“I’ll have to leave you now,” Chirpy announced, “for I must be on my way.  I shall have to make a great many calls before sunset, because I want to invite all my friends to join the procession. ...  I’ll see you later,” he said, as he turned away.

He had not gone far before he stopped and called to Freddie Firefly.

“Don’t forget to bring your light with you to-night!” he cautioned him.

“I’ll try not to!” Freddie shouted.  But if the truth was known, he couldn’t have forgotten his light, even if he had wanted to!  It was just as much a part of him as his eyes or his six legs.  But Chirpy Cricket didn’t seem to know that.  And Freddie Firefly didn’t choose to enlighten him.

Then Chirpy Cricket hurried away.  He went straight to the clover field, because he wanted to ask Buster Bumblebee to take part in the torchlight procession.  And Chirpy knew that the clover field was the best place to look for him, on account of Buster’s being so fond of clover juice.

Reaching the field where the red clover grew, Chirpy began to hunt for the biggest blossom of them all.  And when he found it, there was Buster Bumblebee, sitting on top of it and enjoying a hearty meal.

He listened, between sucks at the sweet juice, to Chirpy Cricket’s invitation.  He seemed interested, too.

“What music are you going to have at your parade?” he inquired, for Buster was very fond of music.

Chirpy Cricket replied that he hadn’t thought much about that, but he said he expected to sing.

Buster Bumblebee grunted when he heard that.  To tell the truth, he didn’t care much for Chirpy’s voice, which he considered altogether too shrill.

“Are you going to take part in the procession?” Chirpy asked him.

“I’ll let you know to-morrow,” said Buster Bumblebee.  “Ah, but that will be too late!” Chirpy cried.  “We’re going to have the procession to-night.”

“To-night!” Buster exclaimed.  “Then I can’t come.  For I shall be sound asleep right after sunset.”

IV

GETTING READY

Buster Bumblemee’s mind was made up.  Although Chirpy Cricket told him it would be a shame for him to miss the torchlight procession, which was sure to be a great success, because Freddie Firefly had promised to be there with one hundred and twenty-seven of his relations, Buster still shook his head.

“I wouldn’t think of such a thing as staying out after dark!” he declared with much firmness.

“But you ought to see the Firefly family when they’re all lighted up!” Chirpy Cricket cried.

“Are they as bright as the sun?” Buster asked.

“N-no—­but they’re brighter than some of the stars,” Chirpy replied.

“Well, I don’t care if they are,” said Buster.  “I need my rest at night.  And you’ll have to get along without me, though of course, I’m much obliged for the invitation.”