Mrs. Darling first heard of Peter when she was tidying up her children's minds. It is the nightly custom of every good mother after her children are asleep to rummage in their minds and put things straight for next morning, repacking into their proper places the many articles that have wandered during the day. If you could keep awake (but of course you can't) you would see your own mother doing this, and you would find it very interesting to watch her. It is quite like tidying up drawers. You would see her on her knees, I expect, lingering humorously over some of your contents, wondering where on earth you had picked this thing up, making discoveries sweet and not so sweet, pressing this to her cheek as if it were as nice as a kitten, and hurriedly stowing that out of sight.
When you wake in the morning, the naughtiness and evil passions with which you went to bed have been folded up small and placed at the bottom of your mind and on the top, beautifully aired, are spread out your prettier thoughts, ready for you to put on.
Of course the Neverlands vary a good deal. John's, for instance, had a lagoon with flamingoes flying over it at which John was shooting, while Michael, who was very small, had a flamingo with lagoons flying over it. John lived in a boat turned upside down on the sands, Michael in a wigwam, Wendy in a house of leaves deftly sewn together. John had no friends, Michael had friends at night, Wendy had a pet wolf forsaken by its parents, but on the whole the Neverlands have a family resemblance, and if they stood still in a row you could say of them that they have each other's nose, and so forth. On these magic shores children at play are for ever beaching their coracles.We too have been there; we can still hear the sound of the surf, though we shall land no more.
I have been reading this classic (along with Breaking Dawn, of course. I know, I'm a little behind). I've read it a couple times--such a simple and fun read.
4 comments:
I love the first pic of Amaryllis, you are becoming quite the photographer. I can't wait to see her (and you of course).
You've intrigued me. I think I'm going to have to read Peter Pan now.
I've been thinking about reading Peter Pan for quite some time. Now I"ll really pick it up!
Todd and I read "Peter Pan" together a few months ago, and really loved it. The writing is so smooth and vivid, and it really is an easy read. I love books like that - full of magic and imagination. I'm glad you're enjoying it, too.
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