Rainbow was a kind of court of last appeal before the time came for the final rehearsal on the eve of Emily’s birthday, when Captain Featherweight was to judge of everything.
Colonel Claw, too, was busy all that week selecting the sweetest singers for the bird chorus; for although he did not sing himself, but only conversed, he was very particular as to the birds he should ask to take part in the celebration.
So he invited the musical Blackbird, but as he is a very great mimic, Colonel Claw warned him to be on his guard against imitating the rough and hoarse notes of other birds. He also invited the Bobolink, the Song Sparrow, the Vesper Sparrow, the Wood Pewee, the Indigo Bunting, the Robin, the Purple Finch, the Vireo, the Meadow Lark, the Veery, the Hermit Thrush, the Bluebird, and all the Warblers who might serve as a background or accompaniment.
The Cedar Bird was Colonel Claw’s great problem, because, as he said, “His voice is inferior.”
But he knew the Cedar Bird would be very much hurt if he did not invite him, and he knew too that Dr. Templeton and all his family were particularly fond of the Cedar Bird family. And so Colonel Claw was puzzled and perplexed, and he carried his difficulty to Rainbow and laid the case before him.
Rainbow advised Colonel Claw to invite the Cedar Bird, “For,” said he, “it is to be such a gay and festive occasion that there should be no sad hearts in Templeton Garden. But tell him to be sure to sing softly, softly.”
“Dear sir, kind sir,” said Colonel Claw, “you are always so amiable, and your counsel so admirable, that I take your advice; your wish is my law.”
And so Colonel Claw invited the Cedar Bird, and he kept saying “softly,” “softly,” so that there should be no mistake as to what was required of him.
And all the birds entered into the spirit of the celebration, and came each day in joyous throngs to the practice. They were greatly excited all that week, for they had never before been asked to take part in the festivities of a little girl’s birthday. And they spent far more time than usual in preening their feathers and taking their baths, until they felt that they were looking their very best.
The insects, too, were very particular about their appearance, and swam and dove in the pool of the fountain, and dried themselves in the sun so that there should be no particles of dust sticking to them.