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diff --git a/21836-h/21836-h.htm b/21836-h/21836-h.htm new file mode 100644 index 0000000..ea2d6f2 --- /dev/null +++ b/21836-h/21836-h.htm @@ -0,0 +1,3250 @@ +<!DOCTYPE html PUBLIC "-//W3C//DTD XHTML 1.0 Strict//EN" + "http://www.w3.org/TR/xhtml1/DTD/xhtml1-strict.dtd"> + +<html xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1999/xhtml"> + <head> + <meta http-equiv="Content-Type" content="text/html;charset=iso-8859-1" /> + <link rel="schema.DC" href="http://dublincore.org/documents/1998/09/dces/" /> + <meta name="author" content="Arthur Scott Bailey" /> + <meta name="DC.Creator" content="Arthur Scott Bailey" /> + <meta name="DC.Title" content="The Tale of Jasper Jay" /> + <meta name="DC.Date" content="2007" /> + <meta name="DC.Language" content="en" /> + <title> + The Project Gutenberg eBook of The Tale of Jasper Jay, by Arthur Scott Bailey. + </title> + <style type="text/css"> +/*<![CDATA[ XML blockout */ +<!-- + @media print { + .pagenum {position: absolute; left: 92%; font-size: x-small; background-color: inherit; + text-align: right; color: gray; display: none; visibility: hidden; } + } + @media screen { + .pagenum {position: absolute; left: 92%; font-size: x-small; background-color: inherit; + text-align: right; color: gray; display: inline; visibility: visible;} + .pagenum a {text-decoration:none; color:#444;} + .pagenum a:hover {color:#F00;} + } + + div.frontmatter {max-width: 48em; + margin-left: auto; + margin-right: auto; + page-break-before: always; } + + body > p { text-align: justify; text-indent: .5em; + max-width: 40em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;} + + p {margin-top: .33em; font-size: medium; margin-bottom: 0em;} + p.noindent {text-indent: 0em; text-align: justify;} + p.center {text-align: center; text-indent: 0em;} + p.titleblock {margin-top: 0em; margin-bottom: 0em; text-indent: 0em; text-align: center; line-height: 125%;} + p.titleblockl {margin-top: 0em; margin-bottom: 0em; text-indent: 0em; text-align: left; line-height: 125%;} + p.chapter {margin-top: 0em; margin-bottom: 0em; line-height: 100%;} + p.blockquot {text-indent: 0; margin-left: 15%; margin-right: 10%;} + + h2+p, h3+p { text-indent: 0; } + + h1,h2,h3 { + text-align: center; /* all headings centered */ + clear: both; font-weight: normal; page-break-after: avoid ! important;} + h2 {margin-top: 2em; clear: both; + word-spacing: 0.6em; letter-spacing: 0.2em; + font-weight: 500;} + h3 {margin-top: 1em; clear: both; + word-spacing: 0.2em; } + + hr {width: 33%; + margin-top: 2em; margin-bottom: 2em; + margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; + clear: both;} + + hr.chapter {width: 55%; margin-top: 5em; margin-bottom: 0em; page-break-before: always;} + hr.sorta {width: 45%; margin-top: 3em; margin-bottom: 3em;} + hr.minor {width: 30%; margin-top: 0.5em; margin-bottom: 0.5em;} + + table {margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;} + td.pr {text-align: right; padding-right: 10px; vertical-align: top;} + + body {margin-left: 10%; margin-right: 10%;} + + a {text-decoration: none;} + + .center {text-align: center;} + .smcap {font-variant: small-caps;} + + .figcenter {margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;} + .caption {font-size: 80%;} + img {border: none;} + // --> + /* XML end ]]>*/ + </style> + </head> +<body> + + +<pre> + +The Project Gutenberg EBook of The Tale of Jasper Jay, by Arthur Scott Bailey + +This eBook is for the use of anyone anywhere at no cost and with +almost no restrictions whatsoever. You may copy it, give it away or +re-use it under the terms of the Project Gutenberg License included +with this eBook or online at www.gutenberg.org + + +Title: The Tale of Jasper Jay + Tuck-Me-In Tales + +Author: Arthur Scott Bailey + +Release Date: June 15, 2007 [EBook #21836] + +Language: English + +Character set encoding: ISO-8859-1 + +*** START OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK THE TALE OF JASPER JAY *** + + + + +Produced by Joe Longo and the Online Distributed +Proofreading Team at http://www.pgdp.net + + + + + + +</pre> + + + +<div class="figcenter" style="width: 564px; margin-bottom: 3em;"> +<a href="images/illus-big-cover.jpg"> +<img src="images/illus-cover.jpg" width="564" height="710" alt="Cover" /> +</a> +</div> + +<div class="figcenter" style="width: 400px; margin-bottom: 3em;"> +<img src="images/illus-front.jpg" width="400" height="565" +alt="Jasper, Like Frisky Squirrel, Was Fond of Nuts" +title="Jasper, Like Frisky Squirrel, Was Fond of Nuts" /> +<span class="caption">Jasper, Like Frisky Squirrel, Was Fond of Nuts</span> +<p style="text-align: right"><i>Frontispiece</i>—(<a href="#p_4"><i>Page</i> 4</a>)</p> +</div> + + +<div style="width: 400px; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; border: 2px solid; padding: 2px; border-color: #333333;"> +<p class="titleblock" style="margin-top: 2px; font-size: 130%; letter-spacing: 0.4em;"><i>TUCK-ME-IN TALES</i></p> +<p class="titleblock" style="font-size: 70%; margin-bottom: 0px;">(Trademark Registered)</p> +<hr class="minor" /> +<p class="titleblock" style="font-size: 200%;">THE TALE OF</p> +<p class="titleblock" style="font-size: 255%; letter-spacing: 0.1em; margin-bottom: 10px;">JASPER JAY</p> +<p class="titleblock" style="font-size: 80%;">BY</p> +<p class="titleblock" style="font-size: 130%; margin-bottom: 5px; word-spacing: 0.5em;">ARTHUR SCOTT BAILEY</p> +<div class="figcenter" style="width: 135px; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-top: 10px;"> +<img src="images/illus-arms.png" width="135" height="175" alt="Two birds" title="Two birds" /> +</div> +<p class="titleblock" style="font-size: 130%; letter-spacing: 0.3em;">GROSSET & DUNLAP</p> +<p class="titleblock" style="font-size: 80%; letter-spacing: 0.2em; margin-bottom: 15px;">PUBLISHERS</p> +</div> + + +<p class="center"><br /><br /><br /><br /> + <span style="font-size: 80%;">Copyright, 1917, by</span><br /> +GROSSET & DUNLAP +<br /><br /><br /><br /></p> + + +<hr class="sorta" /> +<h3><a name="Contents" id="Contents"></a>CONTENTS</h3> +<div class="smcap"> +<table border="0" width="75%" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" summary="Contents" id="Table3"> +<col style="width:20%;" /><col style="width:70%;" /><col style="width:10%;" /> +<tbody valign="top"> +<tr> + <td class="pr" style="font-size: small" >CHAPTER</td> <td align="left"> </td> + <td align="right" style="font-size: small">PAGE</td></tr> +<tr> + <td class="pr">I</td> <td align="left">A Noisy Rogue</td> <td align="right"><a href="#I">1</a></td> +</tr> +<tr> + <td class="pr">II</td> <td align="left">A Blow for the Bully</td> <td align="right"><a href="#II">6</a></td> +</tr> +<tr> + <td class="pr">III</td> <td align="left">The Strange Cry</td> <td align="right"><a href="#III">12</a></td> +</tr> +<tr> + <td class="pr">IV</td> <td align="left">Jasper's Boast</td> <td align="right"><a href="#IV">17</a></td> +</tr> +<tr> + <td class="pr">V</td> <td align="left">The Search</td> <td align="right"><a href="#V">24</a></td> +</tr> +<tr> + <td class="pr">VI</td> <td align="left">A Joke on Jasper Jay</td> <td align="right"><a href="#VI">29</a></td> +</tr> +<tr> + <td class="pr">VII</td> <td align="left">Scaring the Hens</td> <td align="right"><a href="#VII">34</a></td> +</tr> +<tr> + <td class="pr">VIII</td> <td align="left">A Bit of Mischief</td> <td align="right"><a href="#VIII">39</a></td> +</tr> +<tr> + <td class="pr">IX</td> <td align="left">Jasper Has to Hide</td> <td align="right"><a href="#IX">45</a></td> +</tr> +<tr> + <td class="pr">X</td> <td align="left">The Nutting Party</td> <td align="right"><a href="#X">51</a></td> +</tr> +<tr> + <td class="pr">XI</td> <td align="left">A Stroke of Luck</td> <td align="right"><a href="#XI">57</a></td> +</tr> +<tr> + <td class="pr">XII</td> <td align="left">Solomon Owl's Eyes</td> <td align="right"><a href="#XII">62</a></td> +</tr> +<tr> + <td class="pr">XIII</td> <td align="left">Teasing a Singer</td> <td align="right"><a href="#XIII">68</a></td> +</tr> +<tr> + <td class="pr">XIV</td> <td align="left">Finding a Way</td> <td align="right"><a href="#XIV">73</a></td> +</tr> +<tr> + <td class="pr">XV</td> <td align="left">The Invitation</td> <td align="right"><a href="#XV">78</a></td> +</tr> +<tr> + <td class="pr">XVI</td> <td align="left">The Singing Society</td> <td align="right"><a href="#XVI">83</a></td> +</tr> +<tr> + <td class="pr">XVII</td> <td align="left">Jasper is Ashamed</td> <td align="right"><a href="#XVII">88</a></td> +</tr> +<tr> + <td class="pr">XVIII</td> <td align="left">Enemies</td> <td align="right"><a href="#XVIII">94</a></td> +</tr> +<tr> + <td class="pr">XIX</td> <td align="left">Cold Feet</td> <td align="right"><a href="#XIX">99</a></td> +</tr> +<tr> + <td class="pr">XX</td> <td align="left">Getting Rid of Jasper</td> <td align="right"><a href="#XX">104</a></td> +</tr> +<tr> + <td class="pr">XXI</td> <td align="left">Two Rascals Caught</td> <td align="right"><a href="#XXI">109</a></td> +</tr> +</tbody> +</table> +</div> + + + +<hr class="chapter" /> +<h2>THE TALE OF JASPER JAY</h2> + +<p class="chapter"><span class='pagenum'><a name="p_1" id="p_1">p. 1</a></span></p> +<h2><a name="I" id="I"></a>I</h2> + +<h3>A NOISY ROUGE</h3> + +<p><span class="smcap">Some</span> of the feathered folk in Pleasant +Valley said that old Mr. Crow was the +noisiest person in the neighborhood. But +they must have forgotten all about Mr. +Crow's knavish cousin, Jasper Jay. And +it was not only in summer, either, that +Jasper's shrieks and laughter woke the +echoes. Since it was his habit to spend his +winters right there in Farmer Green's +young pines, near the foot of Blue Mountain, +<span class='pagenum'><a name="p_2" id="p_2">p. 2</a></span>on many a cold morning Jasper's +ear-splitting "<i>Jay! jay!</i>" rang out on the +frosty air.</p> + +<p>At that season Jasper often visited the +farm buildings, in the hope of finding a +few kernels of corn scattered about the +door of the corn-crib. But it seemed to +make little difference to him whether he +found food there or not. If he caught the +cat out of doors he had good sport teasing +her. And he always enjoyed that.</p> + +<p>Jasper was a bold rowdy—but handsome. +And Farmer Green liked to look +out of the window early on a bleak morning +and see him in his bright blue suit +frisking in and out of the bare trees. Still, +Farmer Green knew well enough that Jasper +Jay was a rogue.</p> + +<p>"He reminds me of a bad boy," Johnnie +Green's father said one day. "He's mischievous +and destructive; and he's forever +screeching and whistling. But there's<span class='pagenum'><a name="p_3" id="p_3">p. 3</a></span> +something about him that I can't help liking.... +Maybe it's because he always +has such a good time."</p> + +<p>"He steals birds' eggs in summer," +Johnnie Green remarked.</p> + +<p>"I've known boys to do that," his father +answered. And Johnnie said nothing +more just then. Perhaps he was too busy +watching Jasper Jay, who had flown into +the orchard and was already breakfasting +on frozen apples, which hung here and +there upon the trees.</p> + +<p>When warm weather came, the rogue +Jasper fared better. Then there were insects +and fruit for him. And though Jasper +took his full share of Farmer Green's +strawberries, currants and blackberries, +he did him no small service by devouring +moths that would have harmed the grapes.</p> + +<p>But in the fall Jasper scorned almost +any food except nuts, which he liked more<span class='pagenum'><a name="p_4" id="p_4">p. 4</a></span> +than anything else—that is, if their shells +were not too thick. Beechnuts and chestnuts +and acorns suited him well. And he +was very skilful in opening them. He +would grasp a nut firmly with his feet and +split it with his strong bill. Johnnie +Green could not crack a butternut with his +father's hammer more quickly than Jasper +could reach the inside of a sweet beechnut.</p> + +<p>Though Jasper hated to spend any of +his time during the nutting season by doing +much else except <i>eat</i>, he was so fond +of nuts that he always hid away as many +as he could in cracks and crevices, and +buried them under the fallen leaves.</p> + +<p>You see, he was like Frisky Squirrel +in that. He believed in storing nuts for +the winter. But since he had no hollow +tree in which to put them, it was only natural +that he never succeeded in finding<span class='pagenum'><a name="p_5" id="p_5">p. 5</a></span> +every one of his carefully hidden nuts. He +left them in so many different places that +he couldn't remember them all. Those +that he lost in that fashion often took root +and grew into trees. And so Jasper Jay +helped Farmer Green in more ways than +one.