“What’s the matter?” Willie Whip-poor-will asked, with a startled stare. “Are the woods on fire?”
“No!” said Jolly Robin. “I want to talk with you—that’s all.” And he was as cheerful as anyone could have wished. 108
But Willie Whip-poor-will looked very cross.
“This is a queer time to make a call!” he grumbled. “I don’t like to be disturbed in broad daylight. I supposed everybody knew that midnight is the proper time for a visit.”
“But I’m always asleep then,” Jolly Robin objected, “unless it’s a moonlight night and you happen to be singing on my side of the woods.”
Willie Whip-poor-will looked almost pleasant when Jolly said that.
“So you stay awake to hear me!” he exclaimed. “I see you like my singing.”
Jolly Robin laughed, because Willie had made such a funny mistake.
“You’re wrong!” he said. “In fact, I’ve been wanting to talk with you about that very thing. I want you to change your song, which is a very annoying one. 109 It’s altogether too disagreeable. I’ll teach you my ‘Cheerily-cheerup’ song. You’ll like it much better, I think. And I’m sure all your neighbors will.... Why not learn the new song right now?” Jolly asked.
But Willie Whip-poor-will made no answer. Looking at him more closely, Jolly Robin was amazed to see that he was sound asleep.