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diff --git a/23693-h/23693-h.htm b/23693-h/23693-h.htm new file mode 100644 index 0000000..29bbbb2 --- /dev/null +++ b/23693-h/23693-h.htm @@ -0,0 +1,7674 @@ +<!DOCTYPE html PUBLIC "-//W3C//DTD XHTML 1.0 Strict//EN" + "http://www.w3.org/TR/xhtml1/DTD/xhtml1-strict.dtd"> +<html xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1999/xhtml"> + <head> + <meta http-equiv="Content-Type" content="text/html;charset=iso-8859-1" /> + <title> + The Project Gutenberg eBook of Of The Blue Birds' Winter Nest, by Lillian Elizabeth Roy. + </title> + <style type="text/css"> + /*<![CDATA[ XML blockout */ + <!-- + p {margin-top: 0.5em; text-align: justify; margin-bottom: 0.5em;} + body {margin-left: 11%; margin-right: 10%; max-width:30em;} + table {margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; clear: both;} + h1 {text-align: center; margin-top: 2em; margin-bottom: 1em; clear: both;} + h2 {text-align: center; margin-top: 3em; margin-bottom: 2em; clear: both;} + h3 {text-align: center; margin-top: 2em; font-weight: normal; clear: both;} + a {text-decoration: none;} + .smcap {font-variant: small-caps;} + table p {text-align: center; margin-top: 0; margin-bottom: 0;} + td.tdright {vertical-align: top; text-align: right;} + td.tdleft {vertical-align: top; text-align: left;} + .caption {font-size: 80%;} + .figcenter {margin: auto; text-align: center;} + .center {text-align:center;} + .pagenum {display: inline; font-size: x-small; text-align: right; + position: absolute; right: 2%; border:1px solid #eee; + padding: 1px 3px; font-style: normal; + font-variant:normal; font-weight:normal; text-decoration: none; + color: silver; background-color: inherit;} + hr.major {width: 65%; margin-top: 2em; margin-bottom: 2em;} + hr.pct45 {width: 45%; margin-top: 0.5em; margin-bottom: 0.5em;} + hr.dashed {width: 100%; margin-top: 1em; margin-bottom: 1em; border:none; border-bottom:1px dashed;} + a.pagenum:after {border: 1px solid silver; padding: 1px 3px; content: attr(title);} + // --> + /* XML end ]]>*/ + </style> + </head> +<body> + + +<pre> + +Project Gutenberg's The Blue Birds' Winter Nest, by Lillian Elizabeth Roy + +This eBook is for the use of anyone anywhere at no cost and with +almost no restrictions whatsoever. You may copy it, give it away or +re-use it under the terms of the Project Gutenberg License included +with this eBook or online at www.gutenberg.org + + +Title: The Blue Birds' Winter Nest + +Author: Lillian Elizabeth Roy + +Release Date: December 3, 2007 [EBook #23693] + +Language: English + +Character set encoding: ISO-8859-1 + +*** START OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK THE BLUE BIRDS' WINTER NEST *** + + + + +Produced by Roger Frank and the Online Distributed +Proofreading Team at http://www.pgdp.net + + + + + + +</pre> + + +<div class='figcenter' style='width:370px'> +<a name='illus-000' id='illus-000'></a> +<img src='images/bb01.jpg' alt='The Blue Birds and Bobolinks were deep in the work of constructing a magazine.' title='' width='370' /><br /> +<table summary='caption' width='370' class='caption'> + <tr><td align='center' colspan='2'>The Blue Birds and Bobolinks were deep in the<br />work of constructing a magazine.</td></tr> + <tr><td align='left'><span style='font-size:smaller'>(Page 259)</span></td><td align='right'><span style='font-size:smaller'>(“The Blue Birds' Winter Nest.”)</span></td></tr> +</table> +</div> + +<hr class='dashed' /> + +<table style='margin: auto; border: black 1px solid; width:25em' summary=''><tr><td> +<p style='font-size:2.2em; margin-top:1em; margin-bottom:1em;'>THE BLUE BIRDS’ WINTER NEST</p> +<p style='font-size:1.40em; margin-bottom:1em;'>By LILLIAN ELIZABETH ROY</p> +<p class='smcap' style='font-size:1.0em; margin-bottom:1em;'>Author of</p> +<p style='font-size:0.9em;'>“The Blue Birds of Happy Times Nest,” “The Blue</p> +<p style='font-size:0.9em;'>“Birds’ Uncle Ben,” “The Blue Birds at Happy</p> +<p style='font-size:0.9em;'>Hills,” “The Five Little Starrs Series,” “The</p> +<p style='font-size:0.9em; margin-bottom:4em'>Girl Scouts’ Country Life Series,” etc.</p> +<div class='figcenter'> + <img src='images/bb02.jpg' alt='emblem' /> +</div> +<p style='font-size:1.0em; margin-top:4em;'>A. L. BURT COMPANY</p> +<p style='font-size:1.0em;'>Publishers<span style='letter-spacing:3em'> </span>New York</p> +<p style='font-size:0.8em; margin-bottom:3em;'>Printed in U. S. A.</p> +</td></tr></table> + +<hr class='dashed' /> + +<p style='margin:2em auto 2em auto; text-align:center; font-size: smaller'>Copyright, 1916, by<br />THE PLATT & PECK COMPANY<br /> +Printed in U. S. A.</p> + +<hr class='dashed' /> + +<h2 class='toc'><a name='Contents' id='Contents'></a>CONTENTS</h2> +<table border='0' width='420' cellpadding='2' cellspacing='0' summary='Contents' style='margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto' class='smcap'> +<col style='width:15%;' /> +<col style='width:5%;' /> +<col style='width:70%;' /> +<col style='width:10%;' /> +<tr> +<td align='right'><span style='font-size:x-small'>CHAPTER</span></td> +<td></td> +<td></td> +<td align='right'><span style='font-size:x-small'>PAGE</span></td> +</tr> +<tr> + <td class='tdright'>I</td> + <td></td> + <td class='tdleft'>How Aunt Selina Flew</td> + <td class='tdright'><a href='#HOW_AUNT_SELINA_FLEW_73'>7</a></td> +</tr> +<tr> + <td class='tdright'>II</td> + <td></td> + <td class='tdleft'>A Sunday Walk and Its Results</td> + <td class='tdright'><a href='#A_SUNDAY_WALK_AND_ITS_RESULTS_478'>26</a></td> +</tr> +<tr> + <td class='tdright'>III</td> + <td></td> + <td class='tdleft'>The Blue Birds’ Inspiration</td> + <td class='tdright'><a href='#THE_BLUE_BIRDS_INSPIRATION_919'>45</a></td> +</tr> +<tr> + <td class='tdright'>IV</td> + <td></td> + <td class='tdleft'>The Bobolink Boys Founded</td> + <td class='tdright'><a href='#THE_BOBOLINK_BOYS_FOUNDED_1334'>62</a></td> +</tr> +<tr> + <td class='tdright'>V</td> + <td></td> + <td class='tdleft'>Uncle Ben’s Business Talk</td> + <td class='tdright'><a href='#UNCLE_BENS_BUSINESS_TALK_1777'>81</a></td> +</tr> +<tr> + <td class='tdright'>VI</td> + <td></td> + <td class='tdleft'>Beginning the Winter Work</td> + <td class='tdright'><a href='#BEGINNING_THE_WINTER_WORK_2118'>96</a></td> +</tr> +<tr> + <td class='tdright'>VII</td> + <td></td> + <td class='tdleft'>Blue Bird Wisdom and Bobolink Work</td> + <td class='tdright'><a href='#BLUE_BIRD_WISDOM_AND_BOBOLINK_WORK_2551'>114</a></td> +</tr> +<tr> + <td class='tdright'>VIII</td> + <td></td> + <td class='tdleft'>Aunt Selina’s Civil War Story</td> + <td class='tdright'><a href='#AUNT_SELINAS_CIVIL_WAR_STORY_3054'>135</a></td> +</tr> +<tr> + <td class='tdright'>IX</td> + <td></td> + <td class='tdleft'>How the Yankees Took Possession</td> + <td class='tdright'><a href='#HOW_THE_YANKEES_TOOK_POSSESSION_3615'>160</a></td> +</tr> +<tr> + <td class='tdright'>X</td> + <td></td> + <td class='tdleft'>Beginning to Spell Success</td> + <td class='tdright'><a href='#BEGINNING_TO_SPELL_SUCCESS_4031'>179</a></td> +</tr> +<tr> + <td class='tdright'>XI</td> + <td></td> + <td class='tdleft'>The Winter Nest Council</td> + <td class='tdright'><a href='#THE_WINTER_NEST_COUNCIL_4518'>199</a></td> +</tr> +<tr> + <td class='tdright'>XII</td> + <td></td> + <td class='tdleft'>The Story of an Alaskan Trip</td> + <td class='tdright'><a href='#THE_STORY_OF_AN_ALASKAN_TRIP_4988'>219</a></td> +</tr> +<tr> + <td class='tdright'>XIII</td> + <td></td> + <td class='tdleft'>A Winter in the Frozen North</td> + <td class='tdright'><a href='#A_WINTER_IN_THE_FROZEN_NORTH_5419'>238</a></td> +</tr> +<tr> + <td class='tdright'>XIV</td> + <td></td> + <td class='tdleft'>The B. B. & B. B. Magazine</td> + <td class='tdright'><a href='#THE_BnbspB_amp_BnbspB_MAGAZINE_5896'>259</a></td> +</tr> +<tr> + <td class='tdright'>XV</td> + <td></td> + <td class='tdleft'>How the Magazine Went Out</td> + <td class='tdright'><a href='#HOW_THE_MAGAZINE_WENT_OUT_6519'>285</a></td> +</tr> +</table> + +<hr class='dashed' /> + +<h1>THE BLUE BIRDS’ WINTER NEST</h1> + +<div style='margin: auto; text-align: center; padding-top: 1em; padding-bottom: 1em'> +<span class='pagenum'><a name='pg_7' id='pg_7'>7</a></span> +<a name='HOW_AUNT_SELINA_FLEW_73' id='HOW_AUNT_SELINA_FLEW_73'></a> +<h2>CHAPTER I</h2> +<h3>HOW AUNT SELINA FLEW</h3> +</div> + +<p>“Sally! I say, Sally! Come here!” cried a peevish voice, belonging to a +querulous old lady who was huddled up on a couch in the bright morning +room of her fine old mansion.</p> + +<p>“I’se here, Miss S’lina—comin’ straight an’ fas’ as mah laigs kin +brings me!” replied a cheerful colored woman, bustling around, and +moving some toast so it would not scorch.</p> + +<p>“Are you quite sure you told Abe to meet the eleven-thirty train at +Greenfields station? Just fancy how dreadful it would be to have Miss +Ruth get off the train and not find anyone there to meet her!” +complained Miss Selina, her face twitching with pain as she raised her +hands to emphasize her remark.</p> + +<p><span class='pagenum'><a name='pg_8' id='pg_8'>8</a></span>“Laws’ee, Miss S’lina! Don’ you be ’fraid dat I han’t tended to +eberyt’ing for little Miss Rufie’s welcome! Leave it to ole Sally, what +likes dat chile like her own kin!”</p> + +<p>“Well, then, Sally, hurry with my toast and tea—and for goodness’ sake, +don’t you bring scorched toast again! There, I can smell it burning this +very minute! How many times must I tell you that I will not trust those +electric toasters? The old-fashioned coal fire is good enough for +me—and it would be for you, too, if it were not for your ridiculous +ideas of being progressive and having all these electric fol-de-rols put +up in the house. My house, too! Think of it! A servant to order these +contraptions and use them in my very own home and make me pay for them, +when I prefer the ways of my forefathers.” Then utterly wearied with her +long complaint, Miss Selina collapsed, and closed her eyes.</p> + +<p>Sally, the old family servant who had lived all her days with the +Talmage family at Happy Hills, had been a playmate of Miss Selina’s; in +fact, she had grown up with all the children of the “big house.” She +smiled indulgently at her <span class='pagenum'><a name='pg_9' id='pg_9'>9</a></span>mistress’ words, as she bent over a fresh +piece of toast.</p> + +<p>“Pore chile—Sally knows a heap of time is saved ’twixt ’lectricity an’ +coal, an’ she’s goin’ to cleave to the bestes’ way ever foun’ yit—an’ +she knows what dem old rheumaticks is a-doin’ to your temper,” +soliloquized the astute servant.</p> + +<p>The toast was nicely browned, and the tea brewed perfectly, and Sally +placed them on a dainty tray which she carried over to the couch.</p> + +<p>“Want I should leave you alone, or he’p you break the bread?” asked +Sally, soothingly.</p> + +<p>Miss Selina opened her eyes and answered, “If I were sure you had Miss +Ruth’s room all ready, and everything else as it should be, I would let +you pour that tea for me; but I suppose you have neglected half your +work to be in here with me.”</p> + +<p>Sally’s broad grin wrinkled the corners of her mouth, as she took the +teapot and poured the fragrant beverage into a Japanese cup. At the same +time her mind seemed to dwell upon a pleasant subject.</p> + +<p>“Does you ’member, Miss S’lina, de las’ time little Rufie visited us? +Dat’s de time she was all <span class='pagenum'><a name='pg_10' id='pg_10'>10</a></span>full of a plan for havin’ some kin’ of a +bird’s nest at home. I wonder ef she ever did fix it up?”</p> + +<p>Miss Selina forgot to find fault for a few moments, as Sally’s words +caused her to remember the plan her grand-niece had talked over.</p> + +<p>“Seems to me, her mother wrote something in a letter about a Blue Bird +Nest they were going to start. But I haven’t the slightest idea what it +is. I should think they would build nests for robins and birds who are +plentiful in our country places. Blue Birds are not very numerous in our +woods.”</p> + +<p>“T’wan’t for real birds—don’ you recomember? It was jus’ de name dey +was goin’ to use fer a li’l ’sociation like!” corrected Sally, as she +held the plate of toast within reach of the invalid’s hand.</p> + +<p>“No, I don’t remember! How should I?—with all this pain forever tying +me into knots!” mumbled Miss Selina, as a toothsome morsel of toast +entered her mouth.</p> + +<p>Suddenly, the crunching of wheels on the gravel drive was heard, and +Sally craned her neck to look from the window.</p> + +<p>“There goes Abe now,” she said.</p> + +<p><span class='pagenum'><a name='pg_11' id='pg_11'>11</a></span>The same day the Blue Birds of Happy Times Nest, at Oakdale, had become +“Fliers,” little Ruth Talmage, the favorite of the Nest, had received an +invitation to spend a week at her Aunt Selina’s house, and Abe was now +on his way to the station to meet her.</p> + +<p>Aunt Selina was an unpleasant old lady, and few of her relatives cared +to visit her; so, when she had her attacks of rheumatism she generally +had to spend her time on the couch with no one to amuse her. She had +invited Ruth the previous Spring, and had enjoyed the little girl’s +visit so much, that she had sent for her now when helpless with another +attack.</p> + +<p>Of course, when the telegram came to Ruth’s home, asking the little girl +to visit Aunt Selina, the Blue Birds felt sorry for her, knowing what a +miserable time Ruth would have. Then, too, Ruth’s father was expected +home that Saturday, and Ruth had not seen him for almost a year.</p> + +<p>Ruth, however, was willing to sacrifice her own pleasure to help Aunt +Selina—as every Blue Bird tries to follow the Golden Rule—so she left +her playmates Saturday morning, with promises to write every day until +she returned, and they, <span class='pagenum'><a name='pg_12' id='pg_12'>12</a></span>in turn, earnestly promised to explain to her +father just why she went away the day he was expected home.</p> + +<p>Now, Happy Hills, Aunt Selina’s home, was several miles from Greenfields +Station, and the country about this section of Pennsylvania was so +beautiful and healthful that city people gradually settled upon estates +and spent their summers there. Beautiful carriages and automobiles daily +passed over the fine old road that divided Happy Hills in half. But no +one had much of an opportunity to admire the place as high board fences +had been built on either side of the road as far as the property fronted +it.</p> + +<p>Happy Hills was an old family estate comprising more than two thousand +acres, half woodland and half cultivated fields and green pastures. A +spring of clear water, hidden among the rocks of the highest hill at the +back of the farm, furnished plenty of water for the noisy brook that +tumbled from rock to rock on the hillside, and, after splashing in and +out among the trees, ran like a broad ribbon through the green meadows.</p> + +<p>The entire property was enclosed with a high fence, even the woodland +being carefully hemmed <span class='pagenum'><a name='pg_13' id='pg_13'>13</a></span>in so no little children could get in to play in +the brook, or pick wild berries and flowers that decayed in profusion +year after year.</p> + +<p>Sally was a trusted old housekeeper who had her mistress’ confidence; +Abe was her husband who had driven the Talmage coupé ever since he came +North at the time of the Civil War.</p> + +<p>Miss Selina had not always been so disagreeable. She had old-fashioned +pictures of herself at the age of eighteen when hoop-skirts were the +fashion, and the young women wore their hair in “water-falls.” At that +time a handsome young man was in love with her, but he was shot in the +war, and she brooded over her loss so long that she lost all the +sweetness of living. The older she grew the more disagreeable she +became, until, not one of her relatives wanted to be with her, but +managed to keep far from her complaining voice.</p> + +<p>And for this old lady, Ruth had waived the anticipated home coming of +her dear father!</p> + +<p>Breakfast over, Sally propped Miss Selina up on the cushions and left +her for a time.</p> + +<p>After wondering how long it would take Abe to drive back from the +eleven-thirty train, Miss <span class='pagenum'><a name='pg_14' id='pg_14'>14</a></span>Selina started to think of something she had +been pondering the last few days. What should she do with her vast +estate if she died? She had never made a will, for she abhorred the idea +of dying and having any strangers in her home. But she couldn’t take it +with her, and she was nearing seventy years of age with all the signs of +old age breaking over her defenceless head.</p> + +<p>She tried to think of someone to whom she really wanted to leave her +home, but there was no one. She generally sighed at this point and +dropped the unpleasant thought. To-day, however, she wondered if her +nephew and his wife could be plotting to get her property by having Ruth +visit whenever she was invited. This idea seemed to take hold of her, +and she frowned as she made up her mind to ask Ruth questions about her +mother’s intentions and opinions regarding Aunt Selina and Happy Hills.</p> + +<p>Miss Selina had been so engrossed in her thoughts that the sound of +carriage wheels on the drive failed to reach her. Therefore, it was with +a start of surprise that she heard the door flung open and a happy +child’s voice cry:</p> + +<p>“Aunt Selina! I’m here! Are you glad to <span class='pagenum'><a name='pg_15' id='pg_15'>15</a></span>have me?” while a pair of soft +little arms were gently placed about her withered old neck and fresh +little lips pressed her cheek.</p> + +<p>The caress was such an unusual experience that Miss Selina forgot to +wince or complain, and before she did remember, Ruth was bubbling over +with news.</p> + +<p>“What do you think is to happen to-day?—Oh! Aunt Selina, we all have +new names at home; even mother is now called Mother Wings and I am +Fluff. The other Blue Birds have names they chose for themselves, and +Ned is an Owl, and prints our weekly paper called the <i>Chirp</i>. Now, +instead of Aunt Selina, I want to call you a bird-name, too. May I?”</p> + +<p>Aunt Selina smiled sympathetically at Ruth’s words, but, recalled to her +condition by a twinge of pain, she moaned, “Child, poor old Aunt Selina +would make a wretched specimen of a bird nowadays. The only kind I feel +that I could represent truly is a raven—for it always croaks.”</p> + +<p>Ruth laughed consolingly, but cried, “Oh, Aunt Selina, that is just +because you feel blue with those old rheumatics. Mother says we always +look at life through dark spectacles when we’re <span class='pagenum'><a name='pg_16' id='pg_16'>16</a></span>in pain, and we b’lieve +the lovely world has lost all its brightness. Now, I’ve come to make you +forget your blues and I <i>must</i> have a new name to say, because there is +so <i>much</i> to tell you that I would lose time if I had to say ‘Aunt +Selina’ every time. Besides, a new name will make you forget yourself.”</p> + +<p>“What could you call me?” questioned her aunt, trying to fall in with +the child’s whim.</p> + +<p>“We’ll have to think! It isn’t as easy as it may sound to find a name to +suit. We had a dreadful hard time to do it.”