</p> + +<p>But no doubt Jasper would have +shrieked with laughter had anybody suggested +such an idea to him.</p> + + +<hr class="chapter" /> +<p class="chapter"><span class='pagenum'><a name="p_6" id="p_6">p. 6</a></span></p> + +<h2><a name="II" id="II"></a>II</h2> + +<h3>A BLOW FOR THE BULLY</h3> + + +<p><span class="smcap">Jasper Jay</span> had some queer notions in his +head. One of them was that a person +couldn't be happy unless he was making +a great deal of noise. And if there was +anything that roused Jasper's wrath, it +was the sight of some quiet, modest little +neighbor who minded his own affairs and +had little to say.</p> + +<p>There was one such chap who made his +home in a wild grapevine that grew upon +the stone wall in front of the farmhouse. +His name was Mr. Chippy; and he was +never known to do anybody the least bit +of harm. On the contrary, he was quite<span class='pagenum'><a name="p_7" id="p_7">p. 7</a></span> +helpful to Farmer Green's wife, for he +went to the farmhouse almost every day +and cleared the crumbs off the kitchen +doorstep.</p> + +<p>But Jasper Jay complained that Mr. +Chippy was altogether too humble.</p> + +<p>"He never says anything except '<i>Chip, +chip, chip, chip</i>,'" Jasper often remarked. +"And his voice is so high and +thin that anybody would think he was a +little old lady, to hear him. He's too quiet +to get on in the world. And as for a good +time, I don't believe he ever had one in all +his life."</p> + +<p>Jasper said a good many other unpleasant +things about mild Mr. Chippy. And +one day when the saucy rascal had nothing +better to do he flew over to the stone +wall just to talk to Mr. Chippy and tell +him what he thought of him.</p> + +<p>"Hi there, red-head!" Jasper Jay<span class='pagenum'><a name="p_8" id="p_8">p. 8</a></span> +shouted. "Come out here on the wall! I +want to see you."</p> + +<p>Mr. Chippy thrust his chestnut crowned +head through the leaves of the wild +grapevine. And one could hardly say +that he looked pleased. Like most people, +he was not overjoyed by Jasper Jay's visits. +But he crept on top of the stone wall +and <i>chipped</i> a how-dy-do to his caller.</p> + +<p>"That's no way to greet anybody!" +cried Jasper Jay, rudely. "If you want +to make a person feel that he is welcome +you ought to speak up good and loud—and +slap him on the back. And you must +look happy, too."</p> + +<p>Little Mr. Chippy smiled faintly.</p> + +<p>But Jasper Jay was not satisfied.</p> + +<p>"You don't look happy!" he scoffed. +"You appear as if you had a pain somewhere.... Come, +now! Let me hear you +give a hearty laugh!"</p> + +<p><span class='pagenum'><a name="p_9" id="p_9">p. 9</a></span></p> + +<p>If Mr. Chippy had known that his caller +was going to be so rude he would have +stayed hidden in the wild grapevine. And +now he wished that Jasper would go away +and leave him in peace. As for laughing, +he saw nothing at all to laugh at.</p> + +<p>"You'd better do as I tell you!" Jasper +Jay warned him. And he raised his crest +and stamped angrily upon the stone wall. +"You're altogether too <i>quiet</i>. I want you +to laugh <i>loud</i>.</p> + +<p>"You're going to be happy, if I have to +break every bone in your body," Jasper +added.</p> + +<p>Naturally, that threat did not help little +Mr. Chippy to laugh. Instead, he +looked quite worried. He knew that Jasper +Jay was a bully. And there was no +telling what he might do to anyone so +small as Mr. Chippy was. So he tried his +best to please Jasper. But he was so up<span class='pagenum'><a name="p_10" id="p_10">p. 10</a></span>set +that he could manage only a feeble +"<i>Chip, chip, chip, chip!</i>"</p> + +<p>"That'll never do," Jasper told him.</p> + +<p>"Maybe this will, then," said Mr. +Chippy, quietly. And darting at Jasper +Jay, he knocked him off the stone wall before +Jasper knew what was happening.</p> + +<p>Jasper Jay was furious. He scrambled +quickly back upon the wall. But Mr. +Chippy had vanished. He had dived +under the cover of the grapevine and hid +in a chink between the stones, where Jasper +could not find him.</p> + +<p>"I declare—" said Jasper Jay at last—"I +declare, he's got away from me!" And +so Jasper went off, shaking his head. He +had never supposed that mild Mr. Chippy +would dare do anything so bold as to knock +anybody off a stone wall.</p> + +<p>It is plain that Jasper Jay had never +learned that one can be brave without<span class='pagenum'><a name="p_11" id="p_11">p. 11</a></span> +boasting. And as he flew off across the +road toward the river, Jasper thought he +heard a peculiar noise from the depths of +the wild grapevine.</p> + +<p>It was only Mr. Chippy, chuckling to +himself. For Jasper had made him quite +happy, after all—though not exactly in +the way that the blue-coated bully had intended.</p> + +<hr class="chapter" /> +<p class="chapter"><span class='pagenum'><a name="p_12" id="p_12">p. 12</a></span></p> +<h2><a name="III" id="III"></a>III</h2> + +<h3>THE STRANGE CRY</h3> + + +<p><span class="smcap">As</span> you may already know, Jasper Jay was +a vain fellow. And it was not only of his +brilliant blue suit that he was proud. He +was greatly pleased with his own voice, +though many of the feathered folk thought +it harsh and disagreeable. But, that, perhaps, +was because they seldom or never +heard Jasper's sweeter, flute-like notes, or +the soft, low chatter which he kept for his +most intimate friends.</p> + +<p>What most of his acquaintances knew +and disliked was Jasper's noisy "<i>Jay! +jay!</i>" But even that discordant cry suited +Jasper very well. And he often boasted<span class='pagenum'><a name="p_13" id="p_13">p. 13</a></span> +that there wasn't another bird in Pleasant +Valley that could make a greater racket +than he.</p> + +<p>To be sure, there was Jasper's cousin, +old Mr. Crow. His "<i>Caw, caw</i>" could be +heard half a mile away, if the wind was +right. But Jasper Jay always insisted +that his own voice was much stronger than +Mr. Crow's. And nobody troubled himself +to dispute Jasper's claim.</p> + +<p>So Jasper Jay had little to worry about +until at last something happened that +made him feel quite uneasy. It was almost +noon on a hot summer's day; and +Jasper was resting amid the shade of a big +beech tree on the edge of the woods, where +he could look across the meadow and +watch Farmer Green and his boy Johnnie +and the hired-man at work in the hayfield. +Jasper was just thinking how much +pleasanter was his own carefree life than<span class='pagenum'><a name="p_14" id="p_14">p. 14</a></span> +theirs when a long, loud call blared across +the meadow. He had never heard that cry +before; and he raised himself on tiptoe, +listening intently as the sound echoed +back and forth across the valley.</p> + +<p>Though Jasper stayed quite still for +some time, waiting to hear the cry again, +it was not repeated.</p> + +<p>"I'd like to know what sort of bird that +was!" he said to himself at last. "If he +stays in this neighborhood I'll have to +drive him away, for his voice is certainly +louder than mine. And I wouldn't let him +come here and insult me like that."</p> + +<p>All the afternoon Jasper Jay flew up +and down the length of Pleasant Valley +and back and forth across it, hunting for +the strange bird with the loud voice. But +he met no newcomer at all.</p> + +<p>Jasper had almost decided that the +stranger had merely been passing through<span class='pagenum'><a name="p_15" id="p_15">p. 15</a></span> +the valley. He certainly hoped that such +was the case, because he had no way of +telling how big the unknown might be. If +he were as large as his voice, driving him +away might prove no joke for Jasper.</p> + +<p>By nightfall Jasper began to feel less +anxious. To be sure, he dreamed that he +met an enormous bird on the top of Blue +Mountain, who chased him all the way +around the world. And when he awoke +just before daybreak he was still frightened, +until he remembered that it was only +a dream.</p> + +<p>"It must have been that fuzzy caterpillar +that I ate just before I went to bed," +he thought.</p> + +<p>Jasper was himself again all the morning. +He had a good deal of fun teasing a +kitten which had lost itself behind Farmer +Green's barn. And he drove Jolly Robin's +wife almost frantic by hiding in the<span class='pagenum'><a name="p_16" id="p_16">p. 16</a></span> +orchard and whistling like a hawk. And +then, at midday, his fun was spoiled. That +strange scream smote his ears once more. +And Jasper trembled both with rage and +fear.</p> + +<p>He knew then that the stranger was still +in the valley.</p> + +<hr class="chapter" /> +<p class="chapter"><span class='pagenum'><a name="p_17" id="p_17">p. 17</a></span></p> +<h2><a name="IV" id="IV"></a>IV</h2> + +<h3>JASPER'S BOAST</h3> + + +<p><span class="smcap">Jasper Jay</span> had said nothing to anyone +concerning the horrid call, which had +sounded twice—each time at midday. But +now that he felt sure the strange bird +whose cry he had heard must have come to +live in Pleasant Valley, he could no longer +keep from mentioning the matter.</p> + +<p>Chancing to meet his cousin, Mr. Crow, +the next morning, Jasper stopped to talk +with the old gentleman. You see, Mr. +Crow was widely known as a gossip. He +usually knew what was going on in the +neighborhood. So Jasper thought it likely +that Mr. Crow could tell him all about the<span class='pagenum'><a name="p_18" id="p_18">p. 18</a></span> +unwelcome stranger. "Perhaps," he +thought, "the old scamp has already seen +him."</p> + +<p>Of course, Jasper never termed his +cousin a scamp to his face. He always +spoke to him very politely, greeting him as +"Mr. Crow," in spite of their close relationship. +And there was a reason why +Jasper did that. Mr. Crow had once given +him a severe beating because Jasper had +called him something else. And Jasper +Jay never forgot it.</p> + +<p>Now Jasper first inquired after his +cousin's health. He did that to put old +Mr. Crow in a good humor. But Jasper +was sorry at once that he had started Mr. +Crow to talking about his ills. It happened +that the old gentleman was then +suffering from gout, hay-fever and housemaid's +knee. And he liked to talk about +his ailments. Living all alone as he did,<span class='pagenum'><a name="p_19" id="p_19">p. 19</a></span> +he had nobody to do his housework. And +that, he complained, was the reason why +his knee troubled him.</p> + +<p>Jasper Jay fidgeted about while Mr. +Crow was telling him all that—and much +more—concerning his troubles. Jasper +really did not care to hear about them.</p> + +<p>"Yes! yes!" he exclaimed impatiently, +for it seemed to him that old Mr. Crow +never would stop talking about himself. +"Now that we're having a good spell of +weather you ought to begin to feel better. +And what's the news, Mr. Crow? Have +you heard of anything happening around +here lately?"</p> + +<p>The old gentleman shook his head.</p> + +<p>"Things are quiet," he said.</p> + +<p>"Nobody left Pleasant Valley recently?" +Jasper inquired.</p> + +<p>"Not that I've heard of," replied Mr. +Crow.</p> + +<p><span class='pagenum'><a name="p_20" id="p_20">p. 20</a></span></p> + +<p>"<i>No strangers come here to live?</i>" Jasper +asked him.</p> + +<p>"No one at all!" said Mr. Crow.</p> + +<p>"That's queer!" Jasper exclaimed. "I +was sure I heard a new voice yesterday. +And I heard it again to-day, too—at exactly +the same time."</p> + +<p>"What did it sound like?" Mr. Crow +wanted to know.</p> + +<p>So Jasper gave an imitation of the odd +cry that had swept the valley.</p> + +<p>"It was quite loud and very unpleasant +to hear," he remarked. "And whoever +the stranger may be, if he's going to +disturb me every noon like that when I'm +having my midday rest I shall have to +drive him out of the neighborhood."</p> + +<p>"It's almost noon now," said old Mr. +Crow, cocking his eye at the sun. "Perhaps +we'll hear the cry soon."</p> + +<p>The words were scarcely out of his bill<span class='pagenum'><a name="p_21" id="p_21">p. 21</a></span> +when a far-reaching call caught the attention +of the two cousins. It brought +Jasper Jay to his tiptoes at once. And he +craned his neck in an effort to catch a +glimpse of the stranger who possessed +such a powerful voice.</p> + +<p>"There it is!" Jasper cried. "There's +the call again! Do you know what kind +of bird makes that cry?"