Белая птичка
Peter Pan
WhenDavidheardthisstoryfirsthewasquitecertainthathehadnevertriedtoescape,butItoldhimtothinkbackhard,pressinghishandstohistemples,andwhenhehaddonethishard,andevenharder,hedistinctlyrememberedayouthfuldesiretoreturntothetree-tops,andwiththatmemorycameothers,asthathehadlaininbedplanningtoescapeassoonashismotherwasasleep,andhowshehadoncecaughthimhalf-wayupthechimney.Allchildrencouldhavesuchrecollectionsiftheywouldpresstheirhandshardtotheirtemples,for,havingbeenbirdsbeforetheywerehuman,theyarenaturallyalittlewildduringthefirstfewweeks,andveryitchyattheshoulders,wheretheirwingsusedtobe.SoDavidtellsme.
Ioughttomentionherethatthefollowingisourwaywithastory:First,Itellittohim,andthenhetellsittome,theunderstandingbeingthatitisquiteadifferentstory;andthenIretellitwithhisadditions,andsowegoonuntilnoonecouldsaywhetheritismorehisstoryormine.InthisstoryofPeterPan,forinstance,thebaldnarrativeandmostofthemoralreflectionsaremine,thoughnotall,forthisboycanbeasternmoralist,buttheinterestingbitsaboutthewaysandcustomsofbabiesinthebird-stagearemostlyreminiscencesofDavid’s,recalledbypressinghishandstohistemplesandthinkinghard.
Well,PeterPangotoutbythewindow,whichhadnobars.