</p> + +<p>“‘Fluff’ suits you beautifully. Who found it?” said the old lady +interestedly.</p> + +<p>“I chose two, but we can only have one. One was ‘Flutey’ the other +‘Fluff’; Ned and the Blue Birds liked ‘Fluff’ best, and they have called +me by that name ever since we were christened in the Nest.”</p> + +<p>“When I was a little girl like you I used to enjoy whistling about the +place so much that father called me his little flute. I can still see +the shocked expression of my aunt who visited us, when she heard me +running about whistling like a boy. She was a grand dame of society in +New <span class='pagenum'><a name='pg_17' id='pg_17'>17</a></span>York, and <i>her</i> girls were doing embroidery and being taught how to +curtsey and behave in the drawing-room.” And Miss Selina smiled at Ruth +who fully understood the remark and clapped her hands delightedly at her +aunt who had been a hoyden so long ago.</p> + +<p>“I just love to whistle, too. Ned says I can pipe higher and carry a +tune better than anyone he knows!” declared Ruth, and aunt and +grand-niece felt a common bond of unity.</p> + +<p>Ruth was about to demonstrate her accomplishment to Aunt Selina, when +her face puckered into a funny expression and her shoulders hunched up +about her ears as they usually did when some secret thought gave her a +surprise. She leaned over the couch and confidentially whispered, “Aunt +Selina, I’ll tell you what! We both love to whistle, don’t we? Then, you +shall be christened with my other name! You shall be ‘Flutey,’ eh?”</p> + +<p>“Oh, dear child, it would be sarcasm to name me that now! Why, the only +claim I have to that name would be because of my fluted skin. Just look +at my neck and face!” said Aunt Selina.</p> + +<p>“No such thing!” retorted Ruth. “I never saw <span class='pagenum'><a name='pg_18' id='pg_18'>18</a></span>any flutes on your face +until this very minute when you made me see some little wrinkles. Your +skin is soft and white, so don’t you ever tell folks what you said to +me, ’cause they won’t see anything but a nice face.”</p> + +<p>Of course, Aunt Selina felt elated to hear such comforting words, but +Ruth gave her no time to meditate.</p> + +<p>“Do you like the name I, as your god-mother, give you?” laughed the +merry little girl.</p> + +<p>“Yes, indeed, it is fine, but we must keep it a secret. Just fancy Sally +or Abe, or any of the servants, calling me ‘Miss Flutey!’” And Aunt +Selina laughed aloud just as the door opened and Sally popped her head +through the aperture. Seeing the happy faces and hearing the unusual +laughter, she immediately closed the door, without having been seen or +heard. Out in the wide hall she lifted both arms high toward the ceiling +and rolled her eyes devoutly upward as she murmured, “Praise be to the +Lud, dat dat little tree is come wif healin’ in its leaves.” After this +strange remark, Sally hurried out to tell Abe of the miracle.</p> + +<p>Aunt Selina, in spite of her age, felt a childish <span class='pagenum'><a name='pg_19' id='pg_19'>19</a></span>delight in having a +secret with Ruth, and after a few moments said, “I shall have to call +you Fluff, and you must call me Flutey, I suppose, if we are to belong +to the same Nest.”</p> + +<p>“Yes, that’s the way,” replied Ruth, clapping her hands softly. “Now, +let me tell you all the wonderful things we did this summer.”</p> + +<p>Then began a recital of how the Blue Birds of Happy Times Nest started; +about each member and her name; the nest in the old cherry-tree; how +they had earned money to bring some poor children from the city to spend +the hot weeks in the country; and, best of all, how they had interested +all of the citizens of Oakdale in helping a hundred poor city children +to spend a few weeks in the beautiful village of Oakdale.</p> + +<p>At this moment a loud knock at the door caused Aunt Selina to sit up and +call out, “Come in!”</p> + +<p>“Shall you hab lunch in de dinin’ room, or serbed here?” said Sally.</p> + +<p>“Lunch! Why, is it time—is it one o’clock?” gasped Miss Selina.</p> + +<p>“Ya’as’m—pas dat hour, too,” replied Sally, smiling broadly at Ruth, +who returned the good-natured feeling.</p> + +<p><span class='pagenum'><a name='pg_20' id='pg_20'>20</a></span>“Well, well; I feel much better, Sally,” admitted Aunt Selina. “Nothing +like having young folks around when one feels blue, eh? I guess you’d +better bring the lunch tray here, and Miss Ruth and I will picnic this +noon.”</p> + +<p>In a few moments the waitress brought in a huge tray while Sally +followed with a folding table which she placed by the side of the couch.</p> + +<p>A joysome hour passed in “picnicking” the lunch, then Sally rang for the +maid to remove the dishes. After she had gone, Sally turned to her +mistress and, with the familiarity of an old servant, said, “Miss Rufie +shore is de bestes tonic you ebber took. You’se et more lunch, Miss +Selina, dan I’se seen yo’ et in six mont!”</p> + +<p>Then whisking a few tiny crumbs from the couch afghan, Sally gathered up +the doilies and went out, smiling contentedly.</p> + +<p>That afternoon worked a remarkable change in Aunt Selina. She forgot all +about herself and her misery while listening to her grand-niece’s story +of sacrifice for others.</p> + +<p>She listened attentively to every word, until Ruth concluded with the +words, “Now, we are <span class='pagenum'><a name='pg_21' id='pg_21'>21</a></span>planning some great work for our winter nest, but +we don’t know just what we will choose.”</p> + +<p>So impressed was Aunt Selina with the movement started by the New York +Organization, that she determined to help the cause in every way she +could.</p> + +<p>In the evening with the help of a cane and Sally, Aunt Selina managed to +reach the dining-room for dinner. “For,” said she, “it is a shame to +keep Ruth cooped up in my morning room all day long.”</p> + +<p>During dinner she marveled at the improvement in her physical condition +and worried lest her ailments return suddenly. But Ruth reassured her.</p> + +<p>“No, indeed, Flutey, we have so much to do and plan while I am here, +that you won’t have time to think of getting sick again.”</p> + +<p>Aunt Selina looked dumbfounded for a moment.</p> + +<p>“Ruth, do you suppose that’s what ails me—nothing to do but think of +myself all of the time?” said she.</p> + +<p>“Flutey, not only with you, but with lots of folks!” replied Ruth, +wisely. “You see, anyone <span class='pagenum'><a name='pg_22' id='pg_22'>22</a></span>who is busy and has something to do all the +time never gets sick, because they haven’t time to worry ’bout +themselves if they feel a bit of pain. Why, this summer I saw lots of +beginnings of sickness stopped just because everyone had to get through +their work for the city children. Even me: when mother told me that +father—oh, oh—oh!” and Ruth doubled over her plate and giggled +immoderately.</p> + +<p>“Now what ails you, child?” inquired Aunt Selina, smiling in sympathy +with her guest’s merry laugh.</p> + +<p>“Oh, Aunt Selina, this goes to prove what I just said! Here I have been +with you all day, so full of the story of our Nest and all we did, that +I forgot to feel sorry for myself. Why, think of it! Father is expected +home to-night, and I’m not there! When your telegram came asking me to +come here, and mother told me father was expected the same day, I felt +dreadfully bad about it, but mother said I might help the winter nest a +great deal by coming to show you how to fly, so I really made up my mind +not to feel sorry about not seeing father. And here I am all this time, +forgetting my disappointment <span class='pagenum'><a name='pg_23' id='pg_23'>23</a></span>about leaving home to-day, and now, +laughing over it. Don’t you see?”</p> + +<p>Aunt Selina nodded her head comprehendingly as she said, “Yes, I see! +Yes, I see what has been my undoing all these years. Child, you have +done something for me that all my years have failed in showing me. God +bless you, Ruth, for coming, and when I tell your father about it he +will be proud of his little Blue Bird that brought such peace to me.”</p> + +<p>As she concluded, Aunt Selina’s eyes were brimful of tears, but they +were tears of gratitude, and such tears always wash away much of our +stubborn selfishness.</p> + +<p>Sally hovered about the table to be on hand to assist her querulous +mistress if necessary and she, too, felt the effect of Ruth’s words and +silently praised God for the blessing.</p> + +<p>After Aunt Selina and Ruth were comfortably seated in the soft +easy-chairs of the former’s bedroom, Ruth asked permission to write the +letters she had promised the Blue Birds at home. Aunt Selina nodded +cheerfully, and sat watching the little girl write until her eyelids +drowsed slowly over her eyes.</p> + +<p><span class='pagenum'><a name='pg_24' id='pg_24'>24</a></span>The first and most important letter was written to Ruth’s dear father +and mother. The next to Ned, and the third to all of the Blue Birds of +Happy Times Nest. Here, she wrote as she pleased and told them about her +trip, how interested Aunt Selina seemed to be, about the secret name she +had given the new Blue Bird and all of the fine things Aunt Selina was +going to do just as soon as plans could be talked over. As the letter +drew to a close, Ruth begged her friends to write every day and not +undertake any important work until she came home.</p> + +<p>The last letter took a long time to write and Aunt Selina was fully +awake before Ruth had finished.</p> + +<p>“Laws, Child! Do you know the time? What would your mother say if she +knew I kept her daughter out of bed until after nine o’clock? If the +letters are finished you must go straight to your room.” And Aunt Selina +rang for Sally.</p> + +<p>That night as Ruth slept soundly, Aunt Selina lay thinking over all her +grand-niece had told her. As she thought of all her wasted years and of +all the wonderful good she might have done with her <span class='pagenum'><a name='pg_25' id='pg_25'>25</a></span>leisure time and +wealth, she turned her face to the wall and shed bitter tears of regret.</p> + +<p>Then recalling Ruth’s advice to fill her mind with something good and +helpful, the old lady vowed to pick up the frayed ends of her life and +ask Ruth how to use her money and time to create some lasting good for +others. As she smiled contentedly over the idea of her grand-niece of +tender years advising and helping her, an old lady of three score and +ten, the Bible text flashed into her mind—“And a little child shall +lead them.”</p> + +<p>Then Aunt Selina fell into a restful, health-giving sleep such as she +had not had in years.</p> + +<hr class='major' /> +<div style='margin: auto; text-align: center; padding-top: 1em; padding-bottom: 1em'> +<a name='A_SUNDAY_WALK_AND_ITS_RESULTS_478' id='A_SUNDAY_WALK_AND_ITS_RESULTS_478'></a> +<h2>CHAPTER II</h2> +<h3>A SUNDAY WALK AND ITS RESULTS</h3> +</div> + +<p>Ruth was out-of-doors early the following morning, enjoying the sweet, +crisp breeze with its odor of dew-laden meadows. After sniffing +delightedly for a few moments, she skipped up and down the long veranda, +calling to the birds and snapping her fingers at some curious squirrels. +Sally heard the joyous child and came out to bid her a good-morning.</p> + +<p>“Sally, what a beautiful farm Aunt Selina has! It looks lovelier this +morning than ever, but it makes me sad when I think that no one can +enjoy it except the folks that live here,” said Ruth, in a tone of +regret.</p> + +<p>“Ya’as, Chile, I feels sorry dat Miss S’lina had dem high board fences +put up to keep anjoyin’ eyes from de propaty. An’ den agin, I kin s’cuse +de little chillern dat sneak fru de back fences jus’ to pick wilets an’ +paddle in de brok up dere;” and Sally looked toward the inviting +woodland, whence came the sound of running water.</p> + +<p><span class='pagenum'><a name='pg_27' id='pg_27'>27</a></span>“If Aunt Selina is to be a really truly Blue Bird she will remove +whatever keeps others from enjoying what she has,” commented Ruth, +seriously.</p> + +<p>A bell, tinkling from an upper room, summoned Sally hurriedly indoors, +so Ruth sat down in a large wicker rocker to await her aunt’s coming.</p> + +<p>Sally soon came and told Ruth breakfast was ready and there sat Miss +Selina welcoming her with a cheery smile!</p> + +<p>“Do you feel as happy and free as a Blue Bird, Flutey?” asked Ruth, +giving Aunt Selina a hearty embrace.</p> + +<p>Unaccustomed to such healthy demonstrations of affection, she suffered +her lace cap to be pulled over one ear while her other was uncomfortably +doubled under Ruth’s plump little arm.</p> + +<p>“Yes, Fluff, I feel unusually well this morning. I slept like a babe all +night,” replied her aunt.</p> + +<p>“That’s the way all Blue Birds sleep. Not one of us would stay in bed a +minute just because something tried to make us feel too tired or sick to +get up early in the morning! You know, the Camp Fire Girls receive +honors for keeping free from illness, and some day the Blue Birds expect +<span class='pagenum'><a name='pg_28' id='pg_28'>28</a></span>to join the bigger girls in their Camp Fires. So we begin to practice +good health now,” explained Ruth.</p> + +<p>The breakfast passed quickly with not a sound or sigh from Aunt Selina +about rheumatism. Sally was the most astonished of all, for it had +become second nature with her mistress to talk about her pains and woes +at all times.</p> + +<p>“While I was waiting on the piazza, this morning, I planned to take you +for a nice long walk,” said Ruth.</p> + +<p>“Why, my dear, I simply cannot walk out of doors. I could hardly hobble +about the house this morning.”</p> + +<p>“Oh, I s’pose you couldn’t walk very well, but I can walk and you can +ride in the wheel-chair. I will push it, and we will go down the meadow +path toward the summer-house,” said Ruth.</p> + +<p>Aunt Selina looked dubiously at Sally, but the latter was very busy +placing some of the family silver in the chest, and her back was turned.</p> + +<p>After a few moments’ hesitation she said, “I never take that chair off +of the porch, and I am afraid you are too little to push it.”</p> + +<p>“Oh, no, indeed I’m not. It won’t hurt the <span class='pagenum'><a name='pg_29' id='pg_29'>29</a></span>chair, and even if it did, +your pleasure just now is better than ten chairs!” decided Ruth.</p> + +<p>After several weak attempts to turn Ruth from her purpose, Aunt Selina +surrendered with a sigh.</p> + +<p>As Sally left the room just then she chuckled to herself, “Dat chile +will shorely ’juvenate Miss S’lina!”</p> + +<p>After breakfast aunt and grand-niece went out on the veranda and Ruth +soon had the chair down the steps and waiting for her aunt.</p> + +<p>Aunt Selina felt a bit conscious at being wheeled like a baby, but Ruth +was too merry to permit anything but joy to prevail.</p> + +<p>Ruth turned the chair into a path that ran along the brook, and chatted +merrily until Aunt Selina forgot herself in listening. At the end of the +path stood a rustic summer-house from which could be seen the wide +expanse of meadow and woodland. Having reached this spot, Ruth placed +the chair so her aunt could look about and admire her beautiful lands.</p> + +<p>“Flutey, don’t you ever go to church on Sunday mornings?” asked Ruth.</p> + +<p>“The only church is so far away that I would have to drive for half an +hour to reach it; then, <span class='pagenum'><a name='pg_30' id='pg_30'>30</a></span>too, it is not a denomination that I approve +of,” she replied, coolly.</p> + +<p>But a little thing like a cold reply or a curt tone never daunted Ruth +when she was after any particular information.</p> + +<p>“What is the difference between one denomination and another? I don’t +exactly know the meaning of that word, but I know it means something +about churches.”</p> + +<p>“Well, some churches believe in worshipping God one way and some in +another. These different beliefs are called ‘denominations.’ Now, all of +our family were brought up to believe the Baptist manner of worship to +be the only true one, and this church at Greenfields is Presbyterian. Of +course, everyone knows that pre-destination is all wrong,” said Aunt +Selina emphatically.</p> + +<p>Ruth’s eyes opened wider and wider as she listened, for she had been +taught a very simple faith. She had been told that to live and follow +the “Golden Rule” was the highest form of obedience, and that it was +true worship. So she answered quietly:</p> + +<p>“I love Jesus, and I believe he taught everyone <span class='pagenum'><a name='pg_31' id='pg_31'>31</a></span>the same way, and I +believe he just loved everybody the same way.”</p> + +<p>“We will not discuss religion, Ruth. Just keep on thinking and doing as +Mother has taught you.”</p> + +<p>“Well, I was only going to say, that as we cannot go to church such a +lovely morning, we might sit here and thank God for all these fields,” +explained Ruth.</p> + +<p>Aunt Selina looked about the land in the light of a new revelation.</p> + +<p>“I was thinking,” continued Ruth, “how I should love to have this farm +near Oakdale. I could come over so often to tell you what we are doing, +and then, too, you could use all of that wonderful woodland for Blue +Birds’ Camps in the summer.”</p> + +<p>Aunt Selina looked across the fields and woods but said nothing, so Ruth +continued.</p> + +<p>“When the two Ferris children came out to Mrs. Mason’s farm, they were +so happy to see real flowers and grass that they soon got well and +strong. That made me wish that I had hundreds of farms just like it +where sick children could go and get well. That was one thing that made +the Oakdale folks help get the hundred city poor <span class='pagenum'><a name='pg_32' id='pg_32'>32</a></span>children out to our +country for a few weeks in August and the lovely time the children had +made everyone wish to do bigger things this next summer. Nothing has +really been planned yet, but everyone is trying to think of some way to +do something. This morning when I saw this wonderful farm and so few +folks to live on it, I just wished it was near Oakdale so a big crowd of +poor children could enjoy it next summer.”</p> + +<p>As Ruth concluded and looked wistfully over the fertile land, her aunt +sat thinking for a time, then answered.</p> + +<p>“Fluff, I determined to be a Blue Bird with all of my heart and soul. +Now, we can’t move this farm over to Oakdale, but the city children can +be moved out to this farm! You can do the planning from Oakdale, and I +can look after them when they get here.”</p> + +<p>Ruth gasped in amazement at the splendid idea, then jumped up and down +with delight while she shouted aloud.</p> + +<p>“Oh, oh! Flutey! that is great! Why, just think of all the streets full +of poor children who can enjoy these wonderful woods!”</p> + +<p><span class='pagenum'><a name='pg_33' id='pg_33'>33</a></span>Aunt Selina winced at the word “street children,” but she spoke with +determination.</p> + +<p>“I suppose we would have to build some sort of little houses, or +temporary camps for them to sleep in, and a long shed in which to serve +the meals. It will need a lot of planning.”