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.
"Now—" said Valentine Veery—"now everyone must keep very still while we have the pleasure of listening to Jasper Jay."
Of course, after hearing the song repeated so many times, Jasper couldn't help learning a little of it. He began to[p. 87] 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.
XVII
JASPER IS ASHAMED
The 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.
At last Valentine Veery launched his small, cinnamon-colored body straight at Jasper Jay and gave him a sharp nudge[p. 89] with his wing. And at that Jasper stopped singing.
"What's the matter?" he asked in an angry voice.