Now when I hear the Robin's song, Or Humming Bird's soft note, Or hear a carol sweet and strong From the Canary's throat, I smile, and sometimes beat the time For very well I know How each one learned his music's chime While standing in a row When the Crow and the Wren And the little Fat Hen And the Sparrow and Thrush and Jay Were taught how the notes Must come from their throats In quite the particular way. [Illustration] CHAPTER XXII THE BUMBLEBEE EXPRESS The three now sat in a row and were not unhappy, for their hearts felt very light. At last the Banjo said: "My young friends, it is not true that I am a Fairy, although I have told you that I was born in Fairy-land and that my parents were good Fairies as well. Now, I did not like to say much to you before this time, although the truth is that had you not taken me with you to the Fairy Valley, I could not have gone there at all." "How, then, did you come to leave the Valley of the Fairies?" asked Lulu. "Once, long ago," replied the Enchanted Banjo, "I was taken up to earth by a Black Fairy and left hanging upon a tree, where I was found by the King of Gee-Whiz, and later given to his Private Secretary, who always had to make music every day for his Majesty. There was no way in which I could escape, and, indeed, I was always treated kindly, as you know. Now, I will try to see whether I have forgotten all the speech of the Fairy Valley. I need not say that it is fortunate that you brought me along, because, certainly, if you came through the act of a bad Fairy, you would not be welcome in the Valley, and there is no telling what might happen were I not there. But now, if you will put me together once more and press very lightly upon the strings, I will try to talk in what is known as the Diamond language, very small and bright and clear and precious; because that is the way the voice of a Fairy sounds, as nearly as any one can describe it." So now they put the two pieces of the Banjo together again very gently and pressed very lightly upon the strings, and very softly the Banjo began to play as they had never heard it play before; and, indeed, its voice did sound like a diamond or some other precious stone, as nearly as they could describe it. THE BUMBLEBEE EXPRESS Ho! The Bumblebee Express! How it buzzes through the air Till before you even guess Where you are, why, you are there! Stopping at the hollyhocks For a load of honey freight; At the sweet pea and the phlox Where the other shipments wait. Then away, away it goes! With a zip and zum and zoom With a halt beside the rose And a stop at Clover Bloom. Hurry, Fred and Tom and Bess Don't you want to take a ride On the Bumblebee Express To the orchard's other side?