Белая птичка

           Peterwassofrightenedthathehid,butthebirdstoldhimitwasonlyakite,andwhatakiteis,andthatitmusthavetuggeditsstringoutofaboy’shand,andsoaredaway.AfterthattheylaughedatPeterforbeingsofondofthekite,heloveditsomuchthatheevensleptwithonehandonit,andIthinkthiswaspatheticandpretty,forthereasonheloveditwasbecauseithadbelongedtoarealboy.

           Tothebirdsthiswasaverypoorreason,buttheolderonesfeltgratefultohimatthistimebecausehehadnursedanumberoffledglingsthroughtheGermanmeasles,andtheyofferedtoshowhimhowbirdsflyakite.Sosixofthemtooktheendofthestringintheirbeaksandflewawaywithit;andtohisamazementitflewafterthemandwentevenhigherthanthey.

           Peterscreamedout,“Doitagain!”andwithgreatgood-naturetheydiditseveraltimes,andalwaysinsteadofthankingthemhecried,“Doitagain!”whichshowsthatevennowhehadnotquiteforgottenwhatitwastobeaboy.

           Atlast,withagranddesignburningwithinhisbraveheart,hebeggedthemtodoitoncemorewithhimclingingtothetail,andnowahundredflewoffwiththestring,andPeterclungtothetail,meaningtodropoffwhenhewasovertheGardens.Butthekitebroketopiecesintheair,andhewouldhavedrownedintheSerpentinehadhenotcaughtholdoftwoindignantswansandmadethemcarryhimtotheisland.Afterthisthebirdssaidthattheywouldhelphimnomoreinhismadenterprise.

           Nevertheless,PeterdidreachtheGardensatlastbythehelpofShelley’sboat,asIamnowtotellyou.