"
After that Jasper Jay could not get the umbrella out of his mind. He
began calling at Mr. Crow's house every day; and all the time he was
there he never took his eyes off the umbrella.
At last the two cousins met in the woods one day. As usual, Mr. Crow had
his umbrella tucked under his wing. But when Jasper asked him to spread
it, Mr. Crow refused.
"I can't keep putting my umbrella up and down," he said. "If I did, the
first thing I knew it would be worn out; and then what would happen to me
if it should rain?"
"You'd get wet," said Jasper Jay.
"Exactly!" Mr. Crow replied. "And at my age I might take cold and be very
ill, perhaps."
"Where are you going?" Jasper inquired pleasantly. He was disappointed;
but he did not let his cousin see that.
"I'm on my way to a big meeting of the Crow family," the old gentleman
replied.
"And you're taking your umbrella?" Jasper asked, as if he were greatly
astonished.
"Why--yes!" Mr. Crow answered. "You seem surprised."
"I am," said Jasper Jay with a sad shake of his head. "I'd hate to risk
it, if I were you. There'll be some rough young fellows there and you're
likely to lose your umbrella. I'm afraid they'll take it away from you.
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