Perhaps it is a wonder that Chirpy could be so cheerful
as he was, living under such difficulties as he did.
But on the other hand, maybe he felt so carefree at
night that he couldn’t help being jolly.
Anyhow, he was always ready for a good time.
And if there was no good time at hand, usually Chirpy
Cricket could think of some sort of frolic.
And so, at last, he hit upon the idea of a torchlight
procession. Somebody had told him that Farmer
Green’s family had seen such a parade in the
village one evening. And Chirpy Cricket saw no
reason why he and his friends should not enjoy one
too, right there in the shadow of Blue Mountain.
“What they can do in the village, we can do
here!” he exclaimed. And though it was
still broad daylight—being not later than
the middle of the afternoon—Chirpy set
out at once to find Freddie Firefly, because he simply
had to get Freddie to help him.
He found Freddie in the swampy part of the meadow,
near the place where the cat-tails grew. And
though Freddie was a bit sleepy, he became wide awake
the moment he heard Chirpy Cricket’s voice.
“I’ve thought of a fine plan!” Chirpy
Cricket cried. “I’m going to have
a torchlight procession and I want you and all your
family to take part in it.”
FREDDIE AGREES TO HELP
Never in all his life had Freddie Firefly heard of
a torchlight procession—nor of any other
sort of procession, either. So when Chirpy Cricket
first mentioned his plan it was no wonder that Freddie
looked somewhat blank.
But when Chirpy explained that a procession was a
parade, which meant that you followed a leader—and
a good many others—in a long line, Freddie
Firefly began to understand.
“I need you and a few hundred of your nearest
relations to furnish the lights,” Chirpy Cricket
continued. “And I wish you’d ask your
whole family to take part in the procession, for we
really can’t have too many of you.”
“When will the procession take place?”
Freddie Firefly wanted to know.
“To-night, as soon as it’s dark enough!”
Chirpy told him.
“And where are we going to march?”
“Oh, all around the meadow!” said Chirpy
Cricket. “The line will form along the
stone wall by the roadside. ... Do you think you’ll
be there?” he inquired somewhat anxiously.
“You certainly can count on me,” Freddie
Firefly promised. “Of course, I can’t
very well accept your invitation for more than about
fifty-five of my brothers—and maybe six
dozen of my cousins. But I hope there’ll
be more of us than that.”
“Well, I hope so, too,” Chirpy Cricket
said. “But even if there were no more than
you can promise, we ought to have enough. Fifty-five
and six dozen make one hundred and twenty-seven; and
you make one hundred and twenty-eight.”
“Yes,” replied Freddie Firefly, though
he thought it would have been more polite had Chirpy
Cricket counted him first instead of last, since he
was the first of his family to be invited. But
he really couldn’t be angry with anyone so cheerful
as Chirpy Cricket.
