At starlight the next evening the Elves of Mount Fern were up and about their business as usual.

“I think,” said the Captain, “that we’ll stay here for a long time. I like the neighborhood. I like the trees and the garden and the birds; and I think we’re just as well off here as anywhere else for the present. I’m fond of Colonel Claw, too; he’s a good fellow even if he is a crow.”

“Speaking of angels makes them appear,” said Touchstone, “for here he comes.”

When Colonel Claw arrived at Mount Fern he was cordially welcomed by all the Elves.

“Have a perch,” said the Captain, “and make yourself at home.”Rainbow thought of everything, and as soon as he knew that Colonel Claw was in the neighborhood he had the branch of a tree brought in and fixed in one of the cracks of the wall, for it isn’t good form for a crow to sit on a chair or a moss-mound.

“I just dropped in to see if you intended to celebrate Emily’s birthday in any way,” said Colonel Claw. “It is only a week from today, and as the bluebirds’ house is still undisturbed I thought it would not be amiss to call a council of the birds in the neighborhood, and see if they would be willing to serenade her.”

“A capital idea,” said Captain Featherweight, “for nothing adds so much to a festive occasion as good music. And I don’t know any music more delightful than a bird chorus.

“I thought myself of engaging the insect choir to serenade her, but before deciding that, I wished to consult you. I want the choir to perform in the evening, and I wondered if the insects would be safe from the Night-Hawks and Whippoorwills.”

“They surely will for that one evening,” said Colonel Claw, “for I’ll send a carrier-pigeon with a note to General Grosbeak this very evening.”

“How will this do?”

“Colonel Claw presents his compliments to General Grosbeak. He begs to state that Emily Templeton’s birthday is a week from today, and craves his kind permission to issue a proclamation to Night-Hawks, Whippoorwills, and other insect-destroyers to stay away from Templeton Gardens on the evening of that day, as it is hoped that the insect choir will take part in the celebration of Emily’s birthday.”

“That is excellent,” said Captain Featherweight, “but do you think he will grant your request?”

“He’ll know,” said Colonel Claw, “that I wouldn’t have asked this for Emily if anything had happened to the bluebirds’ house.”

Then Colonel Claw departed, saying that he hoped to be able soon to show Captain Featherweight General Grosbeak’s reply.

After he had gone, the Captain called his elves together to decide what they should give Emily for a birthday present.

“I move that we give her a violin, so that she can have music wherever she goes,” said Tono.

“A violin isn’t music,” said Owly, “and how could she have music wherever she goes when she can’t even play a note? You’re so unpractical, Tono. Let’s hear a suggestion from some one else.”

“I suggest a book of poems,” said Rhymo, “and I’ll add some of my own. A book never gets out of tune, and is a constant source of delight.”

“That depends entirely on the book,” said Owly, who didn’t at all approve of Rhymo’s suggestion.

“Don’t you think a bouquet would be nicer than anything else?” asked the flower-elf.

“No,” said Owly, “because the house will be full of them anyway. That would be like carrying fish to a fisherman. Can no one think of anything more suitable and appropriate?”

“I can,” said Slumber, “for I dreamed only last night that Emily wanted a necklace.”

“The best suggestion I have heard,” said the Captain. “A necklace is just the thing, and I’ll send Lightning this very evening to the Dwarfs of Cavedale to ask them to have it ready for her birthday.

“And Tono, you will please compose some music for the occasion, and Rhymo will make some verses to suit the music. Or perhaps it would be better the other way around, but I leave that entirely to you.

“With the insect choir, the bird chorus, the elfin choir and orchestra, Emily’s birthday will be very well celebrated.”

“Shall I make a verse to accompany the necklace?” asked Rhymo.

“Not a bad idea,” said the Captain.

“Shall I engage the insect choir?” asked Lightning.“That is my business,” said Tono. “Anything that has to do with music, you will please leave to me. I’ll attend to that this very evening.”

