on a pleasant
night like this."

[Illustration: Kiddie's Secret is Discovered by Freddie Firefly

(_Page 28_)]

VII

FREDDIE WANTS TO TELL

As soon as Kiddie Katydid mentioned the word _music_, Freddie Firefly
began to dance and shout.

"There!" he cried. "You've just the same as told me that I was right. If
you _sang_ your _Katy did, Katy did; she did, she did_, you would call
it _singing_. But since you make that ditty by rubbing your wing covers
together, it is _music_. And you just referred to it as such!"

Well, Kiddie Katydid couldn't say a single word. Freddie Firefly was
right. They both knew it. And the secret was hopelessly "out." In fact,
it was a secret no longer--unless Kiddie Katydid could persuade Freddie
Firefly to keep the news to himself.

"You won't say anything about this little matter, I hope," Kiddie began.

"Won't I?" said Freddie Firefly. "Why, I just couldn't help telling
people what I've learned! It's the biggest bit of news that I've known
since I've lived in Pleasant Valley. And I must get word of it to old
Mr. Crow somehow."

"Why Mr. Crow?" Kiddie Katydid inquired anxiously. He knew that the old
gentleman was a great gossip. "You might as well put this in a newspaper
as tell Mr. Crow about it."

"Ah! That's just the point!" cried Freddie. "Mr. Crow _is_ a newspaper.
Perhaps you didn't know it; but every Saturday he flies over Blue
Mountain to the pond where Brownie Beaver lives and tells Brownie all
the news of the past week."

"Then for pity's sake, don't let _him_ hear of this!" Kiddie begged.

But nothing could have stopped Freddie Firefly.

"You're too modest," he said. "It's a shame to be able to make music the
way you do and not let the neighbors know it. Why, the first thing you
know you'll be one of the most famous people in this whole valley."

"But I don't want to be!" Kiddie Katydid cried. "I'm not like you. You
go dancing about every night, flashing your light so everyone can see
you. But I stay among the trees and shrubs. And I even wear a green
suit--which matches the color of the leaves--so people won't notice me.
Of course," Kiddie added, "I don't mind if the public hears my music.
But I don't care to be seen, as a rule. And I don't like callers a
bit!"

"You don't, eh?" remarked Freddie Firefly. "Then it's time for me to be
moving along. For I never stay where I'm not welcome." And he flitted
away, feeling somewhat peevish--and all the more det