</p> + +<p>“Dear me, I wish we could run and ask mother about it,” murmured Ruth, +impatiently. “Now, if you were only visiting me instead of me being here +with <i>you</i>!”</p> + +<p>“If I had gone to you, you might never have had the idea of using these +woods for the children,” ventured her aunt.</p> + +<p>“No, that’s so,” admitted Ruth. “And we can go back to the house and +write all our plans down on paper and send them to mother, can’t we?”</p> + +<p>Aunt Selina consenting, Ruth wheeled the chair back to the house. When +they reached the steps the invalid felt so strong that she lifted +herself out of the chair and climbed up the low steps with only Ruth to +lean upon.</p> + +<p>“Why, I never felt a twinge in my joints all this time! I never knew +rheumatism to disappear so quickly as it has this time,” she said, as +she sank down in a low chair.</p> + +<p><span class='pagenum'><a name='pg_34' id='pg_34'>34</a></span>“Let’s hope it won’t come back again,” added Ruth. “If it stays away +you could pack up and go to Oakdale with me, couldn’t you?”</p> + +<p>Aunt Selina, who never visited and seldom left her home, looked +horrified for a moment. But Ruth continued innocently,</p> + +<p>“We could get all of mother’s advice for the farm plans besides seeing +father and being home with him!”</p> + +<p>Sally, who had seen Miss Selina coming up the steps without a cane, +thought some miracle had been performed. So, wishing to hear all about +it, she hurried out with the announcement that dinner was almost ready.</p> + +<p>“Dinner! Why, Sally, we just finished breakfast. I’m sure I don’t want +anything to eat so soon,” replied Miss Selina.</p> + +<p>“It’s pas’ one o’clock, Miss S’lina, an’ you allus likes de meals to be +on time,” ventured Sally.</p> + +<p>“I’m sure I feel as if it was dinner time, ’cause I’m so hungry,” added +Ruth, who always had a healthy appetite.</p> + +<p>Aunt Selina laughed indulgently as she rose and limped slowly indoors.</p> + +<p>Immediately after dinner Ruth hurried to the <span class='pagenum'><a name='pg_35' id='pg_35'>35</a></span>library and brought forth +a pencil and paper. Meeting her aunt in the hall she said, “Now, we’ll +sit down and put all of our plans on paper.”</p> + +<p>The greater part of the afternoon was passed in this engrossing work.</p> + +<p>That night Aunt Selina again sought her bed with a great sense of +gratitude that she could enjoy the rest without any pain. She slept all +through the night and awoke in the morning feeling strong and energetic. +Almost every trace of her lameness had disappeared.</p> + +<p>The mail lay upon a silver tray beside her plate, and she smiled as she +handed two letters to Ruth.</p> + +<p>“May I read them, Flutey?” asked Ruth, as soon as she had peeped at the +post marks.</p> + +<p>Aunt Selina nodded, and Ruth tore open the one from the Blue Birds +first, saying in an explanatory tone, “I like to leave the best for the +last.”</p> + +<p>The Blue Birds had written her because they promised to do so, but there +had not been time for anything of importance to happen, so Ruth laid +aside their short note and took up her mother’s letter. The first +sentence made her gasp, <span class='pagenum'><a name='pg_36' id='pg_36'>36</a></span>and at the second, she giggled outright. Aunt +Selina waited patiently to hear the news.</p> + +<p>“Just think, Flutey, I didn’t miss father, anyway—and just see all we +have accomplished by my coming here to you! Mother writes that she had a +telegram from father late Saturday night, saying the steamer was +detained at quarantine on account of some suspects in the steerage who +seemed to have symptoms of yellow fever. He is not sure when they will +get off, but he will wire mother each day they are detained.”</p> + +<p>Aunt Selina nodded understandingly, and Ruth continued: “Wish you and I +could be there to welcome father when he comes! Flutey, you are so well +this morning, <i>don’t</i> you think you could go with me in our automobile, +if we traveled very carefully?”</p> + +<p>Her aunt was so aghast at the proposition that she failed to answer, and +Ruth continued, believing that she was thinking it over.</p> + +<p>“You see, Flutey, we really need to get to the Blue Birds and mother to +talk over this fine farm plan, and I am sure the visit will do you a +heap of good, for I have heard folks say that a change <span class='pagenum'><a name='pg_37' id='pg_37'>37</a></span>is a great thing +when you have been sick and tired of the same things about you.”</p> + +<p>Still Aunt Selina said not a word, so Ruth returned to her letter to +read it aloud. As she did so, her aunt sent a covert glance at Sally’s +direction to see what effect Ruth’s invitation had had upon the old +servant. But Sally, the wise, appeared not to have overheard a word.</p> + +<p>Later, as Ruth stood beside her aunt’s rocker on the veranda, she again +broached the subject.</p> + +<p>“Flutey, the air is so warm and balmy like it always is in Indian +summer, and our car is so comfy, you wouldn’t know but what you were in +an easy chair. I don’t see why you can’t come home with me.”</p> + +<p>“Fluff, do you know, that I could almost say ‘Yes, I will go,’ for I +think I would like to see all of your little friends, but I really +wouldn’t know what to do with the house if I went away on a visit,” said +Aunt Selina.</p> + +<p>“Goodness me! The house won’t run away. What does it do when you are +sick in bed and can’t walk about to look after it? It can go on just the +same when you are in Oakdale as when you are in bed,” replied practical +Ruth.</p> + +<p><span class='pagenum'><a name='pg_38' id='pg_38'>38</a></span>Never before had Aunt Selina been brought face to face with the fact +that Sally was the actual manager. She began to feel a certain +resentment against her faithful old servant, and then she thought what a +relief it was to have someone upon whom she could depend.</p> + +<p>“I never did ride in one of those machines, dearie. I have said that I +never would. I always use my victoria, or coupé,” she observed.</p> + +<p>“You never rode in an automobile! Why, Flutey, you have the treat of +your life waiting, then,” exclaimed Ruth, surprised. “It only goes to +show how careful we should be about saying things we are not sure of; +now, you see, you are going to ride in an auto and so prove to yourself +that you were wrong.”</p> + +<p>Ruth took for granted that the visit and method of traveling had been +decided upon, and, after some more futile excuses, Aunt Selina was won +over to considering going the next day if it were clear.</p> + +<p>“But the sky looks cloudy, Fluff, and your mother may not spare the car +to-morrow,” she objected, making a last brave stand against the +persistent little girl.</p> + +<p><span class='pagenum'><a name='pg_39' id='pg_39'>39</a></span>“Oh, no, those clouds are not rain clouds—they are wind and mother +would borrow Mrs. Catlin’s car if she had to go anywhere rather than +disappoint me by not sending Ike with ours,” replied Ruth, very certain +of her mother’s loving coöperation.</p> + +<p>“Well, I shall have to break the news to Sally and see if she can spare +me for a few days,” sighed her aunt, tingling with anticipation at the +unusual event, but loath to forego the hope that her presence was +necessary at home.</p> + +<p>“I’ll run and ask her to come here at once, so we can telegraph mother +about the car,” said Ruth, as she ran to call Sally.</p> + +<p>One never had to go far to find Sally, for wherever Miss Selina was, +there would Sally be found hovering about, also. Ruth caught hold of the +plump brown hand and dragged her out to the piazza.</p> + +<p>When the important question was put before her, Sally was diplomatic +enough to stand considering whether the household could possibly be +managed without the mistress. After some time, she said, “If it t’want +dat dis wisit is jus’ what you need to put you on yer feet, I would +<span class='pagenum'><a name='pg_40' id='pg_40'>40</a></span>say, ‘I don’ see how we’all kin manage.’ But, seein’ dat all de fruit +is dun up an’ de fall house-cleanin’ not yet due, I adwise you to be +shore an’ go an’ fin’ healin’ in de change of air.”</p> + +<p>Aunt Selina was so pleased at Sally’s answer that she told her to help +Ruth telegraph at once for the car. Sally bowed and hurried away to the +telephone where the message was sent to Greenfields to be wired to Mrs. +Talmage.</p> + +<p>The rest of the day was spent in pleasant excitement, with Ruth and her +aunt wondering what to pack in the small steamer trunk, while the whole +household felt the unusual stir of their mistress’ going away for a +visit.</p> + +<p>That evening an answering telegram came saying that Ike would leave +Oakdale at dawn in the morning so as to get to Happy Hills by noon. If +they were ready to start back at once they could arrive at Mossy Glen +before night set in.</p> + +<p>Ruth was so joyous over the happy termination of her visit that she +could hardly stand still long enough for Sally to tie her hair ribbon. +As for Aunt Selina, she looked from her bedroom windows before retiring, +anxiously scanning the sky for any possible rain clouds. She felt as +excited <span class='pagenum'><a name='pg_41' id='pg_41'>41</a></span>as a child over its first journey away from home. Seeing the +sky a deep blue with myriads of stars gleaming down at her, she smiled +and turned out the light.</p> + +<p>Ike arrived earlier than expected, for he made record time from Oakdale.</p> + +<p>“Ike, do the Blue Birds know I’m coming?” she asked.</p> + +<p>“Sure thing, Miss Ruth,” replied Ike.</p> + +<p>“And Ned—did he miss me?” queried the little girl.</p> + +<p>“Master Ned, he went ’round like a bear wid a sore head. He was just +lost without the head of the Blue Birds,” grinned Ike.</p> + +<p>“And mother—and Ike, father? Did father wonder why I left without +seeing him,” half-whispered Ruth.</p> + +<p>Ike dropped his wrench and stood up.</p> + +<p>“Why, Miss Ruth, I forgot to tell you! Mr. Ta’mage ain’t home yet. A +wire came late last night saying he expected to get off the boat to-day, +so they are looking for him this noon.”</p> + +<p>“Oh, oh, Ike! how could you keep such grand news from me all this time!” +exclaimed Ruth, racing indoors to tell her aunt.</p> + +<p><span class='pagenum'><a name='pg_42' id='pg_42'>42</a></span>When Ike said he was ready to start, Aunt Selina and Ruth were helped +to the comfortable seat and robes were tucked in about them, while the +servants stood in a semi-circle about the car, smiling and nodding +good-byes.</p> + +<p>Ike honked the siren for the benefit of the servants, then started the +easy-running machine.</p> + +<p>Aunt Selina felt so very comfortable that she admitted the fact to Ruth.</p> + +<p>“I never knew these cars were so easy-riding.”</p> + +<p>After passing a stretch of bad road Ike put on more speed and Aunt +Selina leaned forward to admonish him.</p> + +<p>“Don’t go fast enough to be dangerous! Are we going about eight miles an +hour?”</p> + +<p>Ike smiled to himself as he heard the question.</p> + +<p>“We’re travelin’ a bit more than eight, ma’am. I s’pose you are +’customed to that speed from drivin’ horses?”</p> + +<p>“Yes, that’s it. I never like to go faster than that rate, but you are +not going too fast, yet. Be sure to slow up going around corners—we +might run into someone,” she returned, settling herself comfortably back +in the robes.</p> + +<p>Ike promised to be most careful, but dared not <span class='pagenum'><a name='pg_43' id='pg_43'>43</a></span>hint at the actual speed +they were traveling, and would have to keep up, to enable them to reach +Oakdale before night.</p> + +<p>With the sun shining brightly, and the beautiful autumn coloring in the +foliage, the journey was most enjoyable.</p> + +<p>About six o’clock the car reached Mason’s farm and Ruth told her aunt +that there the first little city children lived all summer. Next, the +car passed Betty’s home, but no one was in sight, although Ruth watched +for Betty to appear. Mrs. Catlin’s beautiful home on the hill was +pointed out to the interested old lady, and then Ike turned off of the +main road and drove along the woodland road that ran by the swimming +pool. Ruth told all about it, and hoped the Nest in the cherry-tree +could be seen in the twilight.</p> + +<p>Ike stopped under the old tree and Ruth spied all of the Blue Birds in +the Nest. She jumped out to greet them and they ran down the steps to +crowd about her. Aunt Selina was introduced and received a quaint little +curtsey from each child. Then the children said good-night and Ike drove +on to the house.</p> + +<p>There, on the lower step, stood the long-looked-for <span class='pagenum'><a name='pg_44' id='pg_44'>44</a></span>father, and the +moment Ruth saw him, she gave a cry of joy. Mrs. Talmage and Ned stood +back in the shadow to enjoy Ruth’s first sight of her father.</p> + +<p>After the greetings were over, Aunt Selina was made to feel quite at +home in the cheery library until dinner was announced. The travelers +were too tired to dress for dinner, so they were soon seated about the +table and the conversation naturally turned to Blue Bird talk.</p> + +<p>Ruth went to bed soon after dinner, for the day had been tiresome, and +Aunt Selina also felt the need of rest. She admitted that she enjoyed +the trip very much, but her old bones felt the strain of the long day.</p> + +<hr class='major' /> +<div style='margin: auto; text-align: center; padding-top: 1em; padding-bottom: 1em'> +<a name='THE_BLUE_BIRDS_INSPIRATION_919' id='THE_BLUE_BIRDS_INSPIRATION_919'></a> +<h2>CHAPTER III</h2> +<h3>THE BLUE BIRDS’ INSPIRATION</h3> +</div> + +<p>School was to re-open on Thursday, and the Blue Birds had but one day +more of vacation in which to meet and plan for the Winter Nest. Of +course, they could meet after school, or Saturdays, but it seemed more +like a meeting to be able to have the whole day for planning.</p> + +<p>By nine o’clock on Wednesday, therefore, they gathered in their Nest +while Mrs. Talmage entertained Aunt Selina on the veranda with past +doings of the children.</p> + +<p>Mr. Talmage had to go to the city, and he said that Uncle Ben might come +back with him for a few days’ visit. Uncle Ben was his only brother, the +one who had given Ned the printing outfit for a Christmas gift.</p> + +<p>Ruth told the Blue Birds all about Happy Hills and Aunt Selina’s plan +for the city children.</p> + +<p>“Now, how shall we manage to find the children that will need the +country next summer?” asked Ruth.</p> + +<p><span class='pagenum'><a name='pg_46' id='pg_46'>46</a></span>“Did your aunt say who would look after so many children?” asked Norma.</p> + +<p>“No, that is one of the things we shall have to talk over. We only got +as far as deciding that the farm was great!” said Ruth.</p> + +<p>“Indeed, it is a fine offer,” said several little girls.</p> + +<p>“I think we will have to get the opinion of the grown-ups about the +whole plan,” ventured Betty.</p> + +<p>“Mrs. Talmage and Miss Selina are on the porch now—let’s run over and +ask them what they have thought of,” suggested Edith.</p> + +<p>As the others were of the same mind the Nest was deserted. Upon reaching +the veranda, the Blue Birds were pleased to see that Mrs. Catlin was +sitting there with the other ladies. As Mrs. Catlin was a powerful ally, +she was always welcome when planning was to be done.</p> + +<p>While the group on the piazza was deeply concerned talking over winter +work and next summer’s plans, Ned came out of the house and went down +the woodland path toward the Starrs’ home.</p> + +<p>Meredith Starr and his chum, Jinks, were under <span class='pagenum'><a name='pg_47' id='pg_47'>47</a></span>an old apple-tree in the +garden orchard, and Ned joined them.</p> + +<p>“Aunt Selina’s at the house, and what do you think?”</p> + +<p>Meredith and Jinks shook their heads and Ned continued solemnly, “She’s +given Happy Hills to the Blue Birds for their poor children next +summer.”</p> + +<p>“She has! My goodness, but they will have more than they can look after +if they ever accepted such a place,” cried Jinks.</p> + +<p>“Oh, they accepted it, all right! They’re just crazy about it. But the +grown-ups will have to help it along. I suppose they’ll have to have so +much printing done that we’ll be out of it after this winter,” +complained Ned.</p> + +<p>“If you think that why can’t we have some organization of our own?” +asked Meredith.</p> + +<p>“Yes! why wait to be invited out of the way by the Blue Birds? Get some +club of our own going, and surprise them if they find us in the way,” +added Jinks.</p> + +<p>“Oh, it takes a grown-up to help along such things?” objected Ned. “Why, +where do you <span class='pagenum'><a name='pg_48' id='pg_48'>48</a></span>suppose these girls would have been if it hadn’t been for +mother’s ideas and help?”</p> + +<p>“I guess you’re right,” admitted the other boys, rolling over in the +grass again, whence they had popped up their heads at Meredith’s +suggestion.</p> + +<p>After a few moments’ silence, however, Meredith sat up again and said +tenaciously: “I don’t see why we can’t! Daddum would help us with his +advice and your father, too, Ned. Jinks hasn’t any grown-ups, but he can +get some of the fathers of the Blue Birds interested in us.”</p> + +<p>“What could we do, or where would we start?” asked Ned.</p> + +<p>“Well, first of all, don’t let’s call it ‘The Owls!’ That name may be +all right for the editor of a paper, but I don’t like it for a club,” +complained Meredith.</p> + +<p>“We need a name that will sound so respectable that every mother will +consent to having her boy join us,” said Ned.</p> + +<p>“We might call it ‘Junior Boy Scouts,’” suggested Jinks.</p> + +<p>“Then everyone’ll expect us to do just as the Boy Scouts do, and the +fact is we won’t! We will have a sort of club for boys under twelve for +the <span class='pagenum'><a name='pg_49' id='pg_49'>49</a></span>purpose of having a nice time, and helping them with their work or +suggesting plans for outdoor sports,” said Ned.</p> + +<p>“If we could think of some name that would appeal to the mothers who are +so interested in the Blue Birds!” said Jinks.</p> + +<p>After many names had been laughed down, Meredith said, “Why not call +ourselves ‘The B. B. Club.’ Everyone likes a secret society and the +mothers can believe we are so fond of the Blue Birds that we wanted to +keep their name for ourselves.”</p> + +<p>“Oh, but they will think we had to steal their name for want of finding +one for ourselves,” scorned Ned.</p> + +<p>“Well, if you can find anything better, tell it!” exclaimed Meredith, +vexed at his friend’s laughter.</p> + +<p>Just then, Jim, the handy man about Oakwood, joined the boys. He saw +some signs of trouble and asked what they were doing.</p> + +<p>Ned explained about Miss Selina and the Blue Birds, and his plan for the +younger boys. Jim pondered for a few moments and then muttered, <span class='pagenum'><a name='pg_50' id='pg_50'>50</a></span>“Is +there any bird you know that goes by those same initials—‘B. B.’?”</p> + +<p>Ned thought rapidly for a few minutes, then said, “Blue Jay, no, not +that—Black Bird!”</p> + +<p>“Bull Finch!” replied Jinks, laughing.