</p> + +<p>Something seemed to have stuck in Mr. +Crow's throat. At least, he spluttered and +choked and coughed. And he was quite +unable to answer just then. But after the +mountains had quit tossing the sound +back and forth and all was quiet again he +said:</p> + +<p>"No small bird could make a sound like +that. And if you can drive him out of +Pleasant Valley you're a better fighter +than I ever supposed."</p> + +<p>Mr. Crow might have known that his<span class='pagenum'><a name="p_22" id="p_22">p. 22</a></span> +remark would not please Jasper Jay. Jasper +gave his cousin an angry glance; and +he looked as if he would have liked to fight +<i>him</i>. But he had suffered one beating by +his elderly cousin. And he didn't care for +another. So he only sneered openly. And +then he screamed in a loud voice:</p> + +<p>"I'll find that noisy fellow and drive +him out of Pleasant Valley, if it takes me +all summer to do it!" And he raised his +crest, and snapped his beak together, and +stamped his feet, so that he looked very +fierce indeed.</p> + +<p>But old Mr. Crow was not frightened in +the least. He only smiled.</p> + +<p>"Let me know when you've driven the +stranger away," he said.</p> + +<p>"Oh! you'll hear about it," Jasper Jay +assured him. "It will be the most famous +fight that will ever take place in this valley," +he boasted. And then the two cous<span class='pagenum'><a name="p_23" id="p_23">p. 23</a></span>ins +parted. It did not put Jasper Jay in +any better humor to hear Mr. Crow's +hoarse <i>haw-haw</i> echoing across the valley. +Of course, Jasper did not know what +he was laughing at. But that only served +to make the blue-coated scamp all the more +peevish.</p> + +<hr class="chapter" /> +<p class="chapter"><span class='pagenum'><a name="p_24" id="p_24">p. 24</a></span></p> +<h2><a name="V" id="V"></a>V</h2> + +<h3>THE SEARCH</h3> + + +<p><span class="smcap">After</span> telling Mr. Crow what he was going +to do to the strange bird, which he had +never seen, but only heard, Jasper Jay +renewed his search for the unknown.</p> + +<p>There was not the slightest doubt in his +mind that the stranger could out-scream +him. And he knew he could never be +happy so long as such a loud-voiced rival +remained in the neighborhood.</p> + +<p>Jasper hoped, at least, that the newcomer +was not too large.</p> + +<p>"He can't be very big, or I'd have found +him before this," he reassured himself.</p> + +<p>Though he hunted far and wide, look<span class='pagenum'><a name="p_25" id="p_25">p. 25</a></span>ing +in hollow trees and in the tops of the +tallest timber, as well as inside the densest +thickets, Jasper could still find no trace +of his enemy—for so he regarded the unknown +bird.</p> + +<p>For several days he continued his unsuccessful +search. And though that same +strange cry enraged him each noon, he +was quite at a loss to know where to look +for its author. He asked a good many of +the feathered folk if they had seen a +stranger anywhere. But not one of them +admitted that he had.... Jasper Jay +thought it very odd.</p> + +<p>Meanwhile, he took special pains to +dodge his cousin, old Mr. Crow, whenever +he caught sight of him; for he remembered +Mr. Crow's disagreeable remark. But the +day finally came when Jasper met him +face to face in the woods. And Mr. Crow +called to him loudly to wait a moment.</p> + +<p><span class='pagenum'><a name="p_26" id="p_26">p. 26</a></span></p> + +<p>"I want to ask you," said the old gentleman, +"whether you've found and driven +away that stranger yet?" The old rogue's +voice cracked as he spoke and he rocked +back and forth as if he were much amused +by something.</p> + +<p>"I haven't set eyes on him yet," Jasper +replied somewhat coldly. "But I've heard +him every noon. And I expect to find him +pretty soon."</p> + +<p>"Have you looked for him around the +farmhouse?" Mr. Crow inquired.</p> + +<p>"Why, no!" said Jasper. "I hadn't +thought of his being there."</p> + +<p>"Then," said old Mr. Crow, "I'd go +over there at once, if I were you. And I'd +stay right there until noon. You won't +have to wait more than three or four hours. +And unless I'm much mistaken you'll find +your search at an end...."</p> + +<p>"I hope—" he added—"I hope you<span class='pagenum'><a name="p_27" id="p_27">p. 27</a></span> +won't get hurt when you fight the +stranger."</p> + +<p>Now, it struck Jasper Jay that old Mr. +Crow knew more about the strange bird +with the loud voice than he was willing to +tell. Anyhow, Mr. Crow looked very wise. +And he croaked and smiled in a way that +was most annoying. What he said about +Jasper's not getting hurt made Jasper +feel quite uneasy, too.</p> + +<p>"Won't you come with me?" he asked +Mr. Crow very politely. To tell the truth, +Jasper was worried. Now that he was +about to meet the strange bird he began to +be frightened. He did not like the thought +of facing him alone.</p> + +<p>"I can't come now," said Mr. Crow, +"because I'm going to be busy. But I'll +join you on the barnyard fence a little before +midday. Maybe I'll bring a friend +or two along with me."</p> + +<p><span class='pagenum'><a name="p_28" id="p_28">p. 28</a></span></p> + +<p>"Good!" cried Jasper Jay. "That will +be fine."</p> + +<p>So they said good-by. And Mr. Crow +hurried off into the woods, for—as he said—he +was going to be busy.</p> + +<hr class="chapter" /> +<p class="chapter"><span class='pagenum'><a name="p_29" id="p_29">p. 29</a></span></p> + +<h2><a name="VI" id="VI"></a>VI</h2> + +<h3>A JOKE ON JASPER JAY</h3> + + +<p><span class="smcap">With</span> a loud squall of glee, Jasper Jay +made off in the direction of the farm +buildings. Now that he was going to have +company, later, he felt much better. And +he resolved to keep well hidden in the top +of the great oak near Farmer Green's +house, until the time came for Mr. Crow +to arrive—and his friends, too, if he +brought them.</p> + +<p>Jasper waited in the big oak for a long +time. He saw no strange bird. And he +was glad—because he did not want to meet +him until Mr. Crow came.</p> + +<p>For once in his life Jasper kept quite<span class='pagenum'><a name="p_30" id="p_30">p. 30</a></span> +still. He could see a kitten playing in the +dooryard; and he would have liked to +tease it. And there were the hens, too. +Jasper smiled as he thought of the way +they would scurry for shelter if he should +cry out like a hawk. But he made no +noise, for he was afraid the strange bird +might be lurking about somewhere, ready +to pounce upon him before Jasper knew +what was happening.</p> + +<p>At last Jasper left his hiding place and +flew beyond the barn, where he alighted +on the fence, to meet Mr. Crow. And very +promptly the old gentleman arrived. He +brought ten of his relations with him, too—all +noisy and unmannerly fellows. They +were not the least bit timid, because they +knew that Farmer Green and his son +Johnnie and the hired-man were working +in the hayfield, beyond the pasture.</p> + +<p>"Here we are!" cried Mr. Crow.<span class='pagenum'><a name="p_31" id="p_31">p. 31</a></span> +"We've come to see you whip the person +with the loud voice and drive him out of +the valley." And all ten of his relations +joined Mr. Crow in a loud, cackling laugh.</p> + +<p>"What's the joke?" asked Jasper Jay.</p> + +<p>"Oh, there's no joke at all—yet," said +Mr. Crow. And he and his companions all +laughed again. "Come around to the other +side of the barn," Mr. Crow continued. +"It's time for the stranger to screech, for +it'll be noon before you know it."</p> + +<p>So they all moved to another part of the +fence, from which they could see the farmhouse. +And no sooner had they settled +themselves comfortably than Farmer +Green's wife came to the doorway and +held a horn to her lips.</p> + +<p>Then came the loud blast that Jasper +knew so well. He was so startled that he +almost fell off the fence. But he was not +frightened.</p> + +<p><span class='pagenum'><a name="p_32" id="p_32">p. 32</a></span></p> + +<p>He was very angry, however. For Mr. +Crow and his friends began to jeer at him.</p> + +<p>"Fly at her!" cried Mr. Crow. "She's +the bird that you're going to drive out of +Pleasant Valley. And we all want to see +you do it."</p> + +<p>It was very uncomfortable for Jasper +Jay. He had mistaken the sound of the +dinner-horn for the call of a strange bird. +And he felt uncommonly foolish.</p> + +<p>Since he dared not attack Mr. Crow, especially +when his ten relations were with +him, there was nothing Jasper could do +except give a loud, helpless scream of rage +and hurry away toward the woods.</p> + +<p>"See those crows chasing that blue +jay!" Farmer Green said to Johnnie, as +they walked toward home. "Probably +he's played some trick on them."</p> + +<p>But for once it was not Jasper who was +guilty. It was old Mr. Crow himself who<span class='pagenum'><a name="p_33" id="p_33">p. 33</a></span> +had played the trick. He had known from +the first that Mrs. Green had bought a new +dinner-horn, because the men were always +late for dinner. Though how he discovered +that fact is a mystery.</p> + +<p>Somehow, old Mr. Crow knew about +everything that happened in Pleasant Valley. +And now Jasper Jay had learned +something more, too.</p> + +<hr class="chapter" /> +<p class="chapter"><span class='pagenum'><a name="p_34" id="p_34">p. 34</a></span></p> + +<h2><a name="VII" id="VII"></a>VII</h2> + +<h3>SCARING THE HENS</h3> + + +<p><span class="smcap">There</span> was one sport of which Jasper Jay +was over-fond. He loved to imitate the +calls of other birds; and Jasper was such +a good mimic that he often deceived his +neighbors by his tricks.</p> + +<p>It was not pleasant for a sober, elderly +bird-gentleman to come home at night +from a hard day's work and have his wife +accuse him of idling away his time.</p> + +<p>"You can't deny it—for I could hear +you laughing in the woods!" she might +say.</p> + +<p>And it was not always an easy task to +convince her that what she had heard was<span class='pagenum'><a name="p_35" id="p_35">p. 35</a></span> +nobody but that noisy rascal, Jasper Jay, +playing a trick on her.</p> + +<p>Nor did Jasper limit his droll teasing +to his own neighbors. Sometimes he hid +in a tree near the farm buildings and +frightened the hens by making a sound +exactly like a certain red-shouldered +hawk, who lived in the low woods along +Black Creek, where frogs were plentiful. +A fierce scream of "<i>Kee-you! kee-you!</i>" +was quite enough to alarm an old hen with +a big family of young chickens. Though +she might know well enough that the red-shouldered +hawk seldom made a meal of +poultry, preferring frogs and field-mice +above all other food, it was only natural +that she shouldn't care to take any +chances. The haste with which a nervous +mother-hen called her family into the +chicken house when she heard that cry of +"<i>Kee-you! kee-you!</i>" always amused Jas<span class='pagenum'><a name="p_36" id="p_36">p. 36</a></span>per +Jay, for he never tired of the game.</p> + +<p>Surprising as it may seem, now and +then Jasper's hawk-call deceived even +Farmer Green himself. And sometimes +he would step into the kitchen and take +his old gun off the hooks on the wall above +the wide fireplace and hurry outside again +in the hope of getting a shot at Mr. Hawk. +It happened at last that in some way Mr. +Red-shouldered Hawk heard of this trick +of Jasper's. And that old gossip, Mr. +Crow, warned Jasper Jay that he had +better be careful.</p> + +<p>"Mr. Hawk says that you are giving +him a bad name with Farmer Green," +Mr. Crow told Jasper one day. "Farmer +Green calls him 'that old hen-hawk,' and, +of course, it's not very pleasant for Mr. +Hawk to have somebody looking for him +with a gun. I know what the feeling is +like, myself," said old Mr. Crow. "Be<span class='pagenum'><a name="p_37" id="p_37">p. 37</a></span>lieve +me, it's enough to make one most uncomfortable!"</p> + +<p>But Jasper Jay only shrieked with +laughter.</p> + +<p>"You'll sing a different song if Mr. +Hawk catches you," Mr. Crow snapped.</p> + +<p>And that made Jasper Jay scream all +the louder. Then he stopped laughing and +said "<i>Caw! caw!</i>" in a husky voice so like +Mr. Crow's own that the old gentleman +spluttered and fumed and all but chased +Jasper out of the woods where they were +sitting at the time.</p> + +<p>They never did get along well together—old +Mr. Crow and Jasper Jay. They +were cousins, you know. But that fact +did not help matters at all. Perhaps they +knew too much about each other.