“Not at all,” said Captain Featherweight, “not unless we hear from Colonel Claw. How would you like to have the insect choir devoured in the midst of the serenade?”

Then the music-elf bowed low to the Captain in token of obedience, and said: “Your word is law, noble Captain.”

“Right! Left! Shoulder arms!” called the Captain.

At this command every elf scampered off and went to work. Iris-Wing went into the orchard to see if the bees that had been working there during the day had done their work well. But the flower-elf did not think so, and he called at the honey-bees’ hive to say that he was not quite satisfied.

The bees were very indignant that the quality of their work should be questioned, until the flower-elf explained that the elves had charge of the growing of plants, and that he was responsible for Templeton Grounds.

“Captain Featherweight,” said he, “is very strict, and if I don’t make a good report I’ll lose my place and be sent to Doomdell.”

“We understand,” said the bees, “and accept your apology.”

“And then, of course, it may perhaps be barely possible,” suggested a sister bee, “that the work of the dying honey-bee was somewhat at fault.

These verses made the flower-elf very thoughtful—so thoughtful that he flew straight into Rainbow, who was flying in another direction.

“Excuse me!” exclaimed Rainbow; which meant, of course, “Excuse you!”

And when Iris-Wing recited the story of the dying honey-bee, Rainbow almost shed a tear—a thing that had never been heard of among the Elves of Mount Fern.

Then Iris-Wing passed on to the veranda where the Doctor’s daughters, Mary and Anna, were shelling peas for the cook. He felt very indignant whenever he thought of the bluebird feathers, even though they were safe in the nest, for he felt sure that Anna still had the will to rob the birds. He wore his invisible cap, and could see and not be seen.

“I’m tired shelling peas,” said Anna, “and I don’t see why the cook can’t shell them herself.”

“You know Mother told us that she wouldn’t have time tomorrow,” said Mary, “and I think it is fun anyway. The poor peas have never seen the light except through a thick veil. They are really prisoners and we are helping to set them free.”

“You are always thinking of such queer things, Mary, that I don’t believe you feel about anything as other people do.”

But Anna soon went to work with a will, and in a short time the peas were all shelled.

“I’ll take them into the kitchen,” said Mary, “and while I’m gone, suppose you go after the clothes that we’re making for Emily’s doll.”

In a short time they were both on the veranda again, and very busily engaged in sewing for Emily’s birthday.

“What are we going to do for feathers for the mattress and pillows?” asked Mary.

“Why, haven’t I told you?” asked Anna. “I asked Mother about it, and she said she had a pillow which she didn’t need and that we might have it for Emily’s doll. If I’d only asked her in the first place, I don’t believe I would have had that horrible dream.”

When the flower-elf heard this, he departed, for he had a great many things to attend to that evening.

He wanted to see how the wildflowers were growing in the woods nearby, for it occurred to him that although Emily might have all the cultivated flowers that she wished for on her birthday, a bouquet of wildflowers could not be amiss. So off he started in search of them, and when he was quite sure that he knew exactly where all the different kinds grew, he flew back to Mount Fern.

When he arrived there, he found that all the other elves were at home and were listening to General Grosbeak’s reply, which Colonel Claw had just brought over. It ran thus:

“General Grosbeak presents his compliments to Colonel Claw, and begs to state that it will give him much pleasure to issue an order to all insect-destroyers to avoid the grounds of Templeton Hall on the evening of Emily’s birthday.”

“And now, Tono,” said Captain Featherweight, “you have my full permission to go ahead and do your best for Emily’s birthday.

“And Lightning, you may go now to the Dwarfs of Cavedale and tell them to have the necklace ready for a week from to-night. And let it be wrought of fine filigree gold,—in a dainty design of lilies and roses.”

After the Captain had given commands to all the elves as to what the duty of each should be for the following week, they all ran away and began to make plans for their work.

“Tono,” said Rhymo, “I want your advice. You know I have to make a verse to accompany the necklace; how would this do?