</p> + +<p>“Neither! What bird whistles like this?” and Jim imitated so naturally +the notes of the Bobolink that the boys knew.</p> + +<p>“Ho! Bobolink, eh?” shouted Ned, slapping Jim on the back.</p> + +<p>“Where would the ‘B. B.’ come in on that?” asked Jinks.</p> + +<p>“Would you divide it like ‘Bo-Bolink’?” asked Meredith.</p> + +<p>“Sure not! Just plain ‘Bobolink Boys’ to offset the Blue Bird Girls,” +answered Jim, as he rose to go on toward the barns.</p> + +<p>“Hurrah, Jim! I think you’re a life-saver,” cried Ned.</p> + +<p>“Three cheers for the god-father of the Bobolink Boys!” shouted Jinks, +while the others cheered Jim.</p> + +<p>“There’s Don and another little chap—try the name on them and see what +they say,” suggested <span class='pagenum'><a name='pg_51' id='pg_51'>51</a></span>Jim, pointing toward the front driveway where two +boys of about ten years could be seen.</p> + +<p>“That’s right. We’ll see what they think of it all,” returned Meredith, +rising to whistle through his fingers to attract the boys’ attention.</p> + +<p>Immediately upon hearing the shrill call from his brother, Don turned +in the direction of the apple orchard. As the two lads ran up, Ned +constituted himself chief counsel.</p> + +<p>“Don, how old are you?” was the first question.</p> + +<p>“Nine, goin’ on ten. Why?” answered Don.</p> + +<p>“How old is your friend?” was the next question.</p> + +<p>“I’m ten next month,” replied the little fellow.</p> + +<p>“What’s your name?” asked Ned.</p> + +<p>“Tuck. That is what everyone calls me, but the name they gave me when I +was too little to know better, was awful—it’s Reuben Wales. Just +because my great grandfather had it, they made me take it, too.” And +poor little Tuck felt very much abused.</p> + +<p>“Never mind, Tuck,” laughed Ned, while the other boys rolled over in the +grass to smother their laughter.</p> + +<p><span class='pagenum'><a name='pg_52' id='pg_52'>52</a></span>“I don’t most of the time, but when someone has to know the real end of +my name, I feel dreadful about it.”</p> + +<p>“Well, Tuck, we are planning a club for you boys and you can choose a +new name if you join,” consoled Jinks.</p> + +<p>“What’s the game, Jinks?” asked Don, eagerly.</p> + +<p>“We hope to form an organization for boys under twelve to be known as +Bobolink Boys,” explained Meredith.</p> + +<p>“What for—to build nests and then sew doll clothes, or make paper +furniture?” growled Don, who had been greatly offended to think that his +twin sister Dot would leave him for the Blue Birds.</p> + +<p>The older boys who understood his attitude and its cause, laughed, but +Meredith explained more fully.</p> + +<p>“Just for the sake of having fine times and getting something going for +the boys so the girls won’t run the whole town. If we start a movement +called Bobolinks we can demand help from the grown-ups just as the girls +have done. We can manage to do something as big as the Blue <span class='pagenum'><a name='pg_53' id='pg_53'>53</a></span>Birds ever +did, besides having our outings and games at a club-room.”</p> + +<p>“That sounds fine,” ventured Tuck.</p> + +<p>“Fine! Why, there’s my hand on it, Mete!” declared Don, as he thrust a +grimy little hand under his brother’s nose.</p> + +<p>Ned and Jinks laughed as Meredith looked doubtfully at Don’s hand before +accepting it as a pledge.</p> + +<p>“What’ll we do first?” asked Don, eager to begin.</p> + +<p>“Tuck and you must ask as many nice boys as you know if they would like +to join a club, and tell them what for,” replied Ned.</p> + +<p>“How many can we ask?” questioned Tuck.</p> + +<p>“Oh, about thirty, I guess. I can take charge of one Nest, Jinks of +another, and Mete of another,” said Ned.</p> + +<p>“All right, we’re in for it,” cried Don.</p> + +<p>“We’ll report to-morrow afternoon—where?” asked Tuck.</p> + +<p>“Better say at Jim’s cottage—up by the barn.”</p> + +<p>The two younger boys ran away to seek members and the other boys looked +at each other.</p> + +<p>“Quick work, eh? We’re in for it now, so we’d <span class='pagenum'><a name='pg_54' id='pg_54'>54</a></span>better get some plans +going,” laughed Meredith.</p> + +<p>“We’d better go to your room and figure things out on paper,” advised +Ned.</p> + +<p>So the three boys who started the Bobolink Boys went to the house and +locked themselves in Meredith’s den to make plans for the organization.</p> + +<p>In the meantime, the Blue Birds had joined the ladies on the Talmage +veranda and their conversation turned to the work to be done that +winter.</p> + +<p>“I wonder where Ned went,” said Mrs. Talmage as Ruth drew a low stool to +her mother’s side.</p> + +<p>“He went over to my house to see Mete,” replied Dot Starr. “Shall I go +and bring him back?”</p> + +<p>“Oh, no, it can wait. I just wanted him to hear some of our plans so he +could print it in the next paper,” said Mrs. Talmage. Then she turned to +the others.</p> + +<p>“You see, Blue Birds, since Aunt Selina joined our ranks and proffered +Happy Hills for next summer’s use, it gives us an entirely new incentive +for work. We had rather expected to take <span class='pagenum'><a name='pg_55' id='pg_55'>55</a></span>matters easy this winter, for +school does not leave much time for other work. But we have afternoons +and Saturdays.”</p> + +<p>“And Wednesdays, too, Mrs. Talmage! We all get out at two o’clock +Wednesdays, you know,” added Norma.</p> + +<p>“If I could skip music that day, I could have a long afternoon with +you,” said May, hopefully.</p> + +<p>“Well, if anyone who has studies at home for Wednesdays, could arrange +to attend to them at another time, we could have every Wednesday +afternoon for a regular meeting, too,” admitted Mrs. Talmage.</p> + +<p>Miss Selina was so interested in the children that she smiled when they +did, and puckered her brow into a frown when they did. Mrs. Catlin +amused herself watching the old lady and almost rocked off the steps in +her enjoyment.</p> + +<p>“One thing we must discuss to-day is a suitable nest for winter. We +cannot occupy the one in the cherry tree much longer, for it is growing +windy and cool. Then, too, there must be some home-work planned for each +one to report at our meetings,” said Mrs. Talmage.</p> + +<p>“Won’t there be any benefits or bazaars?” <span class='pagenum'><a name='pg_56' id='pg_56'>56</a></span>asked Ruth, who had visions +of fun in the school-house assembly room.</p> + +<p>“We will have to earn money in some manner to help the poor children, +but that will have to be discussed later,” replied Mrs. Talmage.</p> + +<p>After an hour’s discussion, Mrs. Catlin left with the parting +injunction, “Call upon me for anything—I will be on hand.”</p> + +<p>Late in the afternoon Mr. Talmage returned with his brother who was the +editor of a prominent magazine in New York. The Blue Birds had gone, and +Ruth welcomed her uncle whose visits were always a source of pleasure to +Ned and herself.</p> + +<p>He sat down on the steps beside her and listened to her story of the +wonderful work Ned’s printing press had done that summer, and of the +work required of it for the coming summer. Uncle Ben smiled as he +listened.</p> + +<p>“Ned will be walking in my footsteps soon, won’t he?” said Uncle Ben, as +Ruth concluded.</p> + +<p>Before Ruth could reply her mother came out to welcome the visitor and +tell him of Aunt Selina’s presence.</p> + +<p>“Aunt Selina! You don’t say so! Why, I <span class='pagenum'><a name='pg_57' id='pg_57'>57</a></span>haven’t seen her since my +graduation from college,” remarked Uncle Ben, in pleased surprise.</p> + +<p>“She is in her room dressing for dinner,” said Mrs. Talmage. “You will +find a great change working in her. Why, just think of her offer of +Happy Hills for the poor children next summer.” And she proceeded to +tell the story of Aunt Selina’s desire to help the Blue Bird work.</p> + +<p>“Now that Uncle Ben is here, maybe he can help us plan some way to earn +the money for next summer,” suggested Ruth.</p> + +<p>“I believe you can! What we need is to find some way of reaching the +right children, and then to start some work that will bring us in a +regular income during the winter, for it will take a heap of money to +run a large place like Happy Hills with several hundred starved little +children living there,” admitted Mrs. Talmage.</p> + +<p>“As a man who is so mixed up in publishing, you would naturally expect +me to know some way out of your troubles, eh?” laughed Uncle Ben. “Well, +well, let me think it out.”</p> + +<p>At that moment the dinner bell rang and no further opportunity was given +for discussing ways and means.</p> + +<p><span class='pagenum'><a name='pg_58' id='pg_58'>58</a></span>So absorbing was the theme, however, that talk soon drifted around to +the subject of farms, work and plans.</p> + +<p>“You can get a list of names of poor children at the Bureau of Charity,” +said Uncle Ben.</p> + +<p>“That only records names of families who will apply for assistance; but +the ones like the Ferris family, never are heard from in this way. Those +are the children we want,” said Mrs. Talmage.</p> + +<p>“When I return to the city I will see if there is any way of getting a +list like you want. As for institutions—you can find all of the asylums +and homes in the New York Directory. From them you can select numbers of +crippled or sick children,” suggested Uncle Ben.</p> + +<p>“Ben, do you believe circulars are a good means of letting people know +what you want?” asked Mrs. Talmage.</p> + +<p>“I can’t say that I do. In my experience I have found that a circular +letter meets the same end as an undesirable advertisement. Most of them +are thrown into the waste basket.”</p> + +<p>“We need philanthropic women to help us next summer. Mrs. Starr offered +me her woods at Oakwood if her family goes to Maine, and Mrs. <span class='pagenum'><a name='pg_59' id='pg_59'>59</a></span>Catlin +wishes to rent the Mason farm for children. So now, with Happy Hills on +our list, we will need just the right kind who will love the work with +us,” said Mrs. Talmage.</p> + +<p>“Better send someone to visit the women you hear about,” advised Mr. +Talmage.</p> + +<p>“But I need to find the women first,” returned Mrs. Talmage, +plaintively.</p> + +<p>“What’s the matter with the <i>Chirp</i>? Can’t we print a story in that and +mail it to a list of folks in New York?” asked Ned.</p> + +<p>“That sounds good to me! I should say the <i>Chirp</i> would do the work +better than a letter or circular,” said Uncle Ben.</p> + +<p>“Yes, it does seem like a fine suggestion,” admitted Mrs. Talmage. “We +will talk it over this evening, Ned.”</p> + +<p>“Why, when the <i>Chirp</i> comes to my office,” said Uncle Ben, “I generally +drop all of my important work until I see what new scheme the children +have worked up. I sit back and enjoy every word there.”</p> + +<p>“Maybe that is because your nephew edits it—sort of family pride in one +who is following in your footsteps,” teased Mr. Talmage.</p> + +<p><span class='pagenum'><a name='pg_60' id='pg_60'>60</a></span>“Not a bit of it! It is because the lad is original enough to fill a +gap, and persistent enough to keep a good thing going. I haven’t the +least idea but that the Blue Birds would never have been heard of +outside of their little Nest if it hadn’t been for Ned and his <i>Chirp</i>,” +commended Uncle Ben.</p> + +<p>“We are all certain of that,” assented Mrs. Talmage.</p> + +<p>“And we are very grateful to Ned for all he has done to help us along,” +added Ruth, smiling at her proud brother.</p> + +<p>“Mother, you said you wanted to speak to Uncle Ben after dinner, but may +I have him alone for a few moments before you get hold of him?” asked +Ned, in a worried manner, as if Uncle Ben would be used up if the ladies +talked to him first.</p> + +<p>Everyone laughed, and Mrs. Talmage said, “Why, certainly, Son, if Uncle +Ben is courageous enough to trust himself to your hands.”</p> + +<p>“I’m shaking in my boots already,” said Uncle Ben, “for I’m sure some +dark plot will be uncovered.”</p> + +<p>“Just wait and see!” laughed Ned, as he excused himself and ran to his +den.</p> + +<p><span class='pagenum'><a name='pg_61' id='pg_61'>61</a></span>As the rest of the family rose to leave the table, Uncle Ben said in an +aside to Mr. Talmage, “I believe that this farm idea will require a +regular organization to take proper charge of its affairs. Just a few +ladies and children cannot handle so important a task.”</p> + +<p>“I think you are right, Ben,” said Mr. Talmage.</p> + +<p>Ned was waiting for his uncle as he came down the hall, and catching +hold of his hand, dragged him into his sanctum where the <i>Chirp</i> was +printed each week.</p> + +<p>Uncle Ben sat down in the one arm-chair and waited while Ned locked the +door and pulled down every window shade.</p> + +<p>“This is a great secret, you know,” explained Ned.</p> + +<hr class='major' /> +<div style='margin: auto; text-align: center; padding-top: 1em; padding-bottom: 1em'> +<a name='THE_BOBOLINK_BOYS_FOUNDED_1334' id='THE_BOBOLINK_BOYS_FOUNDED_1334'></a> +<h2>CHAPTER IV</h2> +<h3>THE BOBOLINK BOYS FOUNDED</h3> +</div> + +<p>“Now, Uncle Ben, we can make ourselves at home,” said Ned, as he sat +upon a box in front of his uncle.</p> + +<p>“Oh, maybe you’d like to smoke, Uncle Ben?” continued Ned, recalling +that most men liked an after-dinner smoke. “I shall never use tobacco +myself, because I have studied just what effects it has on one’s system, +but I won’t object to your smoking if you wish.”</p> + +<p>Uncle Ben threw back his head and laughed uproariously.</p> + +<p>“Does that mean that you will sit calmly by and see me ruin my health +with tobacco, and not interfere?” laughed he.</p> + +<p>“Oh, no, you know I didn’t mean it that way, although it did sound +funny, didn’t it?” replied Ned.</p> + +<p>“Well, Son, I never smoke, either. I believe a man is a better thinker +and cooler business man <span class='pagenum'><a name='pg_63' id='pg_63'>63</a></span>without it,” said Uncle Ben. “But, tell me, +what is the tremendous secret that made you lock the door and pull the +blinds?”</p> + +<p>“Here it is,” whispered Ned, leaning over toward his uncle. “You see, +when the Blue Birds started, I hadn’t a thing to do, because the Starr +boys were at camp and many of the other boys away with their families; +so I undertook to print the <i>Chirp</i> for the girls. I liked it, too. But +they are planning so much for next summer that it will take a regular +printer to turn out their work. Their organization freezes out the boys, +yet we helped in every way this summer.”</p> + +<p>Uncle Ben nodded comprehendingly.</p> + +<p>“Well, this afternoon, we boys got together and said, ‘What’s to hinder +us from getting up a club for boys under twelve?’ We all thought it +would be great, so we started, and have the name, but not the plans. +What do you think of it?” asked Ned.</p> + +<p>“You haven’t told me enough about it to judge,” replied Uncle Ben. “Have +you founded the club for any purpose?”</p> + +<p>“Oh, yes! We will gather all the little chaps under twelve years of age +into one organization, <span class='pagenum'><a name='pg_64' id='pg_64'>64</a></span>and take them on hikes, teach them work, play +games, and do other things,” said Ned.</p> + +<p>“And the name of this?”</p> + +<p>“We thought that Bobolink Boys—B. B., you see—would be great as the +initials stand for Blue Birds, too. Of course, we won’t sew dolls’ +clothes, or bake cakes, but we will help the Blue Birds whenever we can, +or be independent if we wish. The girls wear bird uniforms, but the boys +will wear jumpers of a certain color, with stripes for grade. We haven’t +gone any further. Our first meeting was held in Starr’s orchard this +afternoon,” grinned Ned.</p> + +<p>Uncle Ben sat thinking very seriously for a long time, then he asked, +“What about the <i>Chirp</i>? Drop it?”</p> + +<p>“Oh, no! That’s one reason we want something of our own to back us up. +We can all help print the <i>Chirp</i>, and with the little boys to deliver +them, or run errands, it will be easier for all of us. Then, if the +girls get up some bazaar, or entertainment and we have to print cards, +etc., it will be much easier.”</p> + +<p>“Then your plan is more for coöperation than competition?” asked Uncle +Ben.</p> + +<p><span class='pagenum'><a name='pg_65' id='pg_65'>65</a></span>“Cooperation in everything a boy can help in, but not to belong to a +Nest that has to do things the Blue Birds do,” explained Ned.</p> + +<p>Uncle Ben sat wrapped in thought, and Ned wondered what he was thinking +of. Suddenly, the older man slapped his knee and chuckled with delight.</p> + +<p>“Now what, Uncle? I know it is something good, from your face!” +exclaimed Ned, eagerly.</p> + +<p>“Yes, sir. I believe we can pull it off—we’ll try, at any rate!” +declared Uncle Ben, half to himself.</p> + +<p>“Do tell me!” begged Ned.</p> + +<p>“Ned, did you ever see our magazine come out? I mean did I ever show you +over the whole plant, and show you what work it takes to produce a nice +little paper book each month?”</p> + +<p>“Once, when father and I were at your office, you took me over the +place. I told you then that I wanted to be a publisher, and you laughed +and promised to start me on the right track when I was a man. Last +winter you sent me the printing press and told me to practice,” said +Ned.</p> + +<p>“Yes, I know, but I wanted to see if you remembered. Now, I think I have +a plan that will <span class='pagenum'><a name='pg_66' id='pg_66'>66</a></span>go a long way toward giving you elementary experience +in publishing, and at the same time provide just what your Bobolinks +would like to do. It will help the Blue Birds along for next summer, and +keep them busy to prevent the Bobolinks from making all the music.” And +Uncle Ben slapped his knee again, laughing as he thought of how the boys +would unconsciously start a race between the two—Blue Birds and +Bobolinks.</p> + +<p>“I wish you’d tell me your idea!” coaxed Ned, impatiently.</p> + +<p>“I haven’t it all in shape to explain, yet, but I will hammer it +together in some way to tell you to-morrow. Where do you boys expect to +meet at your weekly, or daily meetings?” asked Uncle Ben.</p> + +<p>“If there are but a few, I thought we could meet in this den of mine. +But later, if there is a crowd, we might secure the Y. M. C. A. boys’ +room, or the reception room of the school,” replied Ned.</p> + +<p>“By Thanksgiving time you ought to be in working trim to assume any +large work I might think of, eh?” asked Uncle Ben.</p> + +<p><span class='pagenum'><a name='pg_67' id='pg_67'>67</a></span>“Oh, surely! Long before Thanksgiving, I should think.”</p> + +<p>“Now, don’t be too sure. Boys are just as hard to muster and understand +as girls, and the plan that suddenly suggested itself for you boys to +try out is a secret ambition that I have nursed ever since I went into +the publishing business—and that was over twenty-five years ago. I have +never had time to take it up alone, and never found anyone to whom I +could trust so precious a hobby. I see how this combination of Blue +Birds and Bobolinks might bring the idea to success, but I shall have to +think it over before speaking further,” explained Uncle Ben.