〃But a few rare ones visit me every
year who ordinarily never come near England at all。 For instance； that
handsome little fellow hovering over the snapdragon there； he's a Ruby…
throated Humming…bird。 Comes from America。 Strictly speaking； he has
no business in this climate at all。 It is too cool。 I make him sleep in the
kitchen at night。 Then every August； about the last week of the month； I
have a Purple Bird…of…Paradise come all the way from Brazil to see me。
She is a very great swell。 Hasn't arrived yet of course。 And there are a few
others； foreign birds from the tropics mostly； who drop in on me in the
course of the summer months。 But come； I must show you the zoo。〃
THE TENTH CHAPTER
THE PRIVATE ZOO
I DID not think there could be anything left in that garden which we
had not seen。 But the Doctor took me by the arm and started off down a
little narrow path and after many windings and twistings and turnings we
found ourselves before a small door in a high stone wall。 The Doctor
pushed it open。
Inside was still another garden。 I had expected to find cages with
animals inside them。 But there were none to be seen。 Instead there were
little stone houses here and there all over the garden； and each house had a
window and a door。 As we walked in； many of these doors opened and
animals came running out to us evidently expecting food。
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〃Haven't the doors any locks on them？〃 I asked the Doctor。 〃Oh yes；〃
he said； 〃every door has a lock。 But in my zoo the doors open from the
inside； not from the out。 The locks are only there so the animals can go
and shut themselves in any time they want to get away from the
annoyance of other animals or from people who might come here。 Every
animal in this zoo stays here because he likes it； not because he is made
to。〃
〃They all look very happy and clean；〃 I said。 〃Would you mind telling
me the names of some of them？〃
〃Certainly。 Well no