THE RUDE TRUMPETER


Yes! At last Buster Bumblebee was worried. Every time he looked at the
trumpeter she seemed in a more peppery temper than ever. Beside her, some
of the other workers appeared positively pleasant. But the trumpeter wore
a frown. And what was still worse, she wore no hat.

How, then, was Buster to follow Chirpy Cricket's advice and tell her what
a becoming hat she was wearing?

"I'll have to think of some other way of making her feel happy--since
she's bareheaded," said Buster.

Now, without thinking what he was doing he had spoken his thought right
out loud. And since he was quite near the trumpeter and staring directly
at her, it was no wonder that she heard what he said.

"Don't be impertinent, young man!" the trumpeter snapped, growing
somewhat red in the face. "I'm sure it's no affair of yours whether I
wear a hat or whether I don't. And if you want to make me happy, I'll
tell you the best way in the world."

"Oh! Will you?" cried Buster Bumblebee hopefully. And in his eagerness he
drew even nearer to the trumpeter, who actually smiled at him. But there
was something in her smile that sent a shiver up and down Buster's back.
It was not at all a pleasant smile.

"If you want to make me happy all you need do is to keep out of my