</p> + +<p>“Uncle, I surely am grateful for your confidence, and I shall be glad to +know when you can tell us all,” said Ned.</p> + +<p>“I wish to talk the matter over with your father first, but you may call +together some of the boys to-morrow afternoon and I will talk with them +to see how many are willing and able to help.”</p> + +<p>“Well, I suppose I must wait, but I did hope we could organize our boys +to-morrow at recess,” said Ned, with an air of disappointment.</p> + +<p><span class='pagenum'><a name='pg_68' id='pg_68'>68</a></span>“What’s to hinder your doing it?” asked Uncle Ben.</p> + +<p>“How—until we know what we’re going to do?”</p> + +<p>“Oh, just make your plans broad enough to take in any ideas that come +along,” responded Uncle Ben, rising to go.</p> + +<p>That night after everyone had retired, Uncle Ben took Mr. Talmage down +the drive toward the woods. As they walked slowly along in the bright +moonlight, they discussed various plans suggested by the ladies of the +Blue Bird society. Uncle Ben led up, quite naturally, to the new +organization of Bobolinks.</p> + +<p>“Al, those boys are wide awake, all right! If we were to give them a +boost now and then, there is no saying how great a philanthropic success +this undertaking may be. It may grow so far out of Oakdale limits that +the whole world may take part in it. I, for one, have decided to lend my +support and see what comes of it,” said Uncle Ben, seriously.</p> + +<p>“Great Scott! Ben; you <i>must</i> be interested; I haven’t seen you so +enthusiastic over anything in years,” laughed Mr. Talmage.</p> + +<p><span class='pagenum'><a name='pg_69' id='pg_69'>69</a></span>“You know how interested I have always been in the publishing +work—even as a boy, like Ned is now. Well, one thing you, and no one +else, ever did know, was the hope of being able some day to circulate a +model magazine for children. I have known for years that the little +souls craved something more than the wishy-washy stuff that is given +them in the name of ‘juvenile reading’—Heaven forgive the criminals! +Why, our little ones of to-day are as wide awake as grown-ups, and they +demand—unconsciously, perhaps—the same strong quality of bread and +meat reading as adults have been digesting of late years. Educational, +adventurous, interesting, work-a-day reading! But the books and +magazines in the main have not advanced to meet the demand for better +children’s literature. I have long dreamed of just what I would like to +give the children of to-day.” And Uncle Ben lapsed into silence.</p> + +<p>“I never gave the subject much thought, but I suppose you are right, +Ben,” admitted Mr. Talmage.</p> + +<p>“That’s just it!” cried Uncle Ben, excitedly. “No one ever stops to +think about it, but keeps right on filling the minds of their children +with <span class='pagenum'><a name='pg_70' id='pg_70'>70</a></span>stuff that never benefits them a particle. How many boys of to-day +want to read ‘Mother’s Brave Little Man,’ or ‘Jerry the Newsboy’? Bosh! +Boys of to-day want ‘True Tales of an Indian Trapper,’ or ‘Boy Scout +Adventures,’ or good clean stories—school life, or outdoor sports. +It’s LIFE and HEALTH they want.”</p> + +<p>“Guess you’re right, Ben,” said Mr. Talmage, smiling at his brother’s +denunciation of present-day literature for children.</p> + +<p>“All right, then! Help me bring about a reform in this line. I have +studied this problem from every point of view and I really believe that +the growing youth of to-day would not acquire bad habits so readily if +they were given some occupation that would thoroughly interest them. +It’s worth trying, at any rate. Let’s fill them with some great plan or +ambition and see how many children will fall into the snares and +pitfalls of the past!”</p> + +<p>Uncle Ben so inspired his brother with his enthusiasm that he, too, +declared he would do all he could to help.</p> + +<p>“Here’s a few women who accomplished wonders this summer with the little +girls. We have <span class='pagenum'><a name='pg_71' id='pg_71'>71</a></span>a crowd of boys wasting their time day by day for want +of something interesting to do. Let the fathers follow the mothers’ +example and help their boys band together for some good cause!” said +Uncle Ben.</p> + +<p>“We’ll get the men together and propose it—they’ll see the value of the +suggestion, just as I have,” promised Mr. Talmage.</p> + +<p>“Well, Al, now that you’re interested, I have an especially fine plum to +drop into your hands. Your own son was the one to start an organization +of boys and name it Bobolink Boys.”</p> + +<p>“My Ned!” exclaimed Mr. Talmage, joyfully. “That makes me very happy!”</p> + +<p>“That is what he wished to tell me when we went to his den. He has +organized a club for boys under twelve, just as the Blue Birds have done +for girls, and the initials are the same—B. B.;—also, they wish to +cooperate with the girls, whenever possible,” explained Uncle Ben.</p> + +<p>“Well, well!” ejaculated Mr. Talmage, smiling to himself.</p> + +<p>“When I heard Ned outline his plan I decided to encourage the movement +if possible by confiding <span class='pagenum'><a name='pg_72' id='pg_72'>72</a></span>my pet plan to them to experiment on,” said +Uncle Ben.</p> + +<p>“When the fathers hear of this they will be as happy as I am. The +problem of keeping a boy actively engaged in some uplifting work is a +sufficient one. Ned and you seem to have solved it for Oakdale,” +admitted Mr. Talmage.</p> + +<p>“Think so! Then you get busy and gather the fathers together to-morrow +night for a conference. We will see how many will agree to help along +the work. I will donate all of my ideas accumulated during the past +years.”</p> + +<p>“I’ll telephone everyone I know the first thing in the morning. Where +shall we meet—in the library?” asked Mr. Talmage.</p> + +<p>“Yes, and if there are too many of us we will have to adjourn to a +larger place,” said Uncle Ben.</p> + +<p>Before breakfast the next morning the Starrs’ telephone rang, and Mr. +Starr was informed that he was wanted at a meeting to be held in +Talmage’s library that night. Meredith and Donald knew nothing of Uncle +Ben’s talk with Mr. Talmage, but they felt sure the meeting had +something to do with their plans.</p> + +<p><span class='pagenum'><a name='pg_73' id='pg_73'>73</a></span>Mr. Wells and Mr. Stevens were the next ones to be invited to the +meeting, and after that a score or more of fathers were invited.</p> + +<p>Uncle Ben, who had hoped to take a few days’ rest in his brother’s quiet +country home, found himself very busy in working out his idea so that it +could be simply presented to the meeting of boys and men. He spent the +entire morning in jotting down ideas as they came to him.</p> + +<p>Luncheon over, Ned caught Uncle Ben’s hand and said, “You haven’t +forgotten the date we made, have you?”</p> + +<p>“You wouldn’t think so if you had seen me working all morning,” +complained Uncle Ben.</p> + +<p>“That’s all right then; we boys will meet you in the big empty carriage +house this afternoon at three-thirty,” nodded Ned.</p> + +<p>“I’ll be there!” laughed Uncle Ben, as Ned ran off.</p> + +<p>The big room in the carriage house had not been used since the garage +had been built.</p> + +<p>Ned and Ike found some chairs in the store-room, and Simon provided +several empty boxes. Long planks were placed across the boxes, making +very good benches for the boys to sit upon. <span class='pagenum'><a name='pg_74' id='pg_74'>74</a></span>A large packing case stood +a few feet in front of the benches to be used as the speaker’s stand.</p> + +<p>At three-thirty every boy who had expressed a desire to join the +Bobolinks was there with expectant looks. Uncle Ben soon arrived and +took a seat by the large box. He spread his papers out in front of him +in a very business-like way.</p> + +<p>“Boys, I will go straight to the business under consideration this +afternoon,” said Uncle Ben, standing up the better to impress his +audience.</p> + +<p>“I think the first thing to do is to appoint a secretary.”</p> + +<p>Ned was selected, so he sat down behind the packing case to jot down his +notes.</p> + +<p>“Have you boys formed any kind of an organization?” asked Uncle Ben, +turning to Ned.</p> + +<p>“No, sir, not yet,” replied Ned.</p> + +<p>“Then let us attend to that now. You must have officers, and rules and +by-laws for governing the boys and meetings. Now, I should suggest that +we begin properly, and hold an election of officers.”</p> + +<p>Uncle Ben then told them the proper way to proceed, and the boys were +greatly impressed with the importance of what they were doing. <span class='pagenum'><a name='pg_75' id='pg_75'>75</a></span>When the +election was completed, Ned had been chosen President, Meredith +Treasurer and Jinks Secretary.</p> + +<p>“Now,” said Uncle Ben, “with your permission I will preside at this +meeting, instead of your new President. I will read to you what I have +written on this paper:</p> + +<p>“First: The undersigned have met together to form an organization to be +known as Bobolink Boys.</p> + +<p>“Second: The purpose of this organization is to provide a club for boys +under twelve years of age, that will plan healthful sport, social +meetings, and assist the Blue Birds in their work and play.</p> + +<p>“Third: Meetings shall be arranged for by vote of members, and all other +important matters shall be discussed and decided upon at these meetings.</p> + +<p>“Fourth: An initiation fee of ten cents shall be charged each boy +desiring to become a member of the Bobolinks, and dues of five cents a +month shall be collected from every member. Should any member find it +impossible to pay these costs he may be discharged from the obligation +<span class='pagenum'><a name='pg_76' id='pg_76'>76</a></span>by filing an acceptable excuse with the treasurer.</p> + +<p>“Fifth: A bank account shall be opened at the Oakdale National Bank and +all funds deposited there. All bills must be paid by check signed by the +treasurer and secretary.</p> + +<p>“Sixth: Any member found deliberately breaking any of the rules and +by-laws shall be expelled from the organization, after a meeting held to +investigate the misdemeanor.”</p> + +<p>Uncle Ben looked up from the paper and said,</p> + +<p>“Is that the plan of organization that you boys feel will cover what you +want?”</p> + +<p>“Oh, yes, that’s fine!” cried several boys.</p> + +<p>The others still felt too over-awed at the business-like terms just +heard, to make any sign, favorable or otherwise.</p> + +<p>“Well, if this paper is acceptable a motion to make it official will be +received. I want to get to the principal thing for which we have +gathered,” said Uncle Ben.</p> + +<p>“Now, I shall make some suggestions,” continued Uncle Ben, after the +outline had been accepted by a vote. “Are there any boys here who do not +wish to become members?”</p> + +<p><span class='pagenum'><a name='pg_77' id='pg_77'>77</a></span>All of the twenty-three boys wished to become Bobolinks.</p> + +<p>“Are there any boys present who cannot pay the initial fee and regular +dues?” continued Uncle Ben.</p> + +<p>None thought this impossible.</p> + +<p>“After this you write down the names and addresses of every boy who +applies for membership.”</p> + +<p>Ned made a note of it in his book.</p> + +<p>“Now for a catechism: This is very important,” said Uncle Ben, looking +about at the boys. “And answer truthfully!”</p> + +<p>“Ever smoke?”</p> + +<p>“Ever drink?”</p> + +<p>“Ever gamble?”</p> + +<p>“Ever swear?”</p> + +<p>“Ever steal?”</p> + +<p>“Ever fight?”</p> + +<p>“Ever play hookey?”</p> + +<p>“Ever strike anyone weaker than yourself?”</p> + +<p>“I noticed that most of the boys smiled when I said ‘hookey,’” ventured +Uncle Ben, critically. “But let me tell you! ‘Hookey’ is an +innocent-looking vice that leads to great trouble. It is <span class='pagenum'><a name='pg_78' id='pg_78'>78</a></span>the seed of +being unreliable. A man who is unreliable is a failure in the beginning. +So, boys, beware of ‘hookey’!”</p> + +<p>The boys felt the serious import of the words and each vowed to forego +the delight in playing hookey when fishing was good, or when baseball +was being played in town ten miles away.</p> + +<p>“Have any of you boys ever been in a printing plant and watched the +process of turning out papers?” asked Uncle Ben.</p> + +<p>Almost every boy raised his hand instantly in answer to this question, +for what boy had not stood at the village printer’s yearning to set type +or run one of the fascinating presses?</p> + +<p>“Fine!” smiled Uncle Ben. “And now how many can set type or do small +jobs on the press?”</p> + +<p>Very few could do this, but the Starr boys and Jinks often helped Ned +with printing the <i>Chirp</i> on his small press, and a few other boys knew +something of the work.</p> + +<p>“Well, I’ll have to explain to you what kind of work is required of a +firm that prints papers or publishes a magazine. You may think this has +nothing to do with your organization, but you will soon see,” said Uncle +Ben.</p> + +<p><span class='pagenum'><a name='pg_79' id='pg_79'>79</a></span>As the speaker turned to take up several sheets of paper, a noisy +chatter was heard outside the house and in another moment all of the +Blue Birds, accompanied by Mr. and Mrs. Talmage, Mrs. Catlin, and Miss +Selina, entered the room.</p> + +<p>“In passing, we heard the harangue going on in here, and found out from +Mr. Talmage that a secret meeting was under way. We would love to hear +the motive and perhaps suggest an idea now and then,” laughingly said +Mrs. Talmage.</p> + +<p>The Bobolinks looked at each other, and Uncle Ben said, “Members, shall +these intruders be ejected, or shall this organization extend the first +courtesy to one we hope to assist in the future?”</p> + +<p>The boys giggled, for the manner of presenting the case appealed to +every one of them, and eliminated any feeling of intrusion from the Blue +Birds.</p> + +<p>“One item to be written in our by-laws must be: ‘Consider the ladies +first,’” announced Ned, standing.</p> + +<p>“The visitors are welcome!” said Uncle Ben, making a ceremonious bow.</p> + +<p>“But please remember, visitors, this is a business meeting, not a social +function, so I must <span class='pagenum'><a name='pg_80' id='pg_80'>80</a></span>ask the ladies to find their own seats and not +disturb the gentlemen,” said Mr. Talmage.</p> + +<p>The ladies were soon seated in a corner where Ike placed some boxes, and +the Blue Birds squatted upon carriage robes spread out on the floor by +Simon. When all was orderly again, Uncle Ben proceeded with his +discourse.</p> + +<hr class='major' /> +<div style='margin: auto; text-align: center; padding-top: 1em; padding-bottom: 1em'> +<a name='UNCLE_BENS_BUSINESS_TALK_1777' id='UNCLE_BENS_BUSINESS_TALK_1777'></a> +<h2>CHAPTER V</h2> +<h3>UNCLE BEN’S BUSINESS TALK</h3> +</div> + +<p>“Ladies and gentlemen!” said Uncle Ben, bowing politely to each group; +“You may not know that I have always had one hobby—something like my +nephew here—and that is still, printing. My present position as editor +of a magazine does not satisfy my craving for the printer’s workshop, +but it is as near as I can come to it, so I have bided my time until an +opportunity like the present one offers.</p> + +<p>“Before I confide to you what the present offer is, I wish to explain +somewhat the working of a magazine plant. I believe it is necessary to +tell you how much hard work is attached to the business, and some of the +enjoyments when the magazine is ready to go out.</p> + +<p>“The first thing is to have the right kind of a story, or article. To +find this it is necessary to read many, many manuscripts. We employ +‘readers’ for this work of selecting what we can <span class='pagenum'><a name='pg_82' id='pg_82'>82</a></span>use. The manuscripts +we cannot use are returned to the writers. After the first reader passes +on a story, another reader goes over it, and if it seems suitable, it is +handed to the editor. The editor decides whether or not to accept it. If +accepted, he has to go over it very carefully. Sometimes words are +changed, lines inserted, or whole paragraphs cut out.</p> + +<p>“If the story needs illustrating an artist is sent for. If a soft-toned +illustration is desired, the artist makes a ‘wash drawing’—meaning a +black and white painting done with brushes, as in a water color. The +‘wash drawing’ is then sent to the engravers and a ‘half-tone’ plate +made for use in the magazine. ‘Half-tones’ are made of copper sheets +with the picture photographed upon them.</p> + +<p>“Sometimes we want an outline to illustrate the story. A pen and ink +sketch is required for this, and is made about twice as large as it will +appear in the magazine. This is reproduced on a zinc plate, and is +called a ‘line cut.’</p> + +<p>“Then the story is given to the linotypers. A linotype machine is very +interesting. It has a key-board almost like a typewriter. When a letter +<span class='pagenum'><a name='pg_83' id='pg_83'>83</a></span>is struck on the board, a piece of brass containing the impression of +that letter moves into place just like a soldier starting to form a +line. When the next letter is struck, the corresponding brass soldier +hurries into place beside the first one. This continues until a whole +line has been ‘set.’ Then the operator touches a lever, the line of +brass pieces moves to a new position, and molten type-metal is poured +into the mold which the brass pieces help to form. The lead at once +hardens, and the whole line is ready for printing, in one solid piece. +All of this is done very fast—much faster than I can tell you about it. +It is hard to believe that a machine can do all these things so quickly +and so accurately.</p> + +<p>“When the linotype work is completed the printer places the lines of +type on a ‘galley.’ Then the type is covered with ink, a piece of paper +is laid on, and a heavy roller passed over it. This impression is called +the ‘galley proof.’ If the linotyper has made any mistakes in spelling +or printing, they have to be corrected.</p> + +<p>“After the ‘galley proofs’ are corrected, the dummy—a blank-page book +just the size the magazine will be—is made.</p> + +<p><span class='pagenum'><a name='pg_84' id='pg_84'>84</a></span>“Before us, are all the pictures and reading matter to be used. These +are arranged and pasted into the dummy in the order in which they are to +be printed. Sometimes a page has a little space left at the bottom, and +this must be filled with a neat ornament or a verse. Sometimes an +article is too long, and then it must be cut down and made to fit the +allotted space.</p> + +<p>“Thus, the whole magazine is ‘dummied’ with pages of cut-up galley +proofs and picture proofs, until it looks more like a child’s scrap book +than a magazine model.</p> + +<p>“This dummy goes back to the printer, who picks out the galley-type and +measures it off to compare with the pages of the dummy. This done, he +places the type in a form the size of the page, places the numeral of +the page at the top or bottom, with the name of the magazine at the +top—this is known as the ‘running head,’ as it runs along the top of +each page throughout the book.