“It may be all right,” said Tono, “but if I were you I’d make several, and then let the Captain decide which he likes best.”

“A very fine idea,” said Rhymo, who liked nothing better than making verses, “and I’ll compose something bright and gay, for we must not forget it’s for a festive occasion.”

“I’ll just go now,” said Tono, “and see that all the musical instruments are in perfect tune.”

When Rhymo was left alone he busied himself with making verses that should be both happy and pleasing, trying first one rhyme and then another, and wondering which would please Emily most. For Captain Featherweight had told him that the object of birthday parties was to make the owner of the birthday glad and happy!

When the verses were finished he brought them to Tono, who was busy selecting the insect choir and testing their voices so that there should be no discordant note. This was the insects’ first lesson from Tono, and after a careful practice he dismissed them, saying, that the next rehearsal should be the following evening at the same place and hour.

As soon as the insects were gone, the elfin choir appeared, accompanied by the elfin orchestra with their wind instruments, stringed instruments, cymbals and drums. And Tono took the verses which Rhymo had made and set them to music, and never before in all their experience had the elfin choir and orchestra received such a drilling and training.

And at the same place and hour every night for a week, the elfin musicians came to the practice.

Every elf was busily engaged in doing his best for Emily’s birthday, for if the Elves of Mount Fern undertook to do work, they always aimed at perfection.

Lightning was busy in all sorts of ways, for whenever there was a message to send or an errand to run, the Captain always called on Lightning.

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.

And on Thursday, the great day, Colonel Claw, Tono, and Rainbow marched all the birds and insects down to the river for their final bath and preening.

They used the surface of the water as a mirror. And when they were perfectly clean, Colonel Claw commanded all the birds to alight on the nearest tree to plume and arrange their feathers.

And Tono, who had charge of the insects, told them to fly to some shrubs that were growing near the river.

“When I blow three blasts on my bugle,” said Tono, “fly quickly to Templeton Garden and alight on the flowering hawthorne that grows north of the mulberry tree.”

“And when I give three caws,” said Colonel Claw to the birds in the oak tree, “fly swiftly to Temple Garden and alight on the tall elm tree to the east of the mulberry tree.”

Then Tono and Rainbow returned to Mount Fern, and Colonel Claw to his perch in the mulberry tree.

Colonel Claw knew all about the birthday party, for he had heard of it from the Elves, who in turn had heard Mary and Anna talking about it.

He knew that after the guests arrived they were to have supper at the Hall, and that after supper they were all to come out to the garden and play games around the mulberry tree.

The party was at eight o’clock, and precisely at eight Colonel Claw gave three loud caws to the birds in the oak tree, Tono blew three long blasts on his bugle, and as soon as these signals were given, the birds and the insects all flew away to the hawthorne and elm, near the mulberry tree.

When the elves arrived at Templeton Hall they heard strains from a giant orchestra, and the air was rich with the fragrance of flowers. They entered unobserved, for an elf has many ways of making himself invisible, and does not have to be seen unless he wants to be.

Emily was standing in the middle of the parlor dressed in fine Persian lawn, adorned with blue ribbons.

And soon the door-bell rang, and again and again and again, until all the guests were assembled. And they each wished Emily very many happy returns of the day.

Then Emily led her guests to a large veranda all covered with roses and clematis, and there supper was served.

The tables were covered with beautiful flowers and all kinds of fruit, and turkey, chicken and tongue, hot rolls and hot biscuits, and brown bread and butter, after which came the ice cream and cake.

And such a cake!

It was made in the form of a great big shoe, and lined with silver paper. Inside the shoe there were dolls and toys for every one of the guests, and a great big doll for Emily—just like the old woman who lived in a shoe! And all the little guests said it was the nicest and funniest birthday cake they had ever seen.

And as soon as supper was over Emily led her guests to the mulberry tree which stood in the middle of the garden.

