Mister Jim Crow was sitting on a fence stake listening to Mister Bob-o-link who was singing his Spingle, Spangle song, when he saw six robins dart into Robert Robin’s basswood tree.
“Some strange robins are in Robert Robin’s tree!” he said to himself. “I had better go over and see where they came from, what they are going to do, and who they are!”
So Jim Crow flew over towards the big basswood tree and sang out: “What, ho! Strangers! Whence came ye! Whither bound, and who’s’t?”
A tired-looking robin hopped to the end of a twig and answered: “Well! Well! If there isn’t my old friend, Jim Crow! It does seem so good to get back home again and see the neighbors!”
“Why! It is Robert Robin!” exclaimed Jim Crow. “I thought that you were away on your vacation!”
“We have been, and we have returned!” said Robert Robin.
“You made a short stay of it!” said Jim Crow. “You left us yesterday morning!”
“Can that be possible?” said Robert Robin. “It seems to me that we were away a week! But the very best part of a vacation is the getting back!” said Robert Robin, and Jim Crow said:
“It was very quiet around the woods while you were away. There was no one to sing us a Hurry-up song in the morning, and no one to sing us a Cheer-up song in the afternoon, and no one to sing us a Good-night song when the red sun was sinking behind the purple hill. Mrs. Crow has had the blues all day, Billy Rabbit has been very lonely, and even Melancthon Coon was asking what had become of you; he had missed your singing. I came over here just on purpose to listen to little Mister Bob-o-link sing his Spingle, Spangle song. So you see, Mister Robin, we all need you to cheer us up with your songs and keep us good-natured!”
“Thank you very much, Mister Crow!” said Robert Robin, “I will surely remember to sing you my Good-night song, when the sun goes down behind the hill!”