</p> + +<p>"Don't worry about me!" said Jasper +Jay at last.</p> + +<p>"Very well!" Mr. Crow replied stiffly.<span class='pagenum'><a name="p_38" id="p_38">p. 38</a></span> +"But remember—I've warned you!" he +croaked. And then he flew away to his +nest in a tall elm, overlooking the cornfield.</p> + +<hr class="chapter" /> +<p class="chapter"><span class='pagenum'><a name="p_39" id="p_39">p. 39</a></span></p> + +<h2><a name="VIII" id="VIII"></a>VIII</h2> + +<h3>A BIT OF MISCHIEF</h3> + + +<p><span class="smcap">Jasper Jay</span> did not heed Mr. Crow's warning. +When he learned that Mr. Red-shouldered +Hawk was angry with him because +he had imitated Mr. Hawk's fierce +cry, "<i>Kee-you! kee-you!</i>" Jasper was +more pleased with himself than ever. +Scaring Farmer Green's hens with that +piercing scream had been a good deal of +fun. But making Mr. Hawk angry was +still more.</p> + +<p>So Jasper Jay began to visit the farmyard +even oftener than before. If the +mother-hens, with their chicks, did not +happen to be scratching in the barnyard,<span class='pagenum'><a name="p_40" id="p_40">p. 40</a></span> +there was always sport of some sort to be +had.</p> + +<p>One day when Jasper was on his way to +Farmer Green's place, he happened to +meet a blue jay friend of his known as +Noisy Jake, because he was not very quiet. +In fact, one could almost always hear his +voice ringing through the woods.</p> + +<p>"You seem to be in a hurry," Noisy +Jake bawled. "Where are you going?"</p> + +<p>"S-sh!" said Jasper. "I'm going to the +farmyard to have some fun scaring the +hens. But I don't want everybody to know +it. Do you want to come along?"</p> + +<p>Noisy Jake promptly said he did. So +the two rascals hurried across the pasture +and over the meadow toward the farm +buildings.</p> + +<p>"Now——" said Jasper Jay, when they +had reached the farmyard—"now I'll hide +in this oak here and you can hide in that<span class='pagenum'><a name="p_41" id="p_41">p. 41</a></span> +one there." He pointed to a tree a little +further from the chicken house than the +one where he intended to perch. Naturally, +it was not like Jasper Jay to give +the best seat to anybody else.</p> + +<p>"What'll we do then?" Noisy Jake +asked.</p> + +<p>"You see those hens," said Jasper. +"I'm going to scream like Mr. Red-shouldered +Hawk. And you'll laugh when the +hens hurry their chicks out of the +way.... If you want to, you may scream +too—but not till after I have."</p> + +<p>Noisy Jake agreed to Jasper's plan. +And he quickly disappeared among the +branches of the oak to which Jasper had +sent him.</p> + +<p>Then Jasper just had to stop and laugh +to himself over the fright he was going to +give the old hens. He was about to open +his mouth to imitate the cry of Mr. Hawk<span class='pagenum'><a name="p_42" id="p_42">p. 42</a></span> +when something happened that made him +terrible angry.</p> + +<p>"<i>Kee-you! kee-you!</i>" The fierce scream +rang out over the farmyard. And immediately +the mother-hens called to their children, +with frantic <i>clucks</i>, to run for their +lives into the chicken house.</p> + +<p>Jasper Jay did not laugh at all over the +way the chicks scurried out of sight.</p> + +<p>"Noisy Jake has played a mean trick on +me!" he said to himself. "He went and +screamed before it was his turn!"</p> + +<p>Since he didn't want to miss <i>all</i> the fun, +Jasper let out a blood-curdling "<i>Kee-you! +kee-you!</i>" himself, just to hurry the last +hen under cover. But, somehow, he had +to confess to himself—though he wouldn't +have admitted it to anybody else—he had +to confess that Noisy Jake's cry sounded +far more like Mr. Hawk's than did his +own.</p> + +<p><span class='pagenum'><a name="p_43" id="p_43">p. 43</a></span></p> + +<p>Of course, that did not make Jasper feel +any pleasanter. He wished he had not +told Noisy Jake where he was going.</p> + +<p>"I'll punish him for his meddling!" +Jasper exclaimed. And he flew straight +for the tree where Noisy Jake had hidden.</p> + +<p>But Jasper did not reach the tree.</p> + +<p>"<i>Kee-you! kee-you!</i>" The cry came +from above his head. And looking up, +Jasper Jay saw Mr. Red-shouldered +Hawk himself, dropping down like lightning +out of the sky.</p> + +<p>Mr. Hawk paid not the slightest attention +to the frightened hens and their +chicks. He seemed to have eyes only for +Jasper Jay. And on his proud, cruel face +there was a look of anger that made Jasper +wish he had never, never imitated Mr. +Hawk's cry.</p> + +<p>He was sorry now, that he had not<span class='pagenum'><a name="p_44" id="p_44">p. 44</a></span> +heeded Mr. Crow's warning. But his +cousin, old Mr. Crow, was always looking +solemn and croaking loudly about "trouble." +It was no wonder that people paid +little attention to what he said.</p> + +<hr class="chapter" /> +<p class="chapter"><span class='pagenum'><a name="p_45" id="p_45">p. 45</a></span></p> + +<h2><a name="IX" id="IX"></a>IX</h2> + +<h3>JASPER HAS TO HIDE</h3> + + +<p><span class="smcap">When</span> Jasper Jay looked up and saw Mr. +Red-shouldered Hawk darting down upon +him from above, he dodged to one side and +screamed loudly for help.</p> + +<p>His friend Noisy Jake was known as a +great fighter. And Jasper hoped that together +they might be able to drive Mr. +Hawk away.</p> + +<p>But he was disappointed. Noisy Jake +did not appear. And there was a good +reason why he did not. At that very moment +he was flying off across the meadow +as fast as his beautiful wings could carry +him. He had seen Mr. Hawk circling<span class='pagenum'><a name="p_46" id="p_46">p. 46</a></span> +above the barnyard. And he had lost no +time in making his escape.</p> + +<p>But Jasper Jay knew nothing of all +that. And when he found that there was +no one to help him he was just as frightened +as the hens had been. He knew that +he was no match for Mr. Hawk. And he +had no wish to make a meal for him. Jasper +was quite willing to leave that pleasure +to the frogs that splashed their time +away along the banks of Black Creek.</p> + +<p>For a few moments Jasper ducked first +one way and then another. He had several +narrow escapes. And there's no telling +what might have happened if he hadn't +suddenly decided that he would follow the +hens' example.</p> + +<p>So without even stopping to knock on +the door he dashed into the chicken house +and alighted on a roost in the darkest corner +he could find.</p> + +<p><span class='pagenum'><a name="p_47" id="p_47">p. 47</a></span></p> + +<p>For two excellent reasons Mr. Red-shouldered +Hawk did not follow him. +First, he had always made it a rule never +to go inside one of Farmer Green's buildings. +And second, he happened to catch a +glimpse of Farmer Green running into +the house through the kitchen door.</p> + +<p>Mr. Hawk knew what that meant. +Farmer Green was going for his gun! +And so he winged his way swiftly toward +Black Creek, hoping—as he went—that he +had taught Jasper Jay a lesson.</p> + +<hr class="sorta" /> + +<p>Meanwhile, there was a great uproar in +the chicken house. But Farmer Green +paid no attention to that—supposing, of +course, that it was merely because of the +fright the hawk had given the hens.</p> + +<p>For once there was more noise than even +Jasper Jay liked. It appeared that there +was a bold young rooster in the chicken<span class='pagenum'><a name="p_48" id="p_48">p. 48</a></span> +house. And he objected to Jasper Jay's +presence.</p> + +<p>"What do you mean by coming in here +where you're not wanted?" he screamed. +"Where are your manners?"</p> + +<p>Actually, Jasper Jay wondered what the +rooster was talking about. Never having +had any manners, Jasper didn't know the +meaning of the word. And since he could +not answer, he said nothing.</p> + +<p>"Stick your spurs into him and maybe +he'll speak!" screeched a pert young hen.</p> + +<p>Jasper looked at the rooster then; and +he saw that the brazen fellow wore long, +sharp spurs upon his legs. They looked +almost as wicked as Mr. Hawk's cruel talons.</p> + +<p>"Please," said Jasper, "I've come in to +get out of the way of Mr. Hawk."</p> + +<p>"Ha!" cried the rooster. "Unless I'm +mistaken you're the rogue that's always<span class='pagenum'><a name="p_49" id="p_49">p. 49</a></span> +frightening the ladies by screaming like +Mr. Hawk. So I don't see why you should +object to his society."</p> + +<p>"I was only fooling," Jasper Jay +whined. "I meant no harm, you know. +Let me stay here a while and I promise +you I won't bother the hens again."</p> + +<p>"I accept your apology, as well as your +promise," the rooster replied with great +dignity. And then he began crowing in +a manner that was most annoying to Jasper +Jay. It was the same as saying, "This +rascal's afraid of me!"</p> + +<p>That was true, too. And that was what +made the crowing sound so unpleasant in +Jasper's ears.</p> + +<p>He left as soon as he dared show himself +out of doors. And he sometimes remarked +afterward that a chicken house +wouldn't be a bad place to live in, after +all, if it weren't for the roosters.</p> + +<p><span class='pagenum'><a name="p_50" id="p_50">p. 50</a></span></p> + +<p>"They boast too much," said Jasper +Jay. "Nothing could induce me to listen +to their silly crowing. And to tell the +truth, I don't see how the hens manage to +stand it."</p> + +<hr class="chapter" /> +<p class="chapter"><span class='pagenum'><a name="p_51" id="p_51">p. 51</a></span></p> + +<h2><a name="X" id="X"></a>X</h2> + +<h3>THE NUTTING PARTY</h3> + + +<p><span class="smcap">For</span> a long time Jasper Jay had been waiting +for something. It was fall; and he +impatiently watched the tree-tops on the +side of Blue Mountain change from their +quiet summer green to hues of flaming +gold and red. Though they were beautiful, +to tell the truth Jasper did not in the +least care what color a tree was. So long +as it bore nuts, he was satisfied. And to +him the turning leaves meant only that the +autumn was lengthening—and the nuts +were growing ripe.</p> + +<p>That was what Jasper Jay was waiting +for. And as soon as the frosts came and<span class='pagenum'><a name="p_52" id="p_52">p. 52</a></span> +burst open the prickly pods that covered +the beechnuts he intended to lead the first +nutting party of the season to the place +where the beeches grew.</p> + +<p>Now, going a-nutting with a crowd is +much more fun than gathering nuts alone. +And Jasper usually preferred a nutting +party of a dozen blue jays. Then he always +had twelve times as much fun as he +could have just by himself—because there +was twelve times the noise.</p> + +<p>So on the very first day that the nuts +were ready to be eaten Jasper Jay asked +eleven friends to join him. As it happened, +Jasper found a company of twelve +waiting for him at the appointed time on +the edge of the woods. Somehow, Noisy +Jake (whom Jasper hadn't invited) had +heard of the party. And he invited himself.</p> + +<p>Jasper was not at all pleased when<span class='pagenum'><a name="p_53" id="p_53">p. 53</a></span> +he found that Noisy Jake intended to go +a-nutting too. He had not yet forgiven +that boisterous rowdy for not having +warned him, when Mr. Red-shouldered +Hawk was sailing about over Farmer +Green's barnyard, and Jasper had to seek +safety in the chicken house.</p> + +<p>Jasper gave Jake a cool nod and turned +his back on him. But it would have taken +a great deal more than that to hurt Noisy +Jake's feelings. Indeed, he was so impudent +that he immediately imitated Mr. +Hawk's cry, "<i>Kee-you! kee-you!</i>"</p> + +<p>It gave Jasper a great start to hear that +screech behind his back. He jumped into +the air and alighted with his face toward +Noisy Jake, having turned around while +his feet were off the ground.</p> + +<p>Jake was laughing loudly at his own +joke, while all the rest—except Jasper—squalled +with delight.</p> +<p><span class='pagenum'><a name="p_54" id="p_54">p. 54</a></span></p> + +<p>Jasper Jay thought for a moment that +he would have to fight Jake on the spot. +But he was in such a hurry to get to the +place where the beeches grew that he decided +to pay no more attention to the rude +fellow.</p> + +<p>"Come on!" Jasper cried. "Follow +me!" And he made for the beech grove +at top speed, with the nutting party following +close behind him.</p> + +<p>There was a great squawking and +screaming and whistling as the nutting +party flew into the tops of the beech trees +and the nuts began rattling down upon +the ground.