“No, they didn’t; but I’m going to sing, anyway,” answered Herb, and he started the first bars of the well known song.
“We might as well all sing, then,” said Bob. “We can’t make it any worse than Herb’s singing, anyway,” so they all joined in the song. At the end of each line they paused, and Larry gave the 122 proper bird notes and trills. The result was not half bad, and before they had finished other convalescent patients had come into the room and were listening appreciatively. The boys all had their backs to the door, and did not know they had an audience until they came to the end of the song and there was a round of applause for their effort.
They all whirled around in some surprise.
“I didn’t know we were making anybody suffer but ourselves,” laughed Bob. “It must be pretty hard on you folks.”
“It sounded fine,” said one. “We enjoyed it. Why don’t you try something else?”
“Couldn’t think of it,” said Bob. “Besides, I guess that’s about the only song we all know except the ’Star Spangled Banner,’ and there aren’t any bird songs in that. You give them some more imitations, though, Larry. You will be all the better for the practice, anyway.”
“Anything to oblige,” grinned Larry, and went through his whole repertoire, while the little audience applauded freely.
“There! that’s all I know,” said Larry at last, when he had imitated every kind of bird he could think of. “I’ll have to get busy and learn some more, I guess.”
“We didn’t know we had such a talented young man in the place,” said one elderly gentleman. 123 “You’ll have to entertain us every day while you’re here, young man.”
“Well, if you folks can stand it, I can,” laughed Larry. “I’ll always be glad to oblige, I’m sure.”