The Collaborative International Dictionary of English v.0.48:

Peart \Peart\ (p[=e]rt), a. [A variant of pert, a.]
   Active; lively; brisk; smart; -- often applied to
   convalescents; as, she is quite peart to-day. [O. Eng. &
   Colloq. U. S.]
   [1913 Webster]

         There was a tricksy girl, I wot, albeit clad in gray,
         As peart as bird, as straight as bolt, as fresh as
         flowers in May.                          --Warner
                                                  (1592).
   [1913 Webster]