</p> + +<p>But their fun did not last long. Another +nutting party, led by Johnnie Green, +arrived at the grove soon after them; and, +of course, that put an end to their sport. +They knew that boys not only whistled but +threw stones as well.</p> +<p><span class='pagenum'><a name="p_55" id="p_55">p. 55</a></span></p> + +<p>It was most disappointing. And Jasper +and his friends were feeling quite +peevish when Noisy Jake suddenly cried:</p> + +<p>"Let's go over to the oak woods! There +are plenty of acorns there; and we can +have lots of fun!"</p> + +<p>All the crowd—except Jasper Jay—shouted +something that sounded like +"Hurrah!" And before Jasper knew +what was happening everybody had +started for the oak woods. This time it +was Noisy Jake that led the nutting party. +And all Jasper could do was to follow with +the others.</p> + +<p>He was no longer the leader. And he +was very, very angry. It had been his +party, in the first place. And there was +Noisy Jake, whom he had not even invited +to it, acting as if he were the one who +should say what should—or shouldn't—be +done.</p> +<p><span class='pagenum'><a name="p_56" id="p_56">p. 56</a></span></p> + +<p>Jasper could see Jake talking with some +of the others. And he couldn't help feeling +that they were talking about <i>him</i>. +Jake laughed loudly now and then; and +although he was flying fast, he looked +around occasionally, to make sure that +the party was following him. Seeing that +Jasper was the last of the procession, Jake +shouted to him that he had better hurry, if +he didn't want to be left behind.</p> + +<p>And that made Jasper Jay more indignant +than ever.</p> + +<hr class="chapter" /> +<p class="chapter"><span class='pagenum'><a name="p_57" id="p_57">p. 57</a></span></p> + +<h2><a name="XI" id="XI"></a>XI</h2> + +<h3>A STROKE OF LUCK</h3> + + +<p><span class="smcap">Jasper's</span> fun would have been spoiled if +he hadn't had a stroke of good fortune. +Since he was no longer leading the nutting +party he wanted to prevent his friends +from following Noisy Jake to the place +where the oak trees grew, to have an acorn +hunt.</p> + +<p>It was no more than anybody could expect +that Jasper should feel sulky. It +had been his party in the first place. So, +of course, he didn't enjoy seeing somebody +else take the lead away from him. +Most unhappy he was, as he hurried along +the mountain-side, when he happened, all<span class='pagenum'><a name="p_58" id="p_58">p. 58</a></span> +at once, to catch sight of a huge, grayish-brown +figure, half hidden among some +hemlock boughs. Jasper Jay knew right +away that it was Mr. Solomon Owl.</p> + +<p>"Stop! stop!" Jasper cried to his +friends. "Wait a bit! Here's some fun!"</p> + +<p>So the nutting party checked their flight +and returned, while Jasper pointed out +Solomon Owl's motionless form to them.</p> + +<p>They forgot all about the acorn hunt, +for the time being, because there was nothing +they liked better than teasing Solomon +Owl—when there were enough of them. +In case any of the blue-coated rascals met +Mr. Owl alone, he was most polite to him, +for Solomon was not only big and strong +but he had sharp talons and a hooked beak.</p> + +<p>Those thirteen blue jays, however, knew +that they had little to fear from the solemn +old chap, so long as they kept out of +reach of his claws.</p> +<p><span class='pagenum'><a name="p_59" id="p_59">p. 59</a></span></p> + +<p>They began jeering at Solomon Owl. +And some of them even tried to mock his +queer cry, "<i>Whoo-whoo-too-whoo-too-o-o!</i>" +The woods echoed with their hoots. +And Noisy Jake shouted:</p> + +<p>"This is luck! Aren't you all glad I +found him?"</p> + +<p>Now, of course, Jake had not found Solomon +Owl. If it hadn't been for Jasper +Jay no one would have known he was +there. And Jasper was just about to remind +Jake of his mistake when he happened +to think of something that made +him change his mind. It occurred to Jasper +that if Noisy Jake wanted to think he +was still the leader of the party perhaps +it was just as well to let him. Jake always +talked so much, in such a loud tone, that +Solomon Owl would be sure to know him.</p> + +<p>And Jasper thought he could have +plenty of fun himself, teasing Solomon<span class='pagenum'><a name="p_60" id="p_60">p. 60</a></span> +and not saying a word. Then—so Jasper +believed—then Solomon Owl wouldn't +know that Jasper was in the party at all.</p> + +<p>You see, Johnnie Green was not the +only person who held that Solomon Owl +couldn't see in the daytime. Everybody +knew that his big, round eyes were keen +enough in the dark. But in the daylight +he usually sat quite still in a tree and +stared as if he saw nothing at all.</p> + +<p>Well, that was just what Solomon Owl +was doing then. He said never a word. +And he scarcely moved, except to turn his +head helplessly now and then, and blink, +while his tormentors flew as close to him +as they dared and hooted loudly at him.</p> + +<p>Jasper and his friends made enough +noise to scare even a bigger bird than Solomon +Owl. And they said a good many +rude things to him, too.</p> + +<p>"How are Farmer Green's chickens<span class='pagenum'><a name="p_61" id="p_61">p. 61</a></span> +this fall?" Noisy Jake asked him in a +loud voice, while Jasper Jay quietly +amused himself by dropping hemlock +seeds upon Solomon's head.</p> + +<p>Still Solomon Owl made no remarks at +all. But he was thinking deeply. And +though some people claimed that he was +not nearly so wise as he looked, there were +some things that he knew just as well as +anyone else.</p> + +<p>But Jasper Jay was not aware of that.</p> + +<hr class="chapter" /> +<p class="chapter"><span class='pagenum'><a name="p_62" id="p_62">p. 62</a></span></p> + +<h2><a name="XII" id="XII"></a>XII</h2> + +<h3>SOLOMON OWL'S EYES</h3> + + +<p><span class="smcap">After</span> a while Jasper Jay saw that his +friends were growing tired of teasing Solomon +Owl. So he said to them suddenly, +in what was for him a low voice, "Let's go +hunt acorns now!" And he flew off with +a pleased grin upon his face, for he hoped +that he had made trouble for Noisy Jake. +His friends all followed him, too, while +Noisy Jake hurried on behind them, trying +to overtake and pass Jasper Jay.</p> + +<p>But he never headed Jasper all the way +to the oak woods. And Jasper had a good +time there, making all the noise he pleased +and eating so many acorns that he made<span class='pagenum'><a name="p_63" id="p_63">p. 63</a></span> +himself almost ill.... If that isn't having +a good time, then somebody must be +mistaken.</p> + +<p>Now, it was quite natural for Jasper +Jay to think that he had nothing to fear +from Solomon Owl. To be sure, he had +flown back and forth in front of Solomon's +round, staring eyes; and he had dropped +hemlock seeds upon Solomon's head. But +he felt quite safe, because he was <i>sure</i> Solomon +Owl couldn't see him in the daylight. +Furthermore, he had said hardly a word, +so Solomon shouldn't know, from his +voice, that Jasper was teasing him.</p> + +<p>When he met Solomon, therefore, right +after sunset that same day, as Jasper was +hurrying home from the oak woods to get +his night's sleep and Solomon Owl was +just starting out on his nightly wanderings, +Jasper spoke boldly to the big, bulky +fellow.</p> +<p><span class='pagenum'><a name="p_64" id="p_64">p. 64</a></span></p> + +<p>"Good-evening, Mr. Owl!" said he. "I +hope you're well, and that you had a good +rest to-day."</p> + +<p>Solomon Owl turned his head in Jasper's +direction and stared at him for a +moment. And then he hooted long and +loud.</p> + +<p>"I'm glad to know it," said Jasper—though +he had no idea what Solomon Owl +was saying.</p> + +<p>In spite of himself, Jasper began to feel +a bit uneasy. There was something terrifying +in Solomon's odd cry, especially +when the dark was falling fast and Jasper +Jay was still some distance from home.</p> + +<p>"Wait a moment, young fellow!" said +Solomon Owl in a deep, hollow voice. +"I've something to say to you. Weren't +you roaming through the woods with a +crowd of rowdies this afternoon?"</p> + +<p>Jasper Jay couldn't deny it. But he<span class='pagenum'><a name="p_65" id="p_65">p. 65</a></span> +didn't want to admit it, either. So he +said:</p> + +<p>"I believe Noisy Jake led a nutting +party this way."</p> + +<p>"Ha!" exclaimed Solomon Owl. "They +didn't pick any hemlock seeds, I suppose?"</p> + +<p>"I'll ask them," Jasper Jay murmured. +"And I'll let you know to-morrow." He +turned away, because he didn't care to +talk any longer. His voice was too faint. +And his legs felt strangely weak. For +Jasper Jay was thoroughly frightened.</p> + +<p>"Don't be in a hurry!" Solomon Owl's +queer voice boomed. "Some people think +I can't see in the daytime. But they're +very much mistaken. And nobody ever +dropped hemlock seeds on my head yet +without my knowing it."</p> + +<p>Jasper Jay did not wait to hear anything +more. He sprang into the air and<span class='pagenum'><a name="p_66" id="p_66">p. 66</a></span> +tore off through the forest, just before +Solomon Owl jumped.</p> + +<p>For a heavy gentleman who was big +around the waist, Solomon Owl was surprisingly +quick. But Jasper Jay was even +quicker. And it was lucky for him that he +left when he did, for Solomon felt very, +very hungry. He had had nothing to eat +since dawn.</p> + +<p>But he made his rush in vain. Missing +Jasper Jay by a few inches, he crashed +head foremost into a tree before he could +stop. And the pain in the top of his head +made him hoot at the top of his voice. Perhaps +he was angry, too.</p> + +<p>Anyhow, to Jasper Jay the horrid cry +sounded as if it were just behind him. He +never knew before that he could fly so +fast. And some of his friends, who saw +a blue streak in the twilight, did not even +recognize him.</p> +<p><span class='pagenum'><a name="p_67" id="p_67">p. 67</a></span></p> + +<p>For several days afterward, Noisy Jake, +whom Jasper passed in his headlong flight, +talked about the blue lightning he had seen +when he was going home from the nutting +party. And since nobody could prove that +he was mistaken, no one was so foolish as +to dispute him.</p> + +<p>And that was the way that Jasper Jay +learned something about Solomon Owl's +eyes—and something about manners, too.</p> + +<hr class="chapter" /> +<p class="chapter"><span class='pagenum'><a name="p_68" id="p_68">p. 68</a></span></p> + +<h2><a name="XIII" id="XIII"></a>XIII</h2> + +<h3>TEASING A SINGER</h3> + + +<p><span class="smcap">Though</span> there were many feathered folk +in Pleasant Valley, Jasper Jay did not +care to have much to do with any except +his own family. Unless he had other business +that was more urgent he was always +ready to join a troop of noisy blue jays +bent on some mischief. But if there were +none of his own kind about, Jasper usually +preferred to be alone.</p> + +<p>Strangely enough, Jasper did not even +like to hear other birds singing. He +claimed that their voices were altogether +too sweet.</p> + +<p>"It's sickening to hear their songs," he<span class='pagenum'><a name="p_69" id="p_69">p. 69</a></span> +used to say. "Somebody ought to put a +stop to these concerts that we have to listen +to all summer long." And he was always +telling people that what he liked was +a good, loud, jarring call, that you could +hear without any trouble. "These soft, +musical notes are all nonsense!" he declared.</p> + +<p>Jasper held it to be his duty, whenever +he chanced to come across one of those +forest concerts, to seat himself in a nearby +tree and make as much noise as he +could, in order to interrupt the singing.</p> + +<p>Of course, such actions on the part of +Jasper Jay did not make the songsters of +Pleasant Valley like him any better. But +Jasper never minded that.</p> + +<p>"I shall keep right on interrupting +these singing societies," he said, "until +I've put an end to such nuisances."</p> + +<p>Naturally, that was only his way of look<span class='pagenum'><a name="p_70" id="p_70">p. 70</a></span>ing +at such matters. As for the other +birds, they thought that the real nuisance +was Jasper Jay.</p> + +<p>Now, one of the finest singers in the +whole neighborhood was Buddy Brown-Thrasher. +Though he belonged to the +Pleasant Valley Singing Society, he sang +so well that he usually preferred to sing +by himself, instead of attending a singing +party. Each morning and each evening +he would seat himself in the topmost +branches of a tree near the thicket where +he lived; and there he would sing his favorite +song over and over again.