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.