</p> + +<p>“The printer next makes a page proof. That is, he makes a proof of each +page. These pages are sent into the editorial room again, and are gone +over carefully and compared with the galley <span class='pagenum'><a name='pg_85' id='pg_85'>85</a></span>proofs; if everything is +correct each page is ‘O.K’d.’ If, however, there are errors, note is +made of it in the margin on the page proof.</p> + +<p>“When all the pages are ‘O.K’d.’ the page forms are ‘locked up’ +together, sixteen, thirty-two or sixty-four, in one big form, and +arranged so that when the sheet of paper is printed and folded, the +pages will come in the right order.”</p> + +<p>So Uncle Ben continued his talk about magazine making. He explained the +workings of different kinds of printing presses, how some print directly +from the type “made ready” on a flat bed, the paper being fed into the +press in flat sheets, and how some of the big presses print from curved +plates that fit around a big roller, the paper running into the press +continuously from an immense big roll as wide as the press. He told +about the wonderful folding and stitching machines, and many other +interesting things.</p> + +<p>During Uncle Ben’s talk, everyone had been so interested that not a +sound was heard. When he concluded, however, the tension relaxed and his +audience began asking questions.</p> + +<p>“This is most instructive, but I can’t see where <span class='pagenum'><a name='pg_86' id='pg_86'>86</a></span>it helps the Bobolink +Boys in their organization,” said Mr. Talmage, quizzically.</p> + +<p>At mention of the name “Bobolink Boys” the Blue Birds looked at each +other, and then at their elders for information.</p> + +<p>Uncle Ben saw their wonderment, and laughingly explained the plot. The +girls were delighted, and had so much to say to one another that it +seemed as if no further business could be attended to that day.</p> + +<p>Uncle Ben, however, rapped loudly upon the box.</p> + +<p>“We have many important things to attend to,” he said, “and all are +requested to sit still and listen. I am going back to New York in a few +days, and in the meantime I should like to help start the boys on the +right road to success. Now, what you all want to know is, ‘How does my +talk about magazines help the Bobolink Boys?’</p> + +<p>“Well, this is the way: For the past half-score of years or more, I have +longed to issue a magazine for young folks that could reach out into +every plane of life; for the poor children in institutions; for the slum +children; for rich children, <span class='pagenum'><a name='pg_87' id='pg_87'>87</a></span>for children in the city and children in +the country—for every one of them!</p> + +<p>“I would like to give so much instructive reading matter on its pages +that the schools will circulate it among the pupils; I would like to +have the pictures of the very best; I would like it to inspire boys and +girls to read better books, and make them ambitious to make the most of +their chances; I would like it to teach them to make things and do +things for themselves; in fact, I would like to make it the best and +finest magazine ever published! But I haven’t had time to experiment +with my hobby and being an old bachelor I am afraid I do not understand +children well enough to know how to write for them. The plan that I have +been figuring out seems to fit most beautifully with the Blue Birds’ and +Bobolinks’ work.”</p> + +<p>Uncle Ben hesitated a second, but not a sound was heard. Then he +continued:</p> + +<p>“Mother Talmage asked me last night about how much it would cost to send +circulars to people who might be interested in the farms next summer. I +propose that we start a children’s magazine and use its pages whenever +there is <span class='pagenum'><a name='pg_88' id='pg_88'>88</a></span>an announcement of importance. If you want donations of money +or help of other kinds, ask for them through the pages of the magazine.</p> + +<p>“With the Blue Birds to write articles each month telling other children +what they are doing, or how to make the things they are being taught to +make, and the Bobolink Boys to write the experiences of their daily work +and play, and some of the grown-ups to contribute poems and stories, of +course it would be necessary to have contributions also from some of our +best writers, and I know I can get them for you.”</p> + +<p>The idea of such a stupendous undertaking made the children gasp, but +Mr. Talmage said, “All you have said is fine, Uncle Ben, but who will +set type, buy paper, print, bind and circulate such a magazine?”</p> + +<p>“That’s just the thing! Don’t you see? My very great interest in this +plan will compel me to help in every way and all the time, and the boys +will be kept busy at profitable and interesting work. When all the +manuscript is in, and turned over to me I will see that it is set, and +the proofs sent back to the children. The Blue Birds will enjoy making +the dummies, pasting <span class='pagenum'><a name='pg_89' id='pg_89'>89</a></span>in the pictures, and arranging the pages; and the +Bobolinks can proceed to print the magazines. If you don’t expect to use +this carriage house for anything it may as well be turned into a +print-shop. With all these boys to work, the printing ought to be great +sport and not much trouble to get out a magazine.”</p> + +<p>The Blue Birds were clapping their hands in excitement while the +Bobolinks jumped up, and in their eagerness, crowded about Uncle Ben, +overwhelming him with so many questions that he was quite overcome.</p> + +<p>Then Miss Selina stood up in the road-wagon, and after silencing the +noisy crowd, made an announcement.</p> + +<p>“I’ll pay for the paper that will be needed for the experiment the first +month!”</p> + +<p>“Hurrah, hurrah! for Aunt Selina!” shouted Uncle Ben, and the rest +joined in with such good will that Aunt Selina sat down and held her +hands over her ears.</p> + +<p>“I’ll pay postage on a sample issue!” called Mrs. Catlin.</p> + +<p>Again the joyous young publishers-to-be burst forth into cheers.</p> + +<p><span class='pagenum'><a name='pg_90' id='pg_90'>90</a></span>“What can I pay for?” laughed Mrs. Talmage.</p> + +<p>“You’ll soon find that you are paying the heaviest tax of all in +overseeing the publishers,” replied Uncle Ben.</p> + +<p>“How soon can we start?” demanded the Bobolinks.</p> + +<p>“What shall we write?” asked the Blue Birds.</p> + +<p>Uncle Ben raised both hands for silence, and as soon as order was +restored again, he spoke.</p> + +<p>“We have just installed new machines in our printing plant in New York +and intend selling the old ones to some small job printer who can use +second-hand machines. Now, I can pick out a small press, stitcher, and +other things that you will need, and ship them out here. You have +electricity here, and a small motor will furnish the power. When you are +ready to go to press, I will send out an experienced man from our shop +to direct the work and see that everything is done properly. The +addressing and wrapping can be done by all of you. Of course, as far as +we have gone, it all sounds like great sport, but there is another side +to this plan that must be thoroughly agreed upon before we go any +further. If you start this undertaking, you <span class='pagenum'><a name='pg_91' id='pg_91'>91</a></span>will have to keep on with +it. At a certain date each month your periodical must be ready for +mailing. You will have to write and edit, and print, whether the skating +is fine, or the gymnasium is at your disposal, or whether Thanksgiving +dinner makes you feel lazy, or a toothache keeps you awake all night. +Publishing work is very interesting, most instructive, and profitable, +but it is work, work, work, and not all play!”</p> + +<p>“Oh, we know that, Uncle Ben,” said Ned. “And we’ll promise to take all +of the consequences that go with the game.”</p> + +<p>The other boys seconded Ned’s statement, and the Blue Birds eagerly +agreed to the plan, so Uncle Ben really had no further objections to +make.</p> + +<p>“Oh, I can hardly wait to begin my page,” cried Ruth.</p> + +<p>“I’d rather see the magazine—maybe it will be a home-made looking +thing!” exclaimed Dot Starr.</p> + +<p>“It will not! Not with us boys to boss the plant!” bragged Don, her +twin.</p> + +<p><span class='pagenum'><a name='pg_92' id='pg_92'>92</a></span>“If it is home-made, you’ll have to do it all again,” commented Uncle +Ben.</p> + +<p>“That is where Mrs. Talmage’s work comes in,” laughed Mr. Talmage.</p> + +<p>“It will be a regular magazine, all right!” exclaimed Mrs. Talmage +emphatically.</p> + +<p>“We boys will see to it that no magazine is mailed that will make folks +laugh at us,” guaranteed Ned.</p> + +<p>“I’m sure I placed my hobby in the right hands, for you children seem to +take a pride in doing things well,” commended Uncle Ben.</p> + +<p>“And with a nephew stepping right in his uncle’s footprints, why +shouldn’t things be done right?” laughed Mr. Talmage.</p> + +<p>“Say, Uncle Ben, how long must we wait before we can begin?” asked Don +Starr.</p> + +<p>“Get as busy as you like to-morrow after school,” replied Uncle Ben. +“I’ll run into town and attend to having the things shipped here as long +as you have agreed to my plans; you boys may start making benches, +tables, or whatever will be needed in the plant.”</p> + +<p>“They’ll need a desk, some chairs, a table and a few other things,” +suggested Mr. Talmage, <span class='pagenum'><a name='pg_93' id='pg_93'>93</a></span>looking around. “It might be advisable for them +to partition off a corner of this room for an office.”</p> + +<p>“I have a good roll-top desk in the store-room at home; it has never had +any use since Mr. Catlin passed away. The boys shall have that,” offered +Mrs. Catlin.</p> + +<p>“And I can spare that long table we used to have in the dairy before we +installed the patent butter machines,” added Mrs. Talmage.</p> + +<p>“In case I find any other pieces of Mr. Catlin’s office furniture I will +send them over with the desk,” said Mrs. Catlin.</p> + +<p>“About those machines, Ben! How much will they cost the boys?” asked Mr. +Talmage.</p> + +<p>“I thought of assuming the cost, and any time the publishers give up the +work I can easily sell them in the city. The children can pay the +freight charges, which will not be very heavy,” replied Uncle Ben.</p> + +<p>“Then, there will really be no heavy expense to start with, will there?” +asked Mrs. Talmage.</p> + +<p>“No, but a tax of application and interest will be necessary,” smiled +Uncle Ben.</p> + +<p><span class='pagenum'><a name='pg_94' id='pg_94'>94</a></span>“We will agree to pay all of that you want,” promised several of the +boys.</p> + +<p>The Blue Birds did not have much to say about the machines and workshop, +but each felt that it was to be their very own magazine, so that their +interest and pleasure in every new development were keyed to the top +pitch.</p> + +<p>“Betty, what page do you want to take charge of?” asked Norma, eagerly, +as they left the carriage house.</p> + +<p>“I think we had better defer discussing that part of the work until we +can all sit down quietly and talk it over,” said Mrs. Talmage.</p> + +<p>The men and boys remained with Ike to decide what boards and lumber +would be needed for the morrow, so work could begin on their workrooms.</p> + +<p>“Let’s have a sign for the front over the door,” suggested Jinks. “I’ll +paint it at home.”</p> + +<p>“Call it ‘Bobolink Boys Publishing Company,’” ventured Meredith.</p> + +<p>“Oh, that wouldn’t be fair to the Blue Birds if they are going to help +in the work,” said Ned.</p> + +<p>“Name it ‘Blue Bird & Bobolink Company,’” said Uncle Ben.</p> + +<p><span class='pagenum'><a name='pg_95' id='pg_95'>95</a></span>This last suggestion struck everyone as being just right, but Mr. +Talmage made a good amendment.</p> + +<p>“Why not have a mysterious combination? Every mortal is interested in +finding out a puzzle, or secret. The more elusive a thing is the more +they chase it. Now, get folks guessing over your name and they will not +forget you so soon. I just thought of the name of ‘B. B. & B. B. +Company.’”</p> + +<p>“That’s great, father, but we haven’t thought of a name for the +magazine,” cried Ned.</p> + +<p>“Add a few more ‘B’s’ to the others,” laughed Uncle Ben. “We’ll name it +the ‘B. B. B. B.,’ published by the ‘B. B. & B. B. Co.’”</p> + +<p>“What does ‘B. B. B. B.’ stand for?” asked Mr. Talmage.</p> + +<p>“‘<i>Blue Bird Bobolink Bulletin</i>,’” replied Uncle Ben.</p> + +<p>“That’s mystery enough, I’m sure,” laughed Mr. Talmage.</p> + +<p>After a few more remarks, the first meeting of the organization whose +influence was to be far greater than had been hoped for by Uncle Ben, or +the boys who had started it, was dismissed.</p> + +<hr class='major' /> +<div style='margin: auto; text-align: center; padding-top: 1em; padding-bottom: 1em'> +<a name='BEGINNING_THE_WINTER_WORK_2118' id='BEGINNING_THE_WINTER_WORK_2118'></a> +<h2>CHAPTER VI</h2> +<h3>BEGINNING THE WINTER WORK</h3> +</div> + +<p>It is needless to say that the moment school was dismissed the following +afternoon every boy and girl who was interested in the new Publishing +Company, ran toward the carriage house at Mossy Glen. The teachers, +pupils, and even some of the members of the Board of Education had heard +of the plans made the day before—for in a small community like Oakdale, +news travels rapidly—and the men on the school board were as much +interested in the success of the children’s work as if it had been their +own undertaking.</p> + +<p>Ike had found some splendid pine boards, a number of two-by-four joists, +plenty of odds and ends of railing, posts, moulding, and other trim that +would make a boy delight in amateur carpentry work.</p> + +<p>Nails, screws, hammers, saw, and tools of all kinds were provided, so +that each boy could work without delaying or inconveniencing the others. +<span class='pagenum'><a name='pg_97' id='pg_97'>97</a></span>Ike and Simon were to superintend the construction and show the boys +how to put things together properly.</p> + +<p>Uncle Ben and Mr. Talmage, who went to the city early in the morning to +attend to the shipping of the machinery, had not yet returned.</p> + +<p>The Blue Birds gathered merrily in their Nest in the cherry tree, with +several little girls who had been away during the summer and were eager +to join the Nest.</p> + +<p>Miss Selina insisted upon walking along the path from the house when +Mrs. Talmage started for the Nest and, upon arriving at the foot of the +steps that led up to the Nest, looked up imploringly.</p> + +<p>“Flutey, I believe you can get up here if I help you!” exclaimed Ruth, +seeing her aunt’s expression.</p> + +<p>“Oh, no, dearie! What about the rheumatism in my ankles?” groaned Miss +Selina.</p> + +<p>“Leave it behind!” laughed Ruth, gayly hopping down from the Nest.</p> + +<p>“I wish I could!” declared Aunt Selina, taking a firm hold on the +handrail and trying to lift up her foot.</p> + +<p><span class='pagenum'><a name='pg_98' id='pg_98'>98</a></span>“Ouch! that hurt my knee-joint!” cried she.</p> + +<p>“Flutey! That’s no way to leave that rheumatism behind!” reprimanded +Ruth. “Now, make up your mind to walk right up and forget the nasty +little pain.”</p> + +<p>Mrs. Talmage and the Blue Birds were hovering over the railing of the +Nest to advise the two at the foot of the steps. Dot Starr, with her +usual bluntness and funny way of expressing herself, called down to Miss +Selina:</p> + +<p>“Flutey, you just feel those twinges in your joints because you’re +spoiled. Mumzie says I am always sicker if I let myself be fussed over +and spoiled. <i>She</i> just says, ‘Try to forget it.’ Now, if you were me, +you never would be down there a second, but you’d jump here two steps at +a time. So, I say like Mumzie would, forget you’re not me, and we’ll see +you pop up here like magic!”</p> + +<p>Aunt Selina felt like rebuking Dot, but the children smiled +sympathetically and knew Dot was sincere in her desire to help the old +lady, so the invalid replied instead,</p> + +<p>“Dot, that is just the trouble! I can’t forget <span class='pagenum'><a name='pg_99' id='pg_99'>99</a></span>the habits of seventy +years. I wish I could make-believe I was as young and spry as you are.”</p> + +<p>“If you wish, then you can! Remember the story of Sarah Crewe?” cried +Ruth, helping Miss Selina to the next step.</p> + +<p>“I saw an old lady up in Casco Bay town last summer who was older than +you and she never had time to remember her age, because she had to work +all day for other folks. She said she slept like a baby every night. +Daddum said one reason she looked so young was that she hadn’t time to +worry about growing old,” said Dot.</p> + +<p>“If I had had to work for others instead of being pampered until I +couldn’t do a thing for myself, maybe I would feel as young as anyone,” +admitted Aunt Selina.</p> + +<p>Meantime, without being conscious of the act, the old lady was being +helped up the steps by Ruth, until, at the last words, she reached the +top.</p> + +<p>“Why, I’m up and never knew it!” she laughed.</p> + +<p>“That’s just the way to forget!” cried Dot, clapping her hands.</p> + +<p>“And you’ve left your troubles behind as I told you to,” added Ruth.</p> + +<p><span class='pagenum'><a name='pg_100' id='pg_100'>100</a></span>A chair was placed for Aunt Selina who looked about the Nest with keen +interest.</p> + +<p>“Mary Talmage, I just wager this was all your idea, wasn’t it?” she +commented, as she noted the sides of the Nest covered with straw +matting, and the cute wicker table and chairs.</p> + +<p>“Yes, Flutey, it was. But listen until we tell you how we found this +Nest and the furniture,” said Ruth, and all the Blue Birds chirped in to +tell the story about the Nest and how the furniture was found hidden in +unexpected places about the lawn and in the shrubbery.</p> + +<p>Aunt Selina chuckled, but Mrs. Talmage spoke with some seriousness.</p> + +<p>“Blue Birds, time is flying, and we must talk about our magazine.”</p> + +<p>Ruth then explained the presence of the children who wished to join the +Nest. Mrs. Talmage looked sorry.</p> + +<p>“Dearies, I would like to have you with us, but really I cannot take +proper charge of more than I have at present. I want to do the work +right and that will be impossible with too many in one Nest. But I have +a suggestion to offer. Mrs. Catlin is so interested with us in the work +that I am <span class='pagenum'><a name='pg_101' id='pg_101'>101</a></span>sure she will gladly start you in a Nest of your own. She has +plenty of time, and a beautiful place, so you will be just as happy +there as here. We can all meet when necessary and talk over affairs +together. I will write a note to her and explain, then you can take it +over.”</p> + +<p>“I know Mrs. Catlin! We live on the same street!” exclaimed one of the +children.</p> + +<p>“I guess we all know Mrs. Catlin, and like her; if we can’t join Ruth’s +Nest, I’d like to be in one of Mrs. Catlin’s,” said another little girl.</p> + +<p>After bidding them good-by as they ran across the lawn, the Blue Birds +settled down to hear the plans for work on the magazine.</p> + +<p>“I have some ideas which I would like to present to save time,” said +Mrs. Talmage.