Capital journal. (Salem, Or.) 1919-1980, 1920-02-17
sNsSAne ey ARTHUR ScoTT eAILEY

ia red waistcoat made the Hermit feel
faint. Some people say that all great
singers are like that If they don't
like a thing. they can't bear even to
think about it. And it was a fact that
the words red waistcoat' had always
made Jolly Robins cousin shudder'
Maybe one reason why he never
went to visit jolly was because he
couldn't endure the sight of his bright
red vest.
OF course. Jolly Robin knew nothing
about all this.
RED would be very becoming to
YOU" he continued. And it's certainly
a cheerful color, too. You need bright
ening up. | don't believe it's good for
you, living in this damp swamp ana
singing sad songs. What you ought TO
do is 10 get some clothes like mine
and bring your wife over to Farmer
Green's orchard and build a nest In an
apple tree. We could have some
gay times together" he said sinilinSly.
Like many other people jolly Robin
thought his own ways were the best.
And since the Hermit was just as sure
that nobody else knew how to dress,
or how to sing. or how to build house
as well as he did, it is quite plain thar
the two cousins never could agree.
Just tell your wife about my plan
when she comes Some" said jolly
Robin. And I'll fly over tomorrow
and show you the way to the orchard" >"
I'm tell her." his cousin promised.
Good" said Jolly Robin. And he
gave his delicate cousin u hearty slap
on the back, which made the poor fell
low wince--for it hurt him not little.
"Good-by!" Jolly cried. And chirping
loudly, he flew back home.
Now, jolly noticed, as he left, that
his cous n called arewell!" in a
melancholy tone. But he thought no
more about it at the time. He told his
wife the goods news as soon as he
reached the orchard for Jolly was sure
that his cousin the Hermit was going
10 IOilOW MS QuNlce.
But the next day Jolly met with a
great surprise. When he went 10 the
swamp near Black Greek he couldn't
find his cousin anywhere-nor his
cousins wife, either. Even their three
eggs had disappeared from the nest on
the ground,
II hope Fatty Coon hasn't eaten tho
eggs" said Jolly Robin, as he gazed
into the empty nest. But it's no more
than anybody could expect who's so
foolish as to build nest on the
ground" He grew quite uneasy, And
he was puzzled. too.
Later, when Jolly Robin met old
Mr.. Crow, he learned that his cousin,
the Hermit Thrush, and his wife had
moved away from the swamp the
evening before.
They've left for parts unknown, /"
/, old Mr.. Grow explained Il saw them
when they started. And when asked
your cousin where they were going, he
said that they didn't know, but they
were hoping to find some peaceful
neighborhood whore they had no rela-
tions"
That's strange!" Jolly Robin ex-
claimed. I'VE are very fond of each
other-my cousin and I. BY the way
he added, did you happen to notice
what sort of waistcoat he was wear
ing?"
Mr.. Crow said he had noticed; and
that it was a light-colored one with
dark spots.
Dear mel" said Jolly Robin. Il was
hoping he had put on a red one. But
since he Woved in such a hurry, per-
haps he hadn't time to change.
Whether that was the case, jolly
Robin never learned. For he never s,,v,
his cousin the Hermit again.