Dr. Templeton was prouder of this tree than of anything else in the garden, for he believed it to be a great-grandchild of the mulberry tree which Shakespeare planted at Stratford so long ago. And whenever there was company at Templeton Hall, Dr. Templeton always brought them out to the garden to show them the mulberry tree.On the evening of Emily’s birthday it was hung with Chinese lanterns from the top to the bottom—in all the gay colors of the rainbow. And around this beautiful tree, Emily and her guests danced and played games by the light of the lanterns until the birthday party was over.

But just then a strange thing occurred—not strange to the elves, who knew all about it, but to Emily, her guests, and her Father and Mother.

For Rainbow, the elf, appeared on the green and a daintier little gentleman never was seen. His blue satin coat, with silvery leaves embroidered in wreaths, his white silken hose and gilt-buckled shoes, and his blue Forget-Me-Not girdle, made an exquisite picture.

With three very low bows he flew straight to Emily, and told her that the insect choir would be pleased to favor her with some music in honor of her birthday. Then Rainbow made a motion to Tono, who had charge of the insect choir. Tono gave the word of command, and the fiddlers, drummers, and pipers of the insect world appeared.

The short-horned Grasshoppers were there with their bows and fiddles; the musical Cicadas were also there with their high-tuned kettle drums; and the meadow Grasshoppers were playing: “Zip, zip, zee-e-e! Zip, zip, zee-e-e!”

The pale-green, bashful Katydids, who are usually heard but not seen, were also there singing with all their might: “Katy did! she did, she did, she didn’t!” over and over again.

And the cheery crickets with their happy chirpings, sang: “Cheer-up! cheer-up! cheer-up!”

They all sang and played most heartily, all in honor of Emily’s birthday. And when they had finished there was loud applause and cries of “More! more!”

But just at that moment Colonel Claw stepped forward, and told them that the birds also would be pleased to favor Emily and her guests with some music.A Starling, whom Colonel Claw had taught to make a speech for the occasion, stepped forward and said that as all the birds in Templeton Garden had been most kindly treated, and had even had fine, comfortable houses provided for them, they wanted to show their appreciation by helping to celebrate Emily’s birthday.

Then the Starling, bowing low, turned to Emily and added: “In the name of all the birds of Templeton Garden, I wish you a great many happy returns!”

So saying he returned to the elm tree. Colonel Claw gave the word of command, and the music began.

The birds are the sweetest of all sweet singers, and the chorus was grand. It was a billow of song that rose and fell like the waves of a mighty ocean. At times no one voice could be heard distinctly; again, the flute-like notes of the Wood Thrush, the Purple Finch’s rich, melodious warble, or the beautiful trill of the Vireo could be heard quite plainly above the chorus.

The birds were jubilant. Never before had they sung with so much strength and sweetness. And when at last the music died away in gentle cadences, Emily and her friends clapped their hands in glee, and said they had never in all their lives heard anything so beautiful.

Then Tono, at a signal from Captain Featherweight, bowed low before Emily and said: “The elves of Mount Fern take this opportunity to express their thanks for their comfortable home in Templeton Garden, and beg that their choir and orchestra may be allowed to take part in the celebration of your birthday.”

Emily was very much delighted and said that any one was fortunate who had the elves for friends.

So the elfin choir and orchestra flew up into the large white oak tree that stood near the mulberry tree. And there they played and sang the music which Rhymo and Tono had composed for the occasion:

The Wish of the Elves.

Emily knew she had never heard anything half so wonderful. She told her Father and Mother that this was the most splendid day she had ever lived, and that she did not know how she was ever going to wait until her next birthday—for she thought birthdays were the very nicest days in all the year.

Just as she said this, she saw Captain Featherweight and Rhymo coming toward her. The Captain carried a box, and she wondered if she were really going to get another present after all she had already received.

Rhymo began to speak, and he recited the verse he had made for the necklace:

Then Captain Featherweight took the necklace of fine filigree gold and placed it around Emily’s neck.

And Emily felt like a Queen, and she told her Father and Mother that she was the happiest girl in all the wide world.

Thus ended the birthday party.