</p> + +<p>“I apportioned a page to each one of you to edit and expect you to have +the line of writing that best suits your ability.</p> + +<p>“For instance,” continued Mrs. Talmage: “To Dot Starr, who did the +cut-out paper furniture so well at the school-house this summer when we +made the paper doll houses for the city children, I gave a page called, +‘What Can Be Made of Paper.’</p> + +<p><span class='pagenum'><a name='pg_102' id='pg_102'>102</a></span>“To Edith, who always makes such good candy, I gave the ‘Candy Kettle.’</p> + +<p>“To Betty, who is clever with her pencils, I gave the ‘Drawing Lesson.’</p> + +<p>“To Ruth, who loves housekeeping, I gave ‘Household Hints.’</p> + +<p>“To Norma, who likes to sew, I gave the ‘Doll’s Wardrobe.’</p> + +<p>“To May, who takes such good kodak pictures, I gave the ‘Camera Corner.’</p> + +<p>“To Frances, who is an adept at puzzles and games, I gave ‘Puzzledom.’</p> + +<p>“There are besides many other pages to edit which I think will have to +be done by the boys, and some grown-ups, so I just jotted down the names +of the boys that I think are capable of doing it.</p> + +<p>“I gave Ned a page for ‘Domestic Animals,’ Meredith Starr can have a +page on ‘Wild Animals,’ and Jinks a page on ‘Insects and Reptiles.’</p> + +<p>“Then, there will be need for other articles which the other boys can +supply, and they can all help with the publishing. I shall write to an +old friend who was judge of the Juvenile Court for years, and most +likely has very interesting stories to tell. Another well-known writer +of children’s <span class='pagenum'><a name='pg_103' id='pg_103'>103</a></span>books lives in Washington, D. C., and I feel quite sure +of her interest when I tell her what our plans are. Besides, Uncle Ben +knows people who will contribute, as he told us so.”</p> + +<p>“Oh, Mrs. Talmage, do you really believe the magazine will be so good +that folks will subscribe for it?” questioned Norma.</p> + +<p>“Why, of course! Didn’t you hear Uncle Ben say that he would be ashamed +to send anything less than a real magazine through the mail?—That we +would have to do our work over again if it was poorly done?” said Mrs. +Talmage.</p> + +<p>“Just think! My name on a magazine page with my cut-out furniture on +it!” cried Dot, hugging her sides.</p> + +<p>“How many folks will get one, do you suppose?” asked Betty.</p> + +<p>“The more the merrier,” laughed Mrs. Talmage.</p> + +<p>“Mother Wings, how do people get a list of names where children want a +magazine?” asked Ruth.</p> + +<p>“Oh, different ways. Uncle Ben may have a list of families where there +are children. I know dozens of friends who have children; Mrs. Catlin +<span class='pagenum'><a name='pg_104' id='pg_104'>104</a></span>does, too. Then, there are the Wells, Stevens, Starrs, and so on: all +families who know other families where there are children. Why, friends +of mine in England and Germany will take this magazine if I send them a +sample copy. And so a list grows when everyone tries to help.”</p> + +<p>“If we are only printing this magazine to help along our farms for poor +children I don’t see why anyone in Europe would want to take the paper,” +said Dot.</p> + +<p>“Don’t you be so sure about that, Miss Dot!” said Aunt Selina. “After +this organization gets agoing I believe it will make such a stir that +its light won’t ‘be hidden under a bushel’ very long. Only keep your +magazine at high-water mark, and you will see a marvel before the year +is over.”</p> + +<p>Aunt Selina’s remark made such an impression on Mrs. Talmage that she +suddenly realized how important their venture might turn out to be, +providing everyone did their best.</p> + +<p>A loud halloo coming from the direction of the carriage house called the +Blue Birds’ attention to the open door. Mr. Talmage and Uncle Ben were +standing there beckoning for the Blue Birds.</p> + +<p>Aunt Selina found she could get down from the <span class='pagenum'><a name='pg_105' id='pg_105'>105</a></span>Nest quite nimbly, and +all started toward the building which was to be known in the future as +the “Publishing House.”</p> + +<p>Inside, about twenty boys were sawing, hammering, and calling to each +other while Ike and Simon bossed the work. At one side of the entrance +the front corner of the large room had been measured off, and a +partition about six feet high erected. This office had a wide window in +front, and a closet on the side wall. The partition was of oak-stained +ceiling boards that had been taken out of an attic chamber of the +Talmage residence when that room had been refinished. The partition had +a door to match, and the boys’ work was exceptionally good. Six boys +were busy completing the nailing of the partition and two more were so +engaged upon hanging the door that the visitors were scarcely noticed.</p> + +<p>“Hi, there! Jinks, start that screw, will you?” called Ned, trying to +balance the door on his toes while the hinge insisted upon slipping out +of the notch that had been made for it.</p> + +<p>“I will, if you will stop wriggling the old thing!” replied Jinks, who +had pinched his finger <span class='pagenum'><a name='pg_106' id='pg_106'>106</a></span>several times and had become wary of the +unsteady door.</p> + +<p>Ike saw the difficulty the boys were having and, while the Blue Birds +stood watching the struggle, came over and offered to help them.</p> + +<p>“This scene is as good as a vaudeville, Mary,” laughed Uncle Ben. +“That’s why I wanted you to see it.”</p> + +<p>“Oh, I think they have done wonderfully well,” replied Mrs. Talmage, +with interest.</p> + +<p>“They have, and Ben is so tickled with the boys’ whole-hearted support +of the plan, that he is having the time of his life,” added Mr. Talmage.</p> + +<p>The other boys had made a strong bench to sit upon, and a rude table +with a board top.</p> + +<p>The whole interior of the place was covered with sawdust, shavings, and +pieces of timber. Planes and chisels were in constant demand, and +hammers, screw-drivers and saws were all making a veritable bedlam of a +noise, when Ike called “Time.”</p> + +<p>“Too dark to see what you are doing,” he explained.</p> + +<p>“Turn on the electric lights, Ike,” said Ned.</p> + +<p><span class='pagenum'><a name='pg_107' id='pg_107'>107</a></span>“Better not—you boys have done far more than we thought you could and +there is no use in ‘driving a willing horse to death,’” advised Mr. +Talmage.</p> + +<p>As the boys dropped tools and stretched tired arms, or bent backs, they +realized that the unusual work had made muscles ache.</p> + +<p>“Get on your caps and coats, Bobolinks, and come out on the lawn to hear +of my trip to the city,” said Uncle Ben.</p> + +<p>In a few moments the room was empty and the children crowded about Uncle +Ben who sat cross-legged on the soft grass, while Ike placed chairs for +Aunt Selina and Mrs. Talmage.</p> + +<p>“Well, to start at the beginning, I took the eight-ten train this +morning, and I was introduced to the Oakdale Commuters as ‘Uncle Ben of +the Blue Birds and Bobolinks.’ That was reference enough for anyone. I +was looked upon as a man to be envied and I even saw covert glances from +some jealous eyes that looked me up and down and saw no especial favor +to have boosted me in the estimation of the B. B. & B. B. Company.”</p> + +<p>“Now, Uncle Ben, stop your fooling and tell us about the trip,” rebuked +Ruth.</p> + +<p><span class='pagenum'><a name='pg_108' id='pg_108'>108</a></span>“I am, Fluff, but I want to begin at the right end of the story,” +teased Uncle Ben.</p> + +<p>“Oh, begin anywhere, only get somewhere!” cried Mr. Talmage, laughing.</p> + +<p>With a sigh that indicated that he was misunderstood, Uncle Ben +continued his story.</p> + +<p>“Mr. Wells, Mr. Stevens, Mr. Starr, Mr. Wilson, and many other men you +know promised to advise and assist the boys in every way possible.”</p> + +<p>“What did Daddum say?” cried Dot, eagerly.</p> + +<p>“Don’t interrupt, Dot!” admonished Meredith, sternly.</p> + +<p>“Well, Mr. Starr offered a series of articles on his experiences in +lumber camps, and, besides, he promised to take hold of any part of the +plan in which we could use him,” replied Uncle Ben. “Mr. Wells has a +book that will prove valuable for our undertaking. It is a directory of +benevolent institutions and contains the names and addresses of every +asylum or home in the country.”</p> + +<p>“Why, Uncle Ben, that is exactly what we need to find our sick children +for the farms, isn’t it?” said Ruth, happily.</p> + +<p>Uncle Ben nodded his head and continued.</p> + +<p>“Then, Mr. Stevens offered to have his solicitors <span class='pagenum'><a name='pg_109' id='pg_109'>109</a></span>try to secure some +advertising for the magazine. His agency is one of the best in the city +and I think his offer a fine one.”</p> + +<p>At the idea of having advertisements appear in the magazine, the Blue +Birds and Bobolinks looked at each other in surprise.</p> + +<p>“We never thought of <i>that</i>!” ventured Ned.</p> + +<p>“Sounds like real work, when you hear the words ‘solicitors’ and +‘advertisements,’ doesn’t it?” commented Jinks.</p> + +<p>“I’ve been trying to make you understand from the first that this will +mean work as well as pleasure,” insisted Uncle Ben.</p> + +<p>“They’ll all wake up to that fact soon enough, Ben—go on with your +story,” laughed Mr. Talmage.</p> + +<p>“Mr. Wilson, who is connected with the Oakdale Paper Mills, then offered +to donate enough paper to get out several months’ issues, so I accepted +that offer with delight, thinking you could make use of Aunt Selina’s +offer in some other way. Mr. Wilson is going to bring some samples of +paper over to the Publishing House soon and let us make our selections. +A man whom I just met offered to speak to the Manhattan Subscription +<span class='pagenum'><a name='pg_110' id='pg_110'>110</a></span>Agency about taking subscriptions for you and giving the magazine a +good position in their next catalogue.”</p> + +<p>“So much good luck actually turned Uncle Ben’s head,” laughed Mr. +Talmage, during a moment’s silence. “Why, he hardly knew what he went to +the city for, and I had to guide him by the arm to show him the way to +his office.”</p> + +<p>“Of course, my friends here know better than to believe any such +scandalous tales about me!” replied Uncle Ben, looking at his brother as +if to dare him to tease any more.</p> + +<p>The children always enjoyed these make-believe quarrels between the two +brothers, and Ned generally egged them on. To-day, however, he was too +eager to hear about the trip to the city and so urged Uncle Ben to +finish the story.</p> + +<p>“We found the machinery that I think you can best use here, and had it +prepared for shipment. Just as we were leaving the store-room a man came +down with a load of type.</p> + +<p>“‘Where are you taking that?’ I asked him.</p> + +<p>“‘Boss said to send it off to be melted down,’ replied the man.</p> + +<p>“‘Just leave it on top of this packing case—I’ll <span class='pagenum'><a name='pg_111' id='pg_111'>111</a></span>see that it is taken +care of,’ I told him, and he did as I said.</p> + +<p>“Now, boys, all of that type is coming out here for you to work with. I +had it charged to my account at the office, for it was a ‘big find’ to +get hold of some type just at the time we needed it,” concluded Uncle +Ben, taking a long breath of relief.</p> + +<p>“And now, I’ll tell you of all the things Uncle Ben forgot to mention,” +laughed Mr. Talmage.</p> + +<p>“When we left the stock-room and went to his office, he picked up the +telephone and called up more friends than I ever thought he knew. Two or +three of them were invited to lunch with us, and the others were told +about the wonderful work the Oakdale children were planning. Every one +of his friends was told to help along or suggest some way to boost the +magazine. Of course, they had to promise.”</p> + +<p>Uncle Ben chuckled to himself as his brother told about the telephone +experiences.</p> + +<p>“Now, we come to the time when this crafty uncle of yours met his +friends at lunch. What do you think his plot was? Well, just listen and +I <span class='pagenum'><a name='pg_112' id='pg_112'>112</a></span>will tell you,” and Mr. Talmage nodded his head warningly at his +brother.</p> + +<p>“One of his guests was Mr. Connell, the man that owns one of the largest +engraving plants in the city. This Uncle Ben told his story in such an +engaging way that that business man actually offered to turn out the +plates you needed for the magazine at actual cost for several months. We +all know what that means—several hundred dollars on the credit side of +the ledger.”</p> + +<p>All eyes were turned toward Uncle Ben for confirmation of the great +offer, and he nodded his head smilingly.</p> + +<p>“One of the best business advisers I know in New York said that he +thought you children had an unusually good idea for a successful +business investment, and hoped that you would keep it up until you were +adults and saw the financial benefit in it,” said Uncle Ben, seriously.</p> + +<p>The girls were pleased at this news, but the boys were hilarious to find +that a clever business man approved of the plan they were working out.</p> + +<p>“When will the machinery be here, Uncle Ben?” asked Ned.</p> + +<p>“It is coming by freight and will take a few <span class='pagenum'><a name='pg_113' id='pg_113'>113</a></span>days, but you will be kept +busy until then in finishing the shop-work,” returned Uncle Ben.</p> + +<p>“Yes, indeed, we will have to build some stands for type, too, with the +boxful you got for us,” answered Ned.</p> + +<p>“We Blue Birds spent all of our afternoon engaging editors to take +charge of the pages,” ventured Ruth, who thought the Blue Birds had been +quiet too long.</p> + +<p>“You’ll have to have all the pages ready to hand over to me by the tenth +of October, you know; I’ll need about three days for making linotype and +then you can have the proofs back,” said Uncle Ben.</p> + +<p>“Oh, we will have everything ready long before the tenth,” laughed Mrs. +Talmage.</p> + +<p>“From the way the Blue Birds are working, I should say that each one +will have about five hundred pages written by that time,” added Aunt +Selina, smilingly.</p> + +<p>“In that case, we will have to have each page add a notice at the +bottom: ‘To be continued in our Nest.’”</p> + +<hr class='major' /> +<div style='margin: auto; text-align: center; padding-top: 1em; padding-bottom: 1em'> +<a name='BLUE_BIRD_WISDOM_AND_BOBOLINK_WORK_2551' id='BLUE_BIRD_WISDOM_AND_BOBOLINK_WORK_2551'></a> +<h2>CHAPTER VII</h2> +<h3>BLUE BIRD WISDOM AND BOBOLINK WORK</h3> +</div> + +<p>“There! my page is all done!” exclaimed Ruth, holding a sheet of paper +away to admire the neatly written notes for “Household Hints.”</p> + +<p>“Mine’s done, too, but I’m going to copy it over to-night to make it +look neat as a pin,” said Norma.</p> + +<p>“Did you get any new candy recipes?” asked Dot eagerly.</p> + +<p>The little Blue Bird who took charge of the “Candy Kettle” smacked her +lips emphatically.</p> + +<p>“I haven’t started to ink the pencil lines of my cut-out paper +furniture, but that won’t take long,” explained Dot. “I started with the +kitchen because Mumzie said no good housekeeper would furnish a parlor +if she had no kitchen equipment.”</p> + +<p>“I did my drawing lesson, but I haven’t written the lesson telling the +children how to make the picture,” said Betty, with a worried look +toward Mrs. Talmage.</p> + +<p><span class='pagenum'><a name='pg_115' id='pg_115'>115</a></span>“Plenty of time, dear,” soothed Mrs. Talmage. “You know Uncle Ben said +we would have until the tenth of the month.”</p> + +<p>The Blue Birds were gathered in the cherry-tree Nest after school, one +day, waiting for the signal from the Publishing House which would tell +them they might run over and inspect the huge pieces of machinery that +had arrived that day from New York. Ike and Simon had to help the three +truckmen as they placed rollers under the press and rolled it from the +truck and into the room. The stitcher, cutter and other pieces were not +so unwieldy to move and place. At noon, Ned saw the men struggling with +the press and so refrained from going near the house, but he told the +other Bobolinks, and immediately after school was dismissed a crowd of +boys ran to their shop.</p> + +<p>The Blue Birds had been enjoined to keep out of the way while the boys +cleared things up and investigated the various pieces of machinery. It +was a strain on their patience, however, to remain in their Nest and +listen to the laughs, exultant shouts, and sounds of satisfaction coming +from the carriage house.</p> + +<p><span class='pagenum'><a name='pg_116' id='pg_116'>116</a></span>All things have an end, so Uncle Ben soon appeared at the wide doorway +of the Publishing House and gave a shrill whistle for the Blue Birds. +Instantly, seven little girls took flight down the steps and across the +lawn, leaving Mrs. Talmage to assist Aunt Selina.</p> + +<p>The Blue Birds ran in and looked about. The great, ugly, black machines +with wheels, rollers and arms everywhere, did not impress them very +favorably.</p> + +<p>“Can’t make head or tail of the thing!” scorned Dot.</p> + +<p>“No one expects a girl to understand,” replied her brother Don.</p> + +<p>“I would be afraid of that dreadful looking knife!” shuddered Betty, +standing at a safe distance and pointing to the wide blade of the paper +cutter.</p> + +<p>Then the children crowded about the stitcher while Uncle Ben showed the +wonderful work the machine did.</p> + +<p>The electric attachments had not yet been completed, so the +demonstration of the machines had to be by gestures. But Uncle Ben was +equal to it, and the children felt that they could almost <i>see</i> <span class='pagenum'><a name='pg_117' id='pg_117'>117</a></span>the +machines running as they listened to his explanations.</p> + +<p>“Well, Uncle Ben, I don’t see how we can start this work without you +superintending us,” ventured Meredith.</p> + +<p>“It all seemed simple enough when we were talking about printing a +magazine, but this job is more than I can do,” admitted Jinks.</p> + +<p>“I am at home with my little press, Uncle Ben, but these big fellows +make me want to run away from the contract we made with you,” added Ned, +seriously.</p> + +<p>The Blue Birds and younger Bobolinks heard the older boys with anxious +concern lest the entire plan should fail.</p> + +<p>“I thought of just such a contingency and provided for it,” replied +Uncle Ben, with his optimistic manner. “I realize that you all go to +school and afternoons after school do not give you much time to +experiment on these machines, so I found two young men who used to do +good work for us who were pleased to come out here for a few weeks and +show you boys how to do things. They won’t come until the galley proofs +arrive, but then, they will help you get out the <span class='pagenum'><a name='pg_118' id='pg_118'>118</a></span>first issue and teach +you everything there is to know about these machines. They will take +them all apart and teach you how to put them together again. A machine +is like a man’s valuable animal—if you pay no attention to its welfare, +it does not last long enough to pay you for its keep.”