lights," Chirpy Cricket continued. "And I wish you'd ask your whole
family to take part in the procession, for we really can't have too many
of you."

"When will the procession take place?" Freddie Firefly wanted to know.

"To-night, as soon as it's dark enough!" Chirpy told him.

"And where are we going to march?"

"Oh, all around the meadow!" said Chirpy Cricket. "The line will form
along the stone wall by the roadside. ... Do you think you'll be there?"
he inquired somewhat anxiously.

"You certainly can count on me," Freddie Firefly promised. "Of course, I
can't very well accept your invitation for more than about fifty-five of
my brothers--and maybe six dozen of my cousins. But I HOPE there'll be
more of us than that."

"Well, I hope so, too," Chirpy Cricket said. "But even if there were no
more than you can promise, we ought to have enough. Fifty-five and six
dozen make one hundred and twenty-seven; and you make one hundred and
twenty-eight."

"Yes," replied Freddie Firefly, though he thought it would have been
more polite had Chirpy Cricket counted him first instead of last, since
he was the first of his family to be invited. But he really couldn't be
angry with anyone so cheerful as Chirpy Cricket.

"I'll have to leave you now," Chirpy announced, "for I must be on my