Early the next evening, Captain Featherweight commanded Iris-Wing to take a pitcher-plant and go in search of honeydew for breakfast.

“And I’m tired of lilydew,” said the Captain, “get clover honeydew—and I prefer the red clover to the white.”

At this command, the flower-elf hurried off in the direction of the apple orchard, for it was only yesterday that he had seen fine red clover under the apple trees.

After he had filled his pitcher-plant with the sweet red clover honeydew, he went into the rose garden to see how the roses were growing. They were all doing beautifully, and especially the American Beauty Rose, who was very tall and stately.

“I’m so glad to see you,” said she to the flower-elf. “I’m feeling blue: it’s not so very gay here, and we need something to cheer us up. Can’t you persuade Captain Featherweight to give a ball and invite the flowers? I know he’s very hospitable or I would not ask it.”

“A request from you is a command as well as a compliment,” said the flower-elf, “and you honor us all in the asking.”

So saying, Iris-Wing bowed low to the American Beauty Rose, and waved his hand in adieu. But as the flower-elf was leaving the rose garden he heard some one sobbing, and looking up, he saw that he was directly under Anna’s bedroom window. So up he flew and sat on the window ledge, for he wanted to know if her dream had made her change her mind about the bluebird feathers.

Between her sobs she was telling Mary her dream, and when she had finished, she said:

“I hate the birds! I won’t have them in the garden any longer! I’ll get Papa to pull down all the bird houses and chain a cat to every tree! I’m almost scared to death!”

The flower-elf chuckled merrily to himself, and started back to Mount Fern.

When he reached the mulberry tree which stood in the middle of the garden, he heard a “Caw! Caw! Caw!” and looking up, saw Colonel Claw perching on one of the lower branches. Colonel Claw belonged to the Crow family, and always dressed in black.

“Good morning, Colonel Claw,” said Iris-Wing. “Welcome to Templeton Garden! How long do you expect to stay here?”

“That depends on circumstances,” said Colonel Claw. “I’m on duty here; I’ve been sent to look after the interests of the bluebirds and to report to General Grosbeak.”

“Then you’re doubly welcome, for our interests are the same,” said Iris-Wing. “May I offer you some honeydew? It’s red clover.”

“No, I thank you,” said Colonel Claw, “I prefer grasshoppers and caterpillars when I’m hungry.”

“Shall I catch you some?” asked the flower-elf.

“Thank you, no,” said Colonel Claw, “it’s my rule never to breakfast until five o’clock, and I prefer them fresh.”

“Are you very hungry?” asked the flower-elf.

“Yes, very,” said the Colonel, “but I belong to the army, and discipline must be maintained.”

Then Iris-Wing bowed low to Colonel Claw and bade him good evening, saying that he hoped to see him soon at Mount Fern.

When Iris-Wing reached Mount Fern he found that breakfast was ready, and so all the elves sat down and drank the red clover honeydew which he had brought from the apple orchard, with some berries and nuts, which was their usual breakfast fare.

While they sat at the table the flower-elf related all he had seen, and heard, and done that evening. He told the elves that Colonel Claw was in the neighborhood, and had taken up his abode in the mulberry tree. And when he repeated the conversation he had had with that gentleman, Captain Featherweight commanded Lightning, the messenger-elf, to catch some grasshoppers and caterpillars for Colonel Claw just in time for his breakfast.

“Give him my compliments,” said Captain Featherweight, “and tell him that I shall give myself the pleasure of calling upon him tomorrow evening.”

“And I saw the American Beauty Rose,” continued the flower-elf, “and she wants you to give a ball and invite the flowers. She needs to be cheered up. She said she was feeling blue, although she looked very red and rosy.”

“One thing at a time,” said the Captain, “for I’ve just decided to have a lawn party for the Elves of Oakdale, and Lightning will carry them the invitations this very evening.”

“Captain Featherweight of Mount Fern presents his compliments to Captain Acorn of Oakdale, and begs that Captain Acorn and his Company will favor Captain Featherweight and his Company with their presence at Mount Fern on Thursday next by the light of the moon.”

This was the form of the invitation, and Lightning carried it at once to Oakdale.

“And what shall I say to the American Beauty Rose?” asked the flower-elf, when Lightning had gone.

“My best respects to the American Beauty,” said Captain Featherweight, “and tell her that it will give us much pleasure to entertain the flowers; and that the ball shall be given two weeks from to-night in honor of the Queen of Flowers, which, as you know, is the rose.”

Then the flower-elf departed for the rose garden to carry Captain Featherweight’s invitation to the flowers, and before long Lightning was seen in the distance hurrying back with Captain Acorn’s reply, which ran thus:

“Captain Acorn of Oakdale presents his compliments to Captain Featherweight of Mount Fern, and accepts with much pleasure for himself and his Company the most kind invitation of Captain Featherweight of Mount Fern.”

