The Tale of Reddy Woodpecker

"I don't believe-" said Mrs. Jolly Robin after old Mr. Crow had flown off in a rage-"I don't believe this Mr. Woodpecker can be such a bad person as Mr. Crow thinks. He certainly wears very stylish clothes and a very handsome red cap.""Clothes-" said little Mr. Chippy severely-"clothes don't tell whether their wearer has a taste for eggs. Now, I wear a red cap. To be sure, it isn't as bright, perhaps, nor as big, as Mr. Woodpecker's. But it's a red cap, all the same. And everybody knows that I don't eat eggs. Everybody knows I'm no nest robber.""You don't look like one!" cried a strange voice which made everybody jump. It was the newcomer, Mr. Woodpecker, himself! Unnoticed he had flown up. And now he perched on a limb nearby. "You don't look any more like a nest robber than I do," he told Mr. Chippy.The whole company stared at him; and then stared at little Mr. Chippy. There was a vast difference between them. Mr. Chippy was a tiny, meek person, while Mr. Woodpecker was as bold as brass. Mr. Chippy was modestly dressed; and his cap, though it was reddish, was of a dull hue. But the newcomer wore a flashy suit of dark steel blue and white; and his cap was both very big and very red. Mr. Chippy was a shy body who said little; and when he did speak it was usually only to utter a faint chip, chip, chip, chip. But Mr. Woodpecker was very talkative. When he spoke you didn't have to strain your ears to hear what he said.Mr. Woodpecker gave a quick glance all about and cried, "How-dy do!""Good morning, Mr. Woodpecker!" the birds greeted him."Don't call me 'Mister!'" he said. "My name is Reddy-Reddy Woodpecker." Then he turned to little, shrinking Mr. Chippy and his wife. "I can see that you're worried about your eggs," he remarked. "I suppose your nest is hidden not far away."Mr. and Mrs. Chippy looked most uncomfortable. They didn't quite dare speak to such a grand person as Reddy."Where's your nest?" Reddy asked them bluntly."Chip, chip, chip, chip!" said Mr. Chippy. "Chip, chip, chip, chip!" said his wife."What sort of answer is that to a civil question?" Reddy Woodpecker blustered. "Here I've just made your acquaintance. And I've asked you to call me by my first name. And you won't even tell me where you live!"Mr. and Mrs. Chippy didn't know what to say. It was lucky for them that Mr. Catbird came to their rescue."Don't bully these good people!" Mr. Catbird cried, as he settled himself right in front of Reddy Woodpecker.