</p> + +<p>Often other birds some distance away +would cease their own music just to enjoy +his, for it was very beautiful. If a wooden +Indian had roamed through the woods +where Buddy Brown-Thrasher was singing, +he would have stopped to listen. Nobody +could have helped doing that.</p> +<p><span class='pagenum'><a name="p_71" id="p_71">p. 71</a></span></p> + +<p>At least, nobody could have helped listening +except Jasper Jay. In his opinion, +Buddy Brown-Thrasher was the most annoying +of all the feathered songsters. He +often went out of his way to interrupt +Buddy's evening-song. (In the morning +Jasper was in too great a hurry for his +breakfast to trouble himself in any such +fashion.)</p> + +<p>Well, it is not surprising that Buddy +Brown-Thrasher should be upset by Jasper +Jay's provoking visits. It is scarcely +pleasant, when you are singing your best +notes in a tree-top, to have them suddenly +spoiled by a harsh <i>jay, jay</i>, and to be +mocked with boisterous laughter. The +time came at last when Buddy Brown-Thrasher +said he couldn't stand it any +longer.</p> + +<p>"Something will have to be done!" he +declared. So he put on his thinking-cap<span class='pagenum'><a name="p_72" id="p_72">p. 72</a></span> +at once. Being a gentlemanly sort of person, +he never once thought of <i>fighting</i> Jasper +Jay. But he felt sure that there must +be some way to teach Jasper better manners. +He knew, however, that there was +no use of trying to reason with the rude +fellow. If he had merely talked with Jasper, +and asked him if he wouldn't please +do differently, Buddy Brown-Thrasher +would have received no more than a jeering +shout in reply.</p> + +<p>Naturally, he hoped for something more +satisfactory than that.</p> + +<hr class="chapter" /> +<p class="chapter"><span class='pagenum'><a name="p_73" id="p_73">p. 73</a></span></p> + +<h2><a name="XIV" id="XIV"></a>XIV</h2> + +<h3>FINDING A WAY</h3> + + +<p>"<span class="smcap">What</span> can you do?" the other feathered +folk asked Buddy Brown-Thrasher, when +he complained about Jasper Jay's rudeness +in interrupting his singing. "You +don't intend to <i>fight</i> Jasper, do you?"</p> + +<p>"I think—" replied Buddy—"I think +I can find a better way than that." And +that was all he would say.</p> + +<p>As usual, Jasper came to Buddy Brown-Thrasher's +thicket that evening and +screamed his loudest, when Buddy began +to sing. Again Buddy's evening-song was +spoiled. And even before the noisy Jasper +had left, Buddy Brown-Thrasher be<span class='pagenum'><a name="p_74" id="p_74">p. 74</a></span>gan +to lay his plans for putting a stop to +Jasper's unpleasant trick. By the time +he fell asleep Buddy knew exactly what +he was going to do the next day.</p> + +<hr class="sorta" /> + +<p>The following morning Buddy Brown-Thrasher +was up bright and early—even +earlier than was his habit. And for once +in his life he did not pause to sing his +morning-song from his favorite perch in +the tree-top. He did not even wait to have +his breakfast, but flew straight to the +clump of young pines where—as he knew—Jasper +Jay made his home.</p> + +<p>It was so early in the morning that a +gray light half veiled the mountains; and +a white mist hung over the river. The +Jay family was just beginning to awaken. +And soon Buddy heard Jasper's harsh +voice calling to some friend who lived a little +distance away.</p> +<p><span class='pagenum'><a name="p_75" id="p_75">p. 75</a></span></p> + +<p>Jasper was still somewhat sleepy. +Though Buddy Brown-Thrasher could not +see him, he could hear Jasper talking to +his wife in a low tone, which was quite different +from the noisy squawk that people +at once thought of at the mere mention of +Jasper Jay's name. And soon a few +sweet, flute-like notes came floating out +from Jasper's tree and fell upon the ears +of Buddy Brown-Thrasher, where he lay +snugly hidden among the boughs of a +young pine.</p> + +<p>Buddy was delighted. You see, he was +a real music-lover; and seldom had he +heard any sound so beautiful as those rare +notes of Jasper Jay's.</p> + +<p>"Bravo!" Buddy cried, without thinking +what he was doing. And in the next +instant Jasper Jay thrust a towsled head +through the pine-needles that screened his +sleeping-place.</p> +<p><span class='pagenum'><a name="p_76" id="p_76">p. 76</a></span></p> + +<p>"Who's there?" he shouted in a hoarse +and angry voice.</p> + +<p>Buddy Brown-Thrasher did not answer. +He kept still as a mouse. And waited for +some time—hoping to hear Jasper's sweet +notes again—but he waited in vain.</p> + +<p>But Buddy had heard them once. And +since it was for that very purpose that he +had gone without both his breakfast and +his morning-song, he was satisfied. He +went home a little later, feeling well +pleased, so far, with his plan for putting +an end to Jasper Jay's rudeness.</p> + +<p>The first thing that Buddy Brown-Thrasher +did then was to seek his favorite +perch in the very top of his own special +tree and sing a morning-song that was +more joyous than ever. That was because +he was happier than he had been for a long +time—ever since Jasper Jay had been annoying +him.</p> +<p><span class='pagenum'><a name="p_77" id="p_77">p. 77</a></span></p> + +<p>When he had sung his song fourteen +times, Buddy ate a hearty breakfast. +Feeling as sprightly as he did, he found +his appetite unusually keen. And when at +last he had finished his meal he went +straight off to make calls upon his friends.</p> + +<p>Now, it was no accident that all those +upon whom Buddy Brown-Thrasher +called that morning belonged to the Pleasant +Valley Singing Society. You see, +Buddy needed help in order to teach Jasper +Jay a lesson. And as soon as his +friends heard his plan, they all told him +that it was a good one and that they would +be glad to do what they could to teach +Jasper Jay better manners.</p> + +<hr class="chapter" /> +<p class="chapter"><span class='pagenum'><a name="p_78" id="p_78">p. 78</a></span></p> + +<h2><a name="XV" id="XV"></a>XV</h2> + +<h3>THE INVITATION</h3> + + +<p><span class="smcap">The</span> morning was not gone before Jasper +Jay had four callers. There was Bobbie +Bobolink, Jolly Robin, Miss Kitty Catbird +and Buddy Brown-Thrasher.</p> + +<p>Jasper Jay was surprised to see them, +because it was seldom that anybody but +his relations called on him. Of course, if +one makes himself disagreeable—as Jasper +generally did—people do not go out of +their way to see him. But it was different +with Jasper Jay's relations. Some of +them were just as unmannerly and ill-bred +as he was. When they came to see Jasper +they were usually looking for a quarrel.<span class='pagenum'><a name="p_79" id="p_79">p. 79</a></span> +And they always found what they were +looking for at the house of their cousin, +Jasper Jay.</p> + +<p>Naturally, he did not like to disappoint +his own cousins. He had even been known +to quarrel with his great-grandfather—which +is something most people refuse +flatly to do.</p> + +<p>"Are you hunting for trouble?" Jasper +inquired, as he raised his crest and +snapped his bill together, looking as fierce +as he could.</p> + +<p>Such conduct was enough to frighten +any lady. And it was no wonder that Jasper's +actions—as well as his words—sent +Miss Kitty Catbird into a flutter of alarm. +Her companions, however, told her there +was no danger. And Jolly Robin, who +was a bold fellow, hopped forward to do +the talking for the callers.</p> + +<p>"We're a committee," said he, "chosen<span class='pagenum'><a name="p_80" id="p_80">p. 80</a></span> +to call on you and invite you to join the +Pleasant Valley Singing Society."</p> + +<p>When he heard Jolly Robin's explanation, +Jasper Jay laughed in his callers' +faces.</p> + +<p>"I'm not musical," he said. "And people +who get up early in the morning to +sing before breakfast always amuse me. +They're silly—that's what they are!" he +cried.</p> + +<p>"Well, the Society wants you, all the +same," Jolly insisted.</p> + +<p>Jasper Jay said nothing for a few moments. +He was thinking. And it occurred +to him, as he thought, that he could have a +good deal of sport by joining the Society +and spoiling its concerts. So he said at +last:</p> + +<p>"I'll become a member of your Society +on one condition."</p> + +<p>"What's that?" Jolly Robin inquired.</p> +<p><span class='pagenum'><a name="p_81" id="p_81">p. 81</a></span></p> + +<p>"You must let me sing all I want to."</p> + +<p>Jolly Robin looked at his companions. +And seeing that they all nodded their +heads, he asked Jasper if he would promise +to sing his best.</p> + +<p>Jasper Jay said promptly that he +would. So Jolly told him that it was a +bargain. "You shall come to our next +meeting and make all the music you want +to," he promised.</p> + +<p>So that was the way Jasper Jay became +a member of the Pleasant Valley Singing +Society.</p> + +<p>"When's your next meeting?" Jasper +asked.</p> + +<p>"To-night, just before sunset!" Jolly +replied. "We'll gather in the maple +grove, near the sugar-house. And we'll +look for you."</p> + +<p>"I'll be there without fail," Jasper Jay +assured him.</p> +<p><span class='pagenum'><a name="p_82" id="p_82">p. 82</a></span></p> + +<p>The committee left him then. And Jasper's +unpleasant laughter rang in their +ears for a long time afterward.</p> + +<p>But when he stopped laughing, Jasper +decided to keep very still for the rest of +the day. He wanted to save his voice for +the concert at sunset.</p> + +<hr class="chapter" /> +<p class="chapter"><span class='pagenum'><a name="p_83" id="p_83">p. 83</a></span></p> + +<h2><a name="XVI" id="XVI"></a>XVI</h2> + +<h3>THE SINGING SOCIETY</h3> + + +<p><span class="smcap">When</span> the members of the Pleasant Valley +Singing Society gathered just before +sunset in the maple grove, near the sugar-house +(where Cuffy Bear first saw a man), +they were glad to find that Jasper Jay +was already there, waiting for them.</p> + +<p>Now, a smallish, cinnamon-colored +young gentleman named Valentine Veery, +who was a distant cousin of Jolly Robin's, +was the singing leader. He had been +chosen on account of his being able to sing +both alto and soprano at the same time. +And as soon as everybody had found a +comfortable seat for himself, Valentine +Veery said:</p> +<p><span class='pagenum'><a name="p_84" id="p_84">p. 84</a></span></p> + +<p>"I'm glad to see we have a new member +with us this evening; and I hope he +will enjoy himself and sing his very +best."</p> + +<p>Everybody looked at Jasper Jay. And +you might think he would have felt the +least bit uncomfortable. But he only +laughed loudly and replied that if he +didn't have a good time it wouldn't be <i>his</i> +fault.</p> + +<p>Then Valentine Veery bowed politely—which +was more than Jasper Jay had done—and +announced that "Good-night, Ladies!" +would be the first song.</p> + +<p>So all the company began to sing, including +Jasper Jay. Although he knew +neither the words nor the music, he +shrieked at the top of his voice. But they +hadn't sung more than a few lines before +the leader made them stop.</p> + +<p>"There's something wrong somewhere,"<span class='pagenum'><a name="p_85" id="p_85">p. 85</a></span> +said Valentine Veery. "Has anybody a +cold in his head?"</p> + +<p>But everyone, including Jasper Jay, declared +that he never was in better health +in his life.</p> + +<p>"We'll try again, then," the leader told +them.</p> + +<p>So they started once more. And once +more Valentine Veery stopped them.</p> + +<p>"This is terrible!" he said with a shudder. +"Who is it, please, that is off the +key?"</p> + +<p>Nobody answered. But everybody +looked at Jasper Jay again. And you +would think that this time he certainly +would have felt most uncomfortable. But +he only grinned as if he were enjoying +himself hugely.</p> + +<p>"We'll try the song just once more," +little Mr. Veery told them. But it was no +use. He stopped the singing quickly.<span class='pagenum'><a name="p_86" id="p_86">p. 86</a></span> +"We can't go on like this," he declared. +"The only thing to be done is to let each +member sing the song alone. And in that +way we shall find out who's out of tune. +We'll let our oldest member sing first, and +the newest one last," he directed.</p> + +<p>So old Mr. Mockingbird, who was the +first member of the Pleasant Valley Singing +Society—and about the only one of +his family in the neighborhood—sang the +song in his best manner. And after him +the others had their turn, until everybody +had sung "Good-night, Ladies!" except +the newest member of all.