“And now,” said the Captain, when he had read the reply, “we must prepare for our guests. The finest piece of lawn is under the great white oak tree, and there we will play skyball. Between now and Thursday I want you to pull up and carry away all the tall blades of grass, and beat down with our feet all the rough places, so that the lawn will be as smooth as velvet.

“And, Lightning!” continued the Captain, “we shall need new balls and mallets for the occasion, so go to the Dwarfs of Cavedale, and tell them to have them ready for Thursday next.”

“Of what shall the Dwarfs make them?” asked Lightning.

“The balls shall be made of purest rubber, the mallet heads of finest ivory, and the handles of blackest ebony.”“And how large shall they be, noble Captain?”

“Let the balls be as large as three times a sweet-pea seed, and the mallets as large as the stamens of the Tiger-Lily.”

“Iris-Wing, you shall have charge of collecting the nectar, as well as providing the fans for the party.”

“And what shall we use for fans?” asked the flower-elf.

“I think,” said the Captain, “the leaves of nasturtium.”

“And shall we have music?” asked Tono.

“Yes, after the game we’ll have music, and you shall have charge of it, Tono; I leave the selection entirely to you.”

“And Owly,” continued the Captain, “please remember that you are not responsible for the mistakes of our guests, for if I catch you correcting anyone, I’ll send you to Doomdell.”

Now Doomdell is as bad for the elves as prison is for us, and Captain Featherweight knew very well how to frighten Owly.

“And Rainbow, on account of your tact, I put you in charge of the whole affair. You must oversee the others and be sure that their work is well done.”

The Elves of Mount Fern were as busy as bees all that week, and when Thursday evening came round they were ready for their guests.

Captain Featherweight was always prompt, and if he had anything to do, he always got it done in time.

When the moon was high in the sky the Elves of Oakdale arrived at Mount Fern. And after the greetings were over, they all sat down on fresh green moss-mounds which had been brought in for the occasion.

Then Rainbow, who was master of ceremonies, commanded Lightning to pass around some apple-blossom honeydew in bluebell cups; and after they had partaken of the sparkling nectar, Captain Featherweight, arm-in-arm with Captain Acorn, led the way to Oaktree Lawn.

When they were all assembled there, Lightning presented Captain Acorn with the choicest of the mallets and balls, and the play began.

In Skyball the target is the face of the moon, and the player who comes nearest the mark, wins the game.

Captain Acorn, as guest, had first play.

Rainbow held his ball for him, and as soon as Captain Acorn called out “ready,” Rainbow dropped the ball, which Captain Acorn with one tremendous swing sent whizzing off toward the moon. Lightning followed the ball, and placed a stake where it fell.

Captain Featherweight played next, and he was followed by Okla of Oakdale.

Then it was Rainbow’s turn, and he was followed by another of the Elves of Oakdale, and so on, until all the Elves of Oakdale, and all the Elves of Mount Fern, had played.

When the game was over they all flew off to look at the stakes, and it was found that Captain Acorn’s ball was nearest the moon.

It was a jolly game, and Captain Featherweight, who did not think it polite to win on his own grounds, was very glad that Captain Acorn was able to carry off the cup.

It was only a simple buttercup, but, although they grew in plenty everywhere, Captain Acorn was just as proud as if it had been made of silver or gold, for the honor was just as great.

When the game was over Lightning gave each elf a fan, and while they were resting and fanning themselves, he passed red clover honeydew in lily-cups.

Then Tono and his orchestra played and sang some beautiful music. Their musical instruments were blades of grass, wind-flowers, Canterbury bells, and trumpet honeysuckles.

First they played and sang:

Moon and Stars

“That is really fine,” said Captain Acorn. “Won’t you favor us with something else?”

“With pleasure,” answered Tono, and then he and his orchestra played and sang Three Crows.

I should have said they tried to play Three Crows, for they had no sooner started than Colonel Claw, who was sitting on a branch of the mulberry tree and watching the whole performance, set up such a “Caw! caw! caw!” that Tono was obliged to stop the music and try something else.

After that they sang about the silvery swans, and Colonel Claw became quite quiet and subdued, for it did not interest him in the least when they sang of other people.

Then Captain Acorn thanked Captain Featherweight for the game and the music and said it was now time to sing Oh, Joy to be Elves! This was the song that the elves always sang at parting.

Then Captain Acorn and his Company bade adieu to the Elves of Mount Fern, saying that they hoped to see them soon at Oakdale.

Thus ended the lawn party.