The Tale of Bobby Bobolink | Page 4

Jay
chuckled when he found out what was going on.
He said he didn't believe they knew the difference.

V
AN INVITATION
MR. MEADOWLARK was a great admirer of Bobby Bobolink. Much
as he liked to sing himself, he often remained silent when Bobby's
joyous music tinkled over the grass-tops in Farmer Green's meadow.
And as Mr. Meadowlark was listening to one of Bobby's best songs one
day an idea popped suddenly into his head. He liked this notion so well
that he flew straight across the meadow to a thicket on the edge of the
woods. And there in the undergrowth he found Buddy Brown Thrasher,
who was exactly the person he was looking for.
"I've come over to tell you about an idea of mine," Mr. Meadowlark
announced. "It's about Bobby Bobolink. You know he has come back
to spend the summer here in Pleasant Valley. It seems to me he's in
better voice than ever. And now that he is quite grown up--you know
he has a wife--it seems to me that we couldn't do better than invite him
to join the Pleasant Valley Singing Society."
Mr. Meadowlark had explained all this in a most eager manner. And he
couldn't help being a bit disappointed over the way Buddy Brown
Thrasher received it. He did not seem at all excited. To tell the truth, he
was a suspicious chap. He never fell in quickly with a new plan, no
matter what it might be. And more than once he had made matters
somewhat difficult for the Pleasant Valley Singing Society. He was
hard to please. Being a very brilliant singer himself, he was never what

you might call keen to take in a new member.
When Mr. Meadowlark had told him about his idea Buddy Brown
Thrasher gave a sharp whistle, "Wheeu!" That was the only remark he
made.
"What's the matter?" Mr. Meadowlark inquired. "Don't you like my
scheme?"
"Oh! It's worth looking into, no doubt," Buddy told him. "But I can't
say offhand whether it's a good one or not.... Of course Bobby
Bobolink would have to pass the test before we take him into the
Singing Society."
"If that's all that's troubling you, cheer up!" Mr. Meadowlark cried.
"For Bobby Bobolink can pass the singing test as easily as flying."
"I hope so," Buddy Brown Thrasher retorted. "I promise you that I'll be
present when Bobby sings before the Society. And if his singing isn't
what it ought to be, you can depend on me to know it."
Well, Mr. Meadowlark couldn't object to that. So he told Buddy Brown
Thrasher that his promise was fair enough. And then Mr. Meadowlark
hurried away to call on other members of the Pleasant Valley Singing
Society and tell them about his plan.
After he had seen and talked with every one, Mr. Meadowlark took it
upon himself to go back to the meadow, where he found Bobby
Bobolink still singing merrily. And for once Mr. Meadowlark couldn't
wait for him to finish. For there was no knowing when Bobby would
stop.
"You're invited," said Mr. Meadowlark, "to sing before the Pleasant
Valley Singing Society. And if you can pass the test you'll become a
member."
Bobby Bobolink was somewhat doubtful as he listened to Mr.
Meadowlark's speech.

"I'm afraid it will be difficult," he said.
"Oh, no!" Mr. Meadowlark assured him. "You can pass the test easily
enough."
But Bobby Bobolink told him that that wasn't what he meant.
"I'm afraid," he explained, "my wife may not consent!"

VI
MRS. BOBOLINK CONSENTS
IT had never occurred to Mr. Meadowlark that Bobby Bobolink's wife
might object to her husband's joining the Singing Society. But Bobby
seemed doubtful.
"I'll have to ask her," he said. "You see, we're just about to build
ourselves a house. And she may think I ought not to belong to any
societies at present."
Just then little, yellowish-brown Mrs. Bobolink came skimming over
the meadow and dropped down beside them.
"Would you mind, my love, if I joined the Pleasant Valley Singing
Society?" Bobby asked her.
"Perhaps you'd like to become a member yourself," Mr. Meadowlark
suggested nervously.
But Mrs. Bobolink hastened to say that she wasn't musical. "Of course I
enjoy hearing songs," she told him; "but I'm not much of a singer
myself."
"Your husband is one of the best," Mr. Meadowlark told her hopefully.
"Yes!" she replied. "And sometimes I think he spends almost too much

of his time practicing."
"Oh, I can sing and work at the same time," Bobby Bobolink declared.
"When we begin work on our new house I shall be singing most of the
time."
"How often does your Society meet?" Mrs. Bobolink asked Mr.
Meadowlark.
"We have a little sing almost every fine day," he informed