</p> + +<p>"Now—" said Valentine Veery—"now +everyone must keep very still while we +have the pleasure of listening to Jasper +Jay."</p> + +<p>Of course, after hearing the song repeated +so many times, Jasper couldn't +help learning a little of it. He began to<span class='pagenum'><a name="p_87" id="p_87">p. 87</a></span> +bellow "Good-night, Ladies!" in the +harshest, most ear-splitting tones he knew. +Some of his listeners hurriedly tucked +their heads under their wings, to shut out +the horrid sound. And as for Miss Kitty +Catbird, she actually left the meeting and +flew straight home, because she felt that +she must scream if she stayed there any +longer. Having a sensitive ear, she could +not endure Jasper's rasping voice. In her +opinion, it sounded more like a buzz saw +than anything else.</p> + +<hr class="chapter" /> +<p class="chapter"><span class='pagenum'><a name="p_88" id="p_88">p. 88</a></span></p> + +<h2><a name="XVII" id="XVII"></a>XVII</h2> + +<h3>JASPER IS ASHAMED</h3> + + +<p><span class="smcap">The</span> leader of the Singing Society stopped +Jasper Jay's song as soon as he was able +to. But Jolly Robin's cousin, Valentine +Veery, found it no easy matter to silence +Jasper Jay. Though he called to him several +times, Jasper paid no attention to +him, but continued to make all the noise he +could. His notes had never sounded so +loud and harsh before—but you must remember +that Jasper had been saving his +voice all day for this very occasion.</p> + +<p>At last Valentine Veery launched his +small, cinnamon-colored body straight at +Jasper Jay and gave him a sharp nudge<span class='pagenum'><a name="p_89" id="p_89">p. 89</a></span> +with his wing. And at that Jasper +stopped singing.</p> + +<p>"What's the matter?" he asked in an +angry voice.</p> + +<p>"Matter?" said Valentine Veery. +"Why, you're all wrong. You're not only +twisting the words of the song, but you +don't know the air at all. It's plain to +see that it was you that made our concert +sound so queerly."</p> + +<p>Jasper Jay jeered openly at the little +leader.</p> + +<p>"The trouble—" said Jasper—"the +real trouble is that you and your friends +don't know this song. I'm the only one +that can sing it correctly."</p> + +<p>Everybody exclaimed that Jasper was +a ridiculous fellow.</p> + +<p>"The committee that invited me to +come here told me that I might sing as +much as I wanted to. And here you've<span class='pagenum'><a name="p_90" id="p_90">p. 90</a></span> +gone and stopped me!" Jasper Jay complained.</p> + +<p>Then Buddy Brown-Thrasher cried out +in a clear voice that Jasper wasn't trying +his best, as he had promised the committee +he would.</p> + +<p>"In fact," said Buddy, "I'm quite sure +he's trying his <i>worst</i>."</p> + +<p>Jasper Jay looked quite fierce when he +heard that remark.</p> + +<p>"It's not so—and you can't prove it!" +he screamed.</p> + +<p>The little leader turned to Buddy +Brown-Thrasher and said:</p> + +<p>"What have you to say to that?"</p> + +<p>This was what Buddy Brown-Thrasher +had been waiting for.</p> + +<p>"I'd like to state," he announced, "that +Jasper Jay can sing very well—when he +wants to. He has always pretended that +singing was silly. And you know what a<span class='pagenum'><a name="p_91" id="p_91">p. 91</a></span> +nuisance he makes of himself spoiling a +good song whenever he happens to hear +one. Why, I've heard him sing beautifully!"</p> + +<p>"You never!" howled Jasper Jay.</p> + +<p>"Yes, I have—this very morning!" +Buddy Brown-Thrasher retorted. "I was +in the young pine woods where he lives +and I heard Jasper sing to his wife—lovely, +flute-like notes they were. But I can +see that he's ashamed to admit it."</p> + +<p>Jasper Jay was so surprised that he +opened and closed his bill several times +without saying anything at all. It was +not often that he was at a loss for words. +And some of those present couldn't help +smiling.</p> + +<p>Jasper noticed their amusement.</p> + +<p>"This is just a trick!" he squawked. +"You invited me to your Singing Society +to tease me!"</p> +<p><span class='pagenum'><a name="p_92" id="p_92">p. 92</a></span></p> + +<p>As a matter of fact, his words were not +far from the truth.</p> + +<p>"Let us hear your best notes, Jasper!" +somebody called. And others cried, +"Yes!" and "Please!" and "We're waiting!"</p> + +<p>But Jasper Jay would do nothing but +stamp his feet and hop up and down and +snap his bill together and scold. He made +such a funny sight that the whole Singing +Society began to laugh at him, until he +flew away with one last frantic scream of +rage.</p> + +<p>Then the Pleasant Valley Singing Society +had one of the most enjoyable meetings +it had ever held. And though Jasper +Jay showed a very sulky face to everybody +for several days, it was a long time +before he spoiled any songs that he happened +to hear. And he never annoyed +Buddy Brown-Thrasher again.</p> +<p><span class='pagenum'><a name="p_93" id="p_93">p. 93</a></span></p> + +<p>Morning and evening Buddy went to +his favorite perch and sang to his heart's +content.</p> + +<p>For Jasper Jay had learned a lesson at +last.</p> + +<hr class="chapter" /> +<p class="chapter"><span class='pagenum'><a name="p_94" id="p_94">p. 94</a></span></p> + +<h2><a name="XVIII" id="XVIII"></a>XVIII</h2> + +<h3>ENEMIES</h3> + + +<p><span class="smcap">Jasper Jay</span> was not the only bird that +liked beechnuts. Reddy Woodpecker was +fond of them, too. And when he saw that +the beechnut crop was going to be a big +one he decided that he would stay in Pleasant +Valley all winter.</p> + +<p>Jasper and Reddy were not unlike in +some other respects, too. Both were noisy, +quarrelsome ruffians, who did not hesitate +to steal and devour the eggs and young of +other birds. Furthermore, both of them +were gay-colored—but in a very different +way. Jasper Jay always wore a brilliant +blue suit, while Reddy Woodpecker made<span class='pagenum'><a name="p_95" id="p_95">p. 95</a></span> +himself easily seen by donning a bright +red cap, which came down to his shoulders +and gave him an odd look. Being so much +alike (as far as manners were concerned), +the two quarreled whenever they met. +And when Jasper Jay heard that Reddy +had made up his mind to spend the winter +in the North he was furious.</p> + +<p>"It's an outrage!" he declared to +Jimmy Rabbit, who had told him about +Reddy Woodpecker's plan. "He needn't +think he can stay in this neighborhood and +eat most of the nuts—for I know him and +I know what he expects to do."</p> + +<p>Jimmy Rabbit saw at once that there +was going to be some fun—for him. And +he didn't want to miss any of it.</p> + +<p>"I suppose——" he said to Jasper—"I +suppose you'd like to drive Reddy Woodpecker +away from Pleasant Valley?"</p> + +<p>Jasper laughed hoarsely.</p> +<p><span class='pagenum'><a name="p_96" id="p_96">p. 96</a></span></p> + +<p>"I'd not only <i>like</i> to—I'm <i>going</i> to!" +he said.</p> + +<p>"How do you intend to do it?" Jimmy +asked him.</p> + +<p>"I'll have to think a while before I decide," +Jasper Jay replied.</p> + +<p>"You'll find it pretty difficult," Jimmy +Rabbit said. "Let me arrange the matter +for you! I'll promise you to put Reddy +Woodpecker where he can't eat any beechnuts. +And so long as I do that for you, I +suppose you don't care what happens."</p> + +<p>"Certainly not!" said Jasper Jay. +"Though, of course, if you could arrange +things so I didn't have to <i>see</i> Reddy I'd +like that. His red cap is hideous. It's +enough to make anybody ill, just to see +it."</p> + +<p>"I think I can please you," said Jimmy +Rabbit. "But you'll have to do exactly +as I say, or my plan won't work."</p> +<p><span class='pagenum'><a name="p_97" id="p_97">p. 97</a></span></p> + +<p>Now, Jasper Jay was really not at all +eager to fight Reddy Woodpecker. Reddy +had a very sharp bill, which was even +longer than Jasper's, and just as strong. +And Reddy could strike a powerful blow +with his bill. So Jasper Jay was glad +enough to accept help from a person like +Jimmy Rabbit, who was always thinking +of new schemes.</p> + +<p>"I'll leave everything to you," said Jasper.</p> + +<p>"Good!" cried Jimmy Rabbit. "And +now you must wait right where I tell you +to, while I go to find Reddy Woodpecker. +Follow me!" he ordered.</p> + +<p>And Jasper Jay followed him, while +Jimmy skipped briskly through the +woods. He appeared to be looking for +something. And at last he seemed to have +found it, in a swampy hollow where water +stood here and there in pools. Anyhow,<span class='pagenum'><a name="p_98" id="p_98">p. 98</a></span> +he stopped beside a cedar tree and said +to Jasper Jay:</p> + +<p>"You must stand beside this tree; and +you mustn't stir out of your tracks."</p> + +<p>Jimmy Rabbit pointed out the exact +spot where he wanted Jasper Jay to station +himself. And since it happened that +there was a puddle of water there, it was +only to be expected that Jasper Jay should +begin to grumble.</p> + +<hr class="chapter" /> +<p class="chapter"><span class='pagenum'><a name="p_99" id="p_99">p. 99</a></span></p> + +<h2><a name="XIX" id="XIX"></a>XIX</h2> + +<h3>COLD FEET</h3> + + +<p><span class="smcap">Yes!</span> Jasper Jay looked sulky when +Jimmy Rabbit told him to stand in the +puddle of water, close beside the cedar +tree.</p> + +<p>"How long do you want me to stay +here?" Jasper growled. "I can tell you +that it's not very pleasant to stand in a +pool of water a great while—on a cold +day like this."</p> + +<p>Now, all this happened quite late in the +fall. And it was true that the day was a +cold one. In fact, the weather seemed to +be growing colder every minute.</p> + +<p>"I won't ask you to wait any longer<span class='pagenum'><a name="p_100" id="p_100">p. 100</a></span> +than is necessary," said Jimmy Rabbit. +"And if you want me to put Reddy Woodpecker +where he can't eat any nuts, and +you don't have to <i>see</i> him, you must follow +my directions.... When you're ill +and go to Aunt Polly Woodchuck, the +herb doctor, you always take her advice, +don't you?"</p> + +<p>Jasper admitted that he did.</p> + +<p>"Well, then, you must do just as I say. +You know, it always makes you ill to look +at Reddy Woodpecker. And I'm going +to cure you, if you'll only give me a +chance."</p> + +<p>So Jasper Jay went and stood in the +puddle. He screamed a good deal as he +stepped into the cold water.</p> + +<p>"This is terrible!" he groaned. "Do +hurry with your scheme, or I shall have a +chill."</p> + +<p>"Remember! You're to keep absolutely<span class='pagenum'><a name="p_101" id="p_101">p. 101</a></span> +still!" Jimmy Rabbit warned him. "You +mustn't move and you mustn't talk. If +you should, my plan would be spoiled; and +then you would have to fight Reddy Woodpecker +after all."</p> + +<p>"I pr-pr-promise!" said Jasper Jay. +His bill was chattering so fast that he +could hardly talk. And he was so cold +that he looked uncommonly blue—even +for a blue jay.</p> + +<p>So Jimmy Rabbit hopped away, feeling +quite pleased with himself and his plan. +If Jasper Jay could have seen him stop, +as soon as he was out of sight, and roll +over and over upon the ground and hold +his shaking sides he might have wondered +what Jimmy was laughing at. Certainly +Jasper Jay could see no joke in standing +still in a cold puddle on a frosty fall day.</p> + +<p>Well, after a time Jimmy Rabbit +stopped rolling upon the ground and hurried<span class='pagenum'><a name="p_102" id="p_102">p. 102</a></span> +straight to the place where the +beeches grew. And there—as he had +hoped to—he found Reddy Woodpecker, +busily eating beechnuts.</p> + +<p>"How are the nuts this fall?" Jimmy +Rabbit asked.</p> + +<p>"They couldn't be better!" said Reddy, +stuffing his mouth as he spoke.</p> + +<p>"They say there's a big crop this year," +Jimmy Rabbit observed.</p> + +<p>"Yes!" replied Reddy. "But it's none +too big. In fact, there are too many people +in this neighborhood that come here +for nuts. I hope," he said, "that's not +what you're looking for."</p> + +<p>Jimmy Rabbit laughed.</p> + +<p>"Certainly not!" he said. "I'm satisfied +to leave the nuts for you and Jasper +Jay to eat. I want none of them."</p> + +<p>"Jasper Jay!" screamed Reddy Woodpecker. +"Don't mention that rowdy's<span class='pagenum'><a name="p_103" id="p_103">p. 103</a></span> +name to me, please! He's the greediest +of all! And he's so vain—so proud of that +sky-blue suit of his—that I can't bear the +sight of him. I wish I could put him +where he couldn't eat any more of these +beechnuts, and where I wouldn't have to +look at him, either!"