n he had sung his song fourteen times, Buddy ate a hearty breakfast.
Feeling as sprightly as he did, he found his appetite unusually keen.
And when at last he had finished his meal he went straight off to make
calls upon his friends.

Now, it was no accident that all those upon whom Buddy Brown-Thrasher
called that morning belonged to the Pleasant Valley Singing Society. You
see, Buddy needed help in order to teach Jasper Jay a lesson. And as
soon as his friends heard his plan, they all told him that it was a good
one and that they would be glad to do what they could to teach Jasper
Jay better manners.

XV

THE INVITATION

THE morning was not gone before Jasper Jay had four callers. There was
Bobbie Bobolink, Jolly Robin, Miss Kitty Catbird and Buddy
Brown-Thrasher.

Jasper Jay was surprised to see them, because it was seldom that anybody
but his relations called on him. Of course, if one makes himself
disagreeable--as Jasper generally did--people do not go out of their way
to see him. But it was different with Jasper Jay's relations. Some of
them were just as unmannerly and ill-bred as he was. When they came to
see Jasper they were usually looking for a quarrel. And they always
found what they were looking for at the house of their cousin, Jasper
Jay.

Naturally, he did not like to disappoint his own cousins. He had even
been known to quarrel with his great-grandfather--which is something
most people refuse flatly to do.

"Are you hunting for trouble?" Jasper inquired, as he raised his crest
and snapped his bill together, looking as fierce as he could.

Such conduct was enough to frighten any lady. And it was no wonder that
Jasper's actions--as well as his words--sent Miss Kitty Catbird into a
flutter of alarm. Her companions, however, told her there was no danger.
And Jolly Robin, who was a bold fellow, hopped forward to do the talking
for the callers.

"We're a committee," said he, "chosen to call on you and invite you to
join the Pleasant Valley Singing Society."

When he heard Jolly Robin's explanation, Jasper Jay laughed in his
callers' faces.

"I'm not musical," he said. "And people who get up early in the morning
to sing before breakfast always amuse me. They're silly--that's what
they are!" he cried.

"Well, the Society wants you, all the same," Jolly insisted.

Jasper Jay said nothing for a few moments. He was thinking. And it
occurred to him, as he thought, that he could have a good