Tuesday, December 06, 2011

If you believe

...clap your hands. Do you remember Peter Pan? From Chapter 13, pg 216 in J. M. Barrie's story
Her voice was so low that at first he could not make out what she said. Then he made it out. She was saying that she thought she could get well again if children believed in fairies.

Peter flung out his arms. There were no children there, and it was night time; but he addressed all who might be dreaming of the Neverland, and who were therefore nearer to him than you think: boys and girls in their nighties, and naked papooses in their baskets hung from trees.

"Do you believe?" he cried.

Tink sat up in bed almost briskly to listen to her fate.

She fancied she heard answers in the affirmative, and then again she wasn't sure.

"What do you think?" she asked Peter.

"If you believe," he shouted to them, "clap your hands; don't let Tink die."

Many clapped.

Some didn't.

A few beasts hissed.

The clapping stopped suddenly; as if countless mothers had rushed to their nurseries to see what on earth was happening; but already Tink was saved. First her voice grew strong, then she popped out of bed, then she was flashing through the room more merry and impudent than ever. She never thought of thanking those who believed, but she would have like to get at the ones who had hissed
.

Did you clap when you heard the request from Peter?

I was reminded of this classic when I watched Neverland the past few nights. We have two copies of the story in our collection. I've borrowed the print edition to read aloud! Cold winter nights are the perfect time to read aloud to the family. Do you have a favorite read aloud?

-kss

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