</p> + +<p>Of course, that was not at all an agreeable +remark for him to make.</p> + +<p>But it seemed to please Jimmy Rabbit +greatly.</p> + +<hr class="chapter" /> +<p class="chapter"><span class='pagenum'><a name="p_104" id="p_104">p. 104</a></span></p> + +<h2><a name="XX" id="XX"></a>XX</h2> + +<h3>GETTING RID OF JASPER</h3> + + +<p>"<span class="smcap">Have</span> you finished your meal?" Jimmy +Rabbit asked Reddy Woodpecker, as they +faced each other among the beech trees.</p> + +<p>"Well, no—I can't say I have," replied +Reddy. "When I begin to eat beechnuts +I never want to stop. It's something I +can't help. And I've been told that Johnnie +Green is just like that when he gets a +taste of peanuts. You might say that I'll +have only one meal all winter long. It +started as soon as the beechnuts began to +ripen; and it won't be ended until the last +nut is gone."</p> + +<p>Jimmy Rabbit couldn't help smiling.</p> +<p><span class='pagenum'><a name="p_105" id="p_105">p. 105</a></span></p> + +<p>"Anyhow, you can't be really hungry," +he said. "And if you'll come with me and +do just as I tell you, you'll find that Jasper +Jay won't trouble you for a good, long +time."</p> + +<p>"Wait a little while!" Reddy Woodpecker +begged him. "I want to eat just +a few more beechnuts; and then I'll come +with you."</p> + +<p>"Hurry, then!" said Jimmy Rabbit. +And he watched anxiously while Reddy +Woodpecker broke open more beechnuts +with his strong bill and greedily ate the +sweet meats.</p> + +<p>"Come! come!" Jimmy Rabbit urged +him.</p> + +<p>"Just one more!" Reddy pleaded.</p> + +<p>That happened several times, until at +last Jimmy Rabbit said that he couldn't +wait any longer, and that he was sorry, +because he knew he could have helped<span class='pagenum'><a name="p_106" id="p_106">p. 106</a></span> +Reddy in a way that would have pleased +him.</p> + +<p>He started off then. And at that Reddy +Woodpecker hurried after him.</p> + +<p>"I think I've eaten enough so I can +manage to stay away from the beechnuts +a short time," he said with a sigh. "But +I hope you won't keep me long."</p> + +<p>"Everything depends on the weather," +Jimmy Rabbit answered.</p> + +<p>But Reddy Woodpecker did not even +hear him. His mind was too busy thinking +of beechnuts to pay much attention +to anything else.</p> + +<p>They travelled through the woods for +some time, until they reached a low, +swampy place. And as soon as they came +to it Jimmy Rabbit whispered to Reddy +Woodpecker that he must be very still.</p> + +<p>"Do exactly as I tell you," he ordered. +"And don't even whisper to me, please!<span class='pagenum'><a name="p_107" id="p_107">p. 107</a></span> +I'm going to show you where you must +stand. Though the place may not be as +dry as you might prefer, you'll have to +follow my directions and say nothing—if +you want to get rid of Jasper Jay."</p> + +<p>"I promise—" said Reddy Woodpecker—"but +I wish I had brought along a few +beechnuts in my pocket. Just wait a moment!" +he added. "Let me see if I haven't +some nuts somewhere that I've forgotten."</p> + +<p>So Jimmy Rabbit waited while Reddy +hunted in all his pockets. He turned +every one of them inside out. And since +he had fifteen pockets, and he had to turn +them all back again, and replace their contents, +the proceeding consumed a good deal +of time.</p> + +<p>Jimmy Rabbit grew very impatient. He +kept urging Reddy Woodpecker to make +haste. But Reddy told him that if he hur<span class='pagenum'><a name="p_108" id="p_108">p. 108</a></span>ried +too much he might overlook a beechnut. +So he took his own time.</p> + +<p>But the search was all in vain. Not a +single nut did he find.</p> + +<p>Then Jimmy Rabbit led him silently to +a great cedar tree and bade him stand behind +it and keep perfectly still.</p> + +<p>Reddy made a wry face when he saw +that he must put his feet in a deep puddle +of water. But he obeyed, all the same.</p> + +<hr class="chapter" /> +<p class="chapter"><span class='pagenum'><a name="p_109" id="p_109">p. 109</a></span></p> + +<h2><a name="XXI" id="XXI"></a>XXI</h2> + +<h3>TWO RASCALS CAUGHT</h3> + + +<p><span class="smcap">The</span> moment Reddy Woodpecker stepped +into the cold water he wanted to say +"Ouch!" But Jimmy Rabbit put a finger +on his mouth—meaning that Reddy must +be still as a mouse.</p> + +<p>So the red-capped scamp managed to +keep quiet, though it was such hard work +that he began to feel terribly hungry. +Jimmy Rabbit watched him for a short +time, smiling and nodding his head, as if +to say:</p> + +<p>"That's right! Just do as I say and all +will be well." And then he waved a sort +of farewell, before he disappeared.</p> +<p><span class='pagenum'><a name="p_110" id="p_110">p. 110</a></span></p> + +<p>Though Reddy did not know it, Jimmy +Rabbit stopped as soon as he was out of +sight and crept behind a bush, from which +hiding-place he could watch the cedar tree, +without being seen by the two beechnut +lovers who stood so still beside it—for +there was Jasper Jay, standing in a puddle +on one side of the big tree, and there +was Reddy Woodpecker, standing in another +puddle on the opposite side of the +tree!</p> + +<p>And neither of them knew that the other +was anywhere around!</p> + +<p>But there was one thing that they knew +quite well: the water was almost colder +than they could bear, at first. If their feet +hadn't grown numb, after a time, so that +there was no feeling in them at all, they +wouldn't have been able to stand there so +still and so long.</p> + +<p>They both wondered where Jimmy Rab<span class='pagenum'><a name="p_111" id="p_111">p. 111</a></span>bit +was, and what he was doing, and why +he didn't come back.</p> + +<p>But Jimmy Rabbit was waiting for +something. As he had told Reddy Woodpecker, +everything depended on the +weather. Though the air was becoming +sharper every minute, it was not yet cold +enough to suit Jimmy Rabbit. What he +wanted was <i>freezing</i> weather. And at last +he was satisfied. When the sun hid itself +behind a bank of clouds the ground began +to stiffen with frost, which covered all the +puddles and pools with a coating of ice.</p> + +<hr class="sorta" /> + +<p>It was almost dark when Jimmy Rabbit +left the shelter of his bush and danced +up and down to get warm. Soon he came +with a hop, skip and a jump to the big +cedar tree.</p> + +<p>"How are you?" he called.</p> + +<p>And two very sulky voices answered:</p> +<p><span class='pagenum'><a name="p_112" id="p_112">p. 112</a></span></p> + +<p>"I'm cold—that's how I am!"</p> + +<p>"Well, why don't you dance around and +get warm?" Jimmy asked.</p> + +<p>But both Reddy Woodpecker and Jasper +Jay were caught fast by their feet in +the frozen puddles. And as soon as they +tried to move they began to squall loudly—because +they were so frightened. They +could no more have danced than the old +cedar tree could have pulled up its roots +and capered about in the forest. So far +as they could see, they might as well have +stepped into any of the traps that Johnnie +Green set for Peter Mink.</p> + +<p>It was no wonder that they were +alarmed—no wonder that they struggled +to free themselves.</p> + +<p>"You seem to like to stay by that tree," +said Jimmy Rabbit.</p> + +<p>Now, since Jasper and Reddy had +wanted exactly the same things to happen,<span class='pagenum'><a name="p_113" id="p_113">p. 113</a></span> +and since they were now in the same fix, +Jimmy Rabbit could talk to them both at +the same time. What he said to one fitted +the other just as well.</p> + +<p>Of course, that made it very easy for +Jimmy Rabbit.</p> + +<p>But it was rather hard on Reddy +Woodpecker and Jasper Jay.</p> + +<p>"<i>Jay! jay!</i>" screamed Jasper in a +rasping voice, like a saw biting into a log. +"<i>Ker-r-ruck! ker-r-ruck!</i>" sounded Reddy's +rolling call. And they began to scold +Jimmy Rabbit, until he put his paws over +his ears and ran away.</p> + +<p>If it hadn't been for Reddy Woodpecker's +strong bill they might have +stayed in the cedar swamp all winter. +But he set to work and soon chopped himself +free. Then he helped Jasper Jay. +And before it was dark they flew away +together and went straight to the beech<span class='pagenum'><a name="p_114" id="p_114">p. 114</a></span>nut +grove, where they ate a huge meal +of beechnuts, without having a single dispute +about anything.</p> + +<p>On the contrary, they agreed perfectly +in every way. Especially they agreed +that Jimmy Rabbit was a busybody and +that somebody ought to teach him better +manners.</p> + +<p>"I'd be glad to help you do that," +said Jasper Jay.</p> + +<p>It was actually funny that two such +rowdies should talk of another's bad manners. +But no doubt such an idea never +entered their heads.</p> + +<h3>THE END</h3> + +<hr class="chapter" style="margin-bottom: 50px;" /> + +<div class="figcenter" style="margin-top: 5px; width: 353px;"> +<img src="images/illus-back.png" width="353" height="450" +alt="Children observing nesting birds" /> +</div> + +<p class="titleblock" style="margin-top: 5px; font-size: 200%; word-spacing: 0.5em; letter-spacing: 0.2em;">The HONEY BUNCH BOOKS</p> +<p class="titleblock" style="font-size: 140%;"><i>by</i> HELEN LOUISE THORNDYKE</p> +<p class="titleblock" style="font-size: 110%;"><i>For Little Girls From</i> 4 <i>to</i> 8 <i>Years Old</i></p> + +<p class="titleblockl" style="margin-top: 1em; margin-bottom: 1em;">"Honey Bunch" is a dainty, thoughtful little girl who +keeps you wondering just what she is going to do next. +Little girls everywhere will want to discover what interesting +experiences she is having wherever she goes.</p> + +<p class="titleblock" style="margin-top: 1em; margin-bottom: 2em; font-size: 115%;"><i>Delightfully Illustrated</i></p> + +<p class="titleblockl">HONEY BUNCH: JUST A LITTLE GIRL</p> +<p class="titleblockl">HONEY BUNCH: HER FIRST VISIT TO THE CITY</p> +<p class="titleblockl">HONEY BUNCH: HER FIRST DAYS ON THE FARM</p> +<p class="titleblockl">HONEY BUNCH: HER FIRST VISIT TO THE SEASHORE</p> +<p class="titleblockl">HONEY BUNCH: HER FIRST LITTLE GARDEN</p> +<p class="titleblockl">HONEY BUNCH: HER FIRST DAYS IN CAMP</p> +<p class="titleblockl">HONEY BUNCH: HER FIRST AUTO TOUR</p> +<p class="titleblockl">HONEY BUNCH: HER FIRST TRIP ON THE OCEAN</p> +<p class="titleblockl">HONEY BUNCH: HER FIRST TRIP WEST</p> +<p class="titleblockl">HONEY BUNCH: HER FIRST SUMMER ON AN ISLAND</p> +<p class="titleblockl">HONEY BUNCH: HER FIRST TRIP IN AN AIRPLANE</p> + +<p class="center" style="margin-top: 2em; word-spacing: 0.5em; letter-spacing: 0.2em;">GROSSET & DUNLAP -:- <i>Publishers</i> -:- NEW YORK<br /><br /><br /><br /></p> + +<hr class="chapter" style="margin-bottom: 50px;" /> + +<div class="figcenter" style="width: 550px; margin-bottom: 30px; margin-top: 30px;"> +<a name="front-endpapers" id="front-endpapers"></a> +<a name="front-endpapers-grande" id="front-endpapers-grande" href="images/illus-large-fe.jpg"> +<img src="images/illus-fe.jpg" style="border: 2px solid; border-color: #333333;" width="550" height="404" +alt="Front endpapers" title="Front endpapers" /> +</a> +<span class="caption">Front endpapers</span> +</div> + +<div class="figcenter" style="width: 550px; margin-bottom: 30px; margin-top: 30px;"> +<a name="back-endpapers" id="back-endpapers"></a> +<a name="back-endpapers-grande" id="back-endpapers-grande" href="images/illus-large-be.jpg"> +<img src="images/illus-be.jpg" style="border: 2px solid; border-color: #333333;" width="550" height="420" +alt="Back endpapers" title="Back endpapers" /> +</a> +<span class="caption">Back endpapers</span> +</div> + + + + + + + + + +<pre> + + + + + +End of Project Gutenberg's The Tale of Jasper Jay, by Arthur Scott Bailey + +*** END OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK THE TALE OF JASPER JAY *** + +***** This file should be named 21836-h.htm or 21836-h.zip ***** +This and all associated files of various formats will be found in: + http://www.gutenberg.org/2/1/8/3/21836/ + +Produced by Joe Longo and the Online Distributed +Proofreading Team at http://www.pgdp.net + + +Updated editions will replace the previous one--the old editions +will be renamed. + +Creating the works from public domain print editions means that no +one owns a United States copyright in these works, so the Foundation +(and you!) can copy and distribute it in the United States without +permission and without paying copyright royalties. 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