The Tale of Freddie Firefly | Page 2

Owl wouldn't scare a person half out of his wits
with that unearthly hooting of which Solomon was so fond.
But you may be sure that Freddie Firefly never bothered HIS head over
Solomon Owl. Perhaps he knew that Solomon was too busy hunting for
mice to take notice of anybody so small as he was, even if he did carry
a bright light everywhere he went.

II
A FINE PLAN
Chirpy Cricket was one of Freddie Firefly's neighbors. He was a good
neighbor for anybody to have, too, because he was one of the most
cheerful of all the field and forest-folk that lived in Pleasant Valley.
Freddie Firefly liked him. And he often remarked that he would rather
hear Chirpy Cricket sing than sing himself.
Since he was so fond of hearing Chirpy's songs, it was lucky for
Freddie that his sprightly neighbor usually chose to sing at night, when
Freddie could better enjoy his shrill ditty. And Freddie frequently went
out of his way on a fine, dark, summer's night to find Chirpy Cricket
and thank him for his kindness.
At such times Chirpy Cricket always smiled mysteriously, saying "I'm
glad my voice pleases you." But it must be confessed that he was not
singing for Freddie Firefly's benefit at all. He was singing for his own
entertainment--and maybe to please some lady of his acquaintance as
well. And he chose night time for his chirping because he didn't dare
sing during the day. He knew that after sunset almost all the birds were
asleep--except for Solomon Owl and Willie Whip-poor-will and a few

other feathered folk who preferred the dark to the daylight. They were
not so numerous that they worried Chirpy very much. But between
dawn and sunset there were altogether too many birds awake to please
him. Then Chirpy Cricket kept quite silent. He didn't wish to draw
attention to himself by singing, because he didn't care to be gobbled up
by any bird, no matter how handsome or hungry the bird might be.
Perhaps it is a wonder that Chirpy could be so cheerful as he was,
living under such difficulties as he did. But on the other hand, maybe
he felt so carefree at night that he couldn't help being jolly.
Anyhow, he was always ready for a good time. And if there was no
good time at hand, usually Chirpy Cricket could think of some sort of
frolic.
And so, at last, he hit upon the idea of a torchlight procession.
Somebody had told him that Farmer Green's family had seen such a
parade in the village one evening. And Chirpy Cricket saw no reason
why he and his friends should not enjoy one too, right there in the
shadow of Blue Mountain.
"What they can do in the village, we can do here!" he exclaimed. And
though it was still broad daylight--being not later than the middle of the
afternoon--Chirpy set out at once to find Freddie Firefly, because he
simply had to get Freddie to help him.
He found Freddie in the swampy part of the meadow, near the place
where the cat-tails grew. And though Freddie was a bit sleepy, he
became wide awake the moment he heard Chirpy Cricket's voice.
"I've thought of a fine plan!" Chirpy Cricket cried. "I'm going to have a
torchlight procession and I want you and all your family to take part in
it."

III
FREDDIE AGREES TO HELP
Never in all his life had Freddie Firefly heard of a torchlight
procession--nor of any other sort of procession, either. So when Chirpy
Cricket first mentioned his plan it was no wonder that Freddie looked
somewhat blank.
But when Chirpy explained that a procession was a parade, which
meant that you followed a leader--and a good many others--in a long
line, Freddie Firefly began to understand.

"I need you and a few hundred of your nearest relations to furnish the
lights," Chirpy Cricket continued. "And I wish you'd ask your whole
family to take part in the procession, for we really can't have too many
of you."
"When will the procession take place?" Freddie Firefly wanted to
know.
"To-night, as soon as it's dark enough!" Chirpy told him.
"And where are we going to march?"
"Oh, all around the meadow!" said Chirpy Cricket. "The line will form
along the stone wall by the roadside. ... Do you think you'll be there?"
he inquired somewhat anxiously.
"You certainly can count on me," Freddie Firefly promised. "Of course,
I can't very well accept your invitation for more than about fifty-five of
my brothers--and maybe six dozen of my cousins. But I HOPE there'll
be more of us than that."
"Well, I hope so, too," Chirpy Cricket said. "But even if there were no
more than