</p> + +<p>“We’ll look after our machinery all right, Uncle Ben,” agreed Ned, with +the look of the workman who truly loves his tools.</p> + +<p>“I’m sure you will, and I hope the Blue Birds will have as much pride in +turning out commendable articles for us to print,” added Uncle Ben, +looking at Mrs. Talmage.</p> + +<p>“Oh, Uncle Ben, there’s one question I want to ask—may we each sign our +own name to our page or must we make up a pretend name?” asked Ruth.</p> + +<p>“Why, sign your very own name, of course; that is one way of making you +keep up to the mark. If you only had a pretend name on your page you +might get careless and say, ‘Oh, no one knows who it is, anyway, so I +don’t care if this story isn’t as good as it ought to be.’”</p> + +<p>Mrs. Talmage and Aunt Selina smiled, for they could see the wisdom of +the remark.</p> + +<p><span class='pagenum'><a name='pg_119' id='pg_119'>119</a></span>“I guess my father will be proud to see my name in a magazine,” boasted +Dot Starr.</p> + +<p>“All depends on what you tack your name to, Dot,” laughed Meredith.</p> + +<p>“It’ll be fine, all right!” exclaimed Dot, nodding her head +emphatically.</p> + +<p>“Shall we have our names at the top or at the bottom of the pages, Ben?” +asked Mrs. Talmage.</p> + +<p>“Oh, please, Uncle Ben, do put them at the <i>top</i>! I am afraid no one +will stop to read our names if you have them at the bottom,” worried +little Betty.</p> + +<p>Everyone laughed, but Uncle Ben assured her that the name would be +placed directly under the name of the article.</p> + +<p>Then, while the Blue Birds watched the boys placing type in the cases, +Uncle Ben sat down beside Mrs. Talmage and had a quiet talk about +affairs in general.</p> + +<p>In concluding he said, “Now don’t you worry if the children should +neglect a page now and then, for I can turn in heaps of good stories and +articles any time we may need them.”</p> + +<p>“Oh, these children are so reliable that they would rather do without +food or sleep than neglect <span class='pagenum'><a name='pg_120' id='pg_120'>120</a></span>anything that promises funds for next +summer’s farms,” returned Mrs. Talmage.</p> + +<p>“Glad to hear it, and hope they keep it up. Now, what pages have you +provided for each month—and have you any to spare for some prominent +writers who are friends of mine and feel deeply interested in this +venture?” asked Uncle Ben.</p> + +<p>“Oh, yes!” replied Mrs. Talmage. “We have seven pages taken by the Blue +Birds and four by the Bobolinks. Then there is a story Aunt Selina has +been thinking of writing, and a page for music that her friend in New +York will contribute. Mrs. Catlin promised to give us some tale of +adventure each month and that will take two pages. So, let me see—that +takes up, in all, sixteen pages. How many pages shall we have in the +magazine?”</p> + +<p>“About forty-eight is the usual size for such a paper,” replied Uncle +Ben, figuring out Mrs. Talmage’s number of pages and making a memorandum +of the balance remaining for use.</p> + +<p>“Gracious! then we will have to find much more manuscript than I +thought,” worried Mrs Talmage.</p> + +<p><span class='pagenum'><a name='pg_121' id='pg_121'>121</a></span>“No, I do not think so—that is what I want to find out to-day. A very +good friend of mine who had charge of Field’s Museum for four years, so +heartily endorsed this plan that he offered to supply a page article on +plant life each month. His name alone is valuable to a paper, and it +will certainly give weight to our magazine. Then, besides him, a very +close friend, who has been connected with a prominent book concern for +more than twenty years, called me up to say that this idea was just what +he has been hoping for. Both he and his wife are eager to assist in some +way. I suggested that they supply a page on bird life and give us some +valuable hints about our feathered friends. This man has published +numerous books on the subject of birds and is just the one to speak with +authority. The moment I mentioned it, he accepted my invitation; so we +have two renowned writers for most interesting and instructive pages +each month,” said Uncle Ben.</p> + +<p>“Why, how wonderful!” exclaimed Aunt Selina, who had been silent during +the conversation. “I don’t see how you ever accomplish such miracles!”</p> + +<p>Mrs. Talmage looked at Uncle Ben and said, <span class='pagenum'><a name='pg_122' id='pg_122'>122</a></span>laughingly, “Maybe it’s +because we never take ‘no’ for an answer. We keep at an idea until it is +hammered into everyone’s heart and mind.”</p> + +<p>“And the moment our friends have it well hammered in they get so +interested in succeeding that others are sought by them and the same +story hammered into another head and heart,” added Uncle Ben.</p> + +<p>“Well, I’m hammered and rooted in the work, and am anxious to have +friends in it, too. Is that the way you do?” asked Aunt Selina.</p> + +<p>“That’s just it! and before anyone else knows what’s going on, dozens of +folks are working on the same idea,” replied Mrs. Talmage.</p> + +<p>“Mary said something about a story that you wished to contribute, Aunt +Selina—what is it?” asked Uncle Ben.</p> + +<p>“An experience I had in the Civil War when I was visiting my old school +chum, Rebecca Crudup. You have never heard any of my tales of that +visit, but I assure you they are exciting.”</p> + +<p>“And you were there! Why, Aunt Selina, your manuscript would be valuable +to any magazine! I wish you would let me read it before you turn it over +to the Blue Birds,” said Uncle Ben <span class='pagenum'><a name='pg_123' id='pg_123'>123</a></span>eagerly, the business instinct for +new material for his magazine pushing the Blue Birds’ magazine into the +background.</p> + +<p>“You may see it after it is published in the children’s paper,” quietly +replied Aunt Selina.</p> + +<p>Uncle Ben took the rebuke in the right spirit, and said, “Is your friend +alive to-day?”</p> + +<p>“She was until last year, but her daughter is the musician I wish to get +‘rooted’ in this work for a music page. I haven’t her studio address, or +I would have written to her about this.”</p> + +<p>“Give me her name and the last address you knew of, and I will locate +her as soon as I get back to the city,” offered Uncle Ben.</p> + +<p>Uncle Ben wrote the name and late address in a book then turned to the +ladies with a suggestion.</p> + +<p>“Aunt Selina’s story will surely take more than the two pages you spoke +of, so why not make a serial story of her Civil War experience?”</p> + +<p>“Splendid! That is just the thing,” cried Mrs. Talmage.</p> + +<p>“I could make it as long as you wanted it to run, for Rebecca visited me +after the war and told me plenty of her wild adventures after I returned +<span class='pagenum'><a name='pg_124' id='pg_124'>124</a></span>home from the South. Why, my coachman, Abe, was one of the Crudup +slaves. He says they all stuck close to the family, for they loved them +and wanted to remain, but Mr. Crudup lost most of his wealth in the war +and had no place or means for so many servants,” related Miss Selina.</p> + +<p>The children had made a thorough inspection of the machinery and type by +this time and had joined the grown-ups.</p> + +<p>“What was that you were telling mother, Aunt Selina?” asked Ned, who +overheard the word “war” and was interested.</p> + +<p>“Why, we just discovered that Aunt Selina had a very exciting time in +the South during the Civil War and she is going to write it up for your +magazine,” explained Uncle Ben.</p> + +<p>“Oh, goody, goody!” exclaimed a chorus of voices.</p> + +<p>“It’s strange that you never told us any of those stories, Aunt Selina,” +ventured Mrs. Talmage.</p> + +<p>“Oh, it all happened so long ago, dearie, that I never thought anyone +would be interested. Besides, <span class='pagenum'><a name='pg_125' id='pg_125'>125</a></span>it turns to a page of my life that I +always wanted to keep closed,” sighed Aunt Selina.</p> + +<p>The others, respecting her reticence, changed the subject. Uncle Ben +smiled at her and made a comforting remark.</p> + +<p>“Aunt Selina, when we finish our first year’s work I am going to write a +most interesting treatise and call it, ‘Aunt Selina’s Recipes for +Youth.’”</p> + +<p>“What do you mean?” she questioned.</p> + +<p>“Just what I said,” replied he, laughing. “Since you have taken an +interest in this work you have grown years and years younger in looks +and actions.”</p> + +<p>“Ben, you’re making fun of me!” declared Aunt Selina.</p> + +<p>“No, he’s not, Aunt Selina; you really are looking fine,” said Mrs. +Talmage.</p> + +<p>“Aunt Selina, isn’t that what I prescribed for you at Happy Hills?” +cried Ruth, exultantly.</p> + +<p>“Yes, Fluffy, you did, and all the glory of this old conquest belongs to +you,” admitted Aunt Selina, patting the little girl upon the head.</p> + +<p>Just then, an expressman drove up and spoke to Ike.</p> + +<p><span class='pagenum'><a name='pg_126' id='pg_126'>126</a></span>“Right to the front door—that is the B. B. & B. B. Publishing +Company’s shop,” replied Ike with pride.</p> + +<p>Uncle Ben signed for the safe delivery of a large flat box and the +children crowded about to watch Ned and Jinks open it.</p> + +<p>The box was marked “Glass” and “Handle with Care,” so Ruth ran over to +her uncle to inquire about it.</p> + +<p>“Do you know what is in it?” asked she.</p> + +<p>“I believe it is the box that failed to arrive with the other things,” +he replied, smiling.</p> + +<p>“Do tell what it is,” persisted Ruth.</p> + +<p>“Why? You’ll soon see, and it would spoil the surprise if I told you,” +said Uncle Ben.</p> + +<p>Ruth skipped back to the circle formed about the case watching Ned take +out the nails very carefully. Soon Jinks and he had the top boards off +and then started to lift out the excelsior. This disposed of, a flat +paper parcel was seen. Ned lifted it out, and seeing another one +underneath, Jinks took it out also. Meredith and Don looked to see if +there were any more, but excelsior seemed to fill the bottom of the box.</p> + +<p><span class='pagenum'><a name='pg_127' id='pg_127'>127</a></span>“Who has a knife?” asked Ned, not finding his own in his pocket.</p> + +<p>“Here, here! hurry up and cut the twine!” shouted Don.</p> + +<p>Ned took Don’s knife with the broken blade and rusty handle, and smiled +as he hacked away at the twine. After several vigorous efforts the +string parted and several hands hurried to tear off the heavy paper.</p> + +<p>A large picture of Benjamin Franklin, in a heavy oak frame, came out +from its wrappings.</p> + +<p>“Oh, isn’t that fine!” cried several voices.</p> + +<p>“Just our man, isn’t he?” laughed Ned, pleased as could be.</p> + +<p>“If I had a head like that I could invent machines, too,” grumbled Don, +feeling of his round little head in disgust.</p> + +<p>While the others laughed at the remark, Meredith turned to the other +parcel which Jinks held on the floor. The twine was soon cut and the +papers taken off to reveal the strong features of Abraham Lincoln.</p> + +<p>“Ho, that’s best yet!” cried the boys who felt a deep admiration for the +man whose picture stood before them.</p> + +<p><span class='pagenum'><a name='pg_128' id='pg_128'>128</a></span>Mr. Talmage and Mrs. Catlin came in during the exhibition of pictures, +and the former said, “Just what you needed to complete the office +appearance.”</p> + +<p>“Yes, indeed, Uncle Ben, and we thank you heaps and heaps!” exclaimed +Ned, carrying his picture into the office.</p> + +<p>Jinks followed and Don started to drag away the box that stood in the +midst of the circle of children.</p> + +<p>“Better see if there are any more!” called Uncle Ben, warningly.</p> + +<p>Don dropped upon his knees and sought in the excelsior.</p> + +<p>“Oh! here’s some more and I almost threw them away!” he cried, as he +dragged forth several small packages.</p> + +<p>Upon being opened they proved to be a number of pictures of famous +publishers and inventors of printing machinery.</p> + +<p>“Won’t they look just great, though!” came from several pleased boys.</p> + +<p>“Why, come to think of it,” said Mrs. Catlin, “my husband has a number +of fine plates of machines and things of that kind. He was connected +<span class='pagenum'><a name='pg_129' id='pg_129'>129</a></span>with the Vivla Machine Company, you know, and they manufactured presses +and printers’ tools. They might look well if added to this collection.”</p> + +<p>Everyone agreed that the more the better, and then Dot remembered that +Mrs. Catlin had not seen the office and machinery.</p> + +<p>“Walk right over and see how officey our office looks with your desk and +table,” she cried.</p> + +<p>“And Mrs. Talmage sent in the chairs,” added Betty.</p> + +<p>“And my mother sent the carpet,” added Norma, pointing to the green rug.</p> + +<p>“And father says we may have his typewriting machine and table here when +he’s away from home,” said Ruth, eagerly.</p> + +<p>Mrs. Catlin praised the arrangement, and then asked to be shown the +wonderful machinery that was to do such great work.</p> + +<p>“Dear me, I heartily regret that I am not a little girl so that I might +glory in this office and work,” sighed Mrs. Catlin, coming back to the +grown-ups.</p> + +<p>“You don’t have to be ‘little,’ Therese,” laughed Mrs. Talmage. “You are +one of this juvenile <span class='pagenum'><a name='pg_130' id='pg_130'>130</a></span>club as surely as if you were but ten. Why, you +couldn’t pass the place without coming in to ask for news.”</p> + +<p>“To tell the truth, I was going to the village, but I heard the happy +shouts away out on the road and so I just wanted to know the cause,” +confessed Mrs. Catlin, smiling.</p> + +<p>“I hope I may live a few years longer to see the results of this work,” +sighed Aunt Selina.</p> + +<p>“You will, Flutey, you will!” cried Dot, enthusiastically. “What Uncle +Ben told you was really truly true!”</p> + +<p>“And just think, Mrs. Catlin, Flutey is going to write a long serious +story for our magazine all about the war that she was in!” cried Betty +Stevens.</p> + +<p>The grown-ups smiled at Betty’s idea of a “serial” story, but Mrs. +Catlin looked surprised.</p> + +<p>“Why, I never knew you were from the South?”</p> + +<p>“I’m not, but I was visiting there during an exciting time, and Ben +thinks my experience will make a readable story,” replied Aunt Selina.</p> + +<p>Mrs. Catlin looked at the aged lady with interest and said how much she +would like to hear <span class='pagenum'><a name='pg_131' id='pg_131'>131</a></span>the tale. Suddenly, however, she slapped her gloved +hands together and spoke.</p> + +<p>“Now, what reason is there that I should not have some pages in this +magazine?” she asked.</p> + +<p>“Show us any good reason for taking our space and you may have it,” +teased Mrs. Talmage.</p> + +<p>“Then put me down for another serial. I have a collection of short +stories that Mr. Catlin wrote of his adventures in Alaska. It does not +seem much like an adventure to go to Alaska nowadays, but forty years +ago it was as if one were leaving this hemisphere for the unknown. Some +of his tales are intensely interesting,” said Mrs. Catlin.</p> + +<p>“Why, friends, we are getting so many notable articles and writers +together that we will soon have to raise the subscription price,” +laughed Mr. Talmage.</p> + +<p>“That reminds me that we never thought of a charge. We ought to decide +what subscription price we wish to ask,” said Uncle Ben.</p> + +<p>“Has anyone thought of that?” asked Mrs. Talmage, looking about at Blue +Birds and Bobolinks.</p> + +<p>Heads were shaken and Ned asked, “How can <span class='pagenum'><a name='pg_132' id='pg_132'>132</a></span>we tell how much to charge +until we know what the magazine will cost?”</p> + +<p>“I can help you figure that out, I think,” offered Uncle Ben, sitting +down at the table and taking paper and pencil from the drawer.</p> + +<p>“Figure how much five hundred—or say, a thousand will cost,” ventured +Ned.</p> + +<p>“A thousand! Where will you send them?” cried Jinks.</p> + +<p>“I should say, figure on five thousand—or ten,” said Uncle Ben, +quietly.</p> + +<p>“What!” gasped several boys.</p> + +<p>“Yes, because ten thousand will not cost much more than three hundred.”</p> + +<p>“How’s that?” asked the boys.</p> + +<p>“Plates, linotype, lock-up, make-ready, will cost as much for one +magazine as for one thousand. The only extra cost in getting out a +quantity is in paper, ink and time. Now, I firmly believe that we will +be able to send out ten thousand by the time you have them ready.”</p> + +<p>“Well, Uncle Ben, it sounds <i>awful</i> big to us, particularly as we +haven’t one single subscription, yet,” said Ruth.</p> + +<p>“Here—here, Fluff, don’t let that bother you!” <span class='pagenum'><a name='pg_133' id='pg_133'>133</a></span>said Mr. Talmage, +throwing a five-dollar bill upon the table.</p> + +<p>“And here’s for ten more!” laughed Aunt Selina, taking a twenty-dollar +bill from her purse.</p> + +<p>“Here’s for five orphan asylums,” added Mrs. Catlin placing a ten-dollar +note on the table.</p> + +<p>“How now, Fluff—where are your blues, eh?” teased Uncle Ben.</p> + +<p>The children saw the crisp notes lying on the table and felt the joy of +a successful start.</p> + +<p>“From what Aunt Selina and Mrs. Talmage offered, it looks as if the +price should be two dollars per year. Now, let us figure out how close +we come to that,” said Uncle Ben.</p> + +<p>After counting up cost of production plus cost of mailing, it was +decided that two dollars would be a just price, but there would be +little profit unless more money could be gotten for advertising, or some +saving made.</p> + +<p>“Guess we’ve about completed our business for to-day,” ventured Uncle +Ben, as he noticed the children growing restless.</p> + +<p>“Yes, let us go to the house and have some nice cool lemonade and +cookies,” suggested Mr. Talmage.</p> + +<p><span class='pagenum'><a name='pg_134' id='pg_134'>134</a></span>Eager looks turned toward Mrs. Talmage, and she laughed.</p> + +<p>“We’re always ready for something good to eat, father, so you show us +the way to the picnic.”</p> + +<p>It took but a few moments for the children to reach the wide veranda and +settle down comfortably until the maids brought out the refreshments.</p> + +<p>“A day’s work always ought to finish like this,” mused Don, munching a +delicious piece of cake.</p> + +<hr class='major' /> +<div style='margin: auto; text-align: center; padding-top: 1em; padding-bottom: 1em'> +<a name='AUNT_SELINAS_CIVIL_WAR_STORY_3054' id='AUNT_SELINAS_CIVIL_WAR_STORY_3054'></a> +<h2>CHAPTER VIII</h2> +<h3>AUNT SELINA’S CIVIL WAR STORY</h3> +</div> + +<p>The children thoroughly enjoyed their refreshments. Aunt Selina did not +care for any, so she sat smiling as she watched them.</p> + +<p>“As long as Flutey isn’t busy, wouldn’t it be nice to have her tell us a +teeny-weeny bit of that war story?” ventured Dot Starr.</p> + +<p>“Oh, yes! Please do! Flutey, do tell!” came from various directions.</p> + +<p>“Why, that would be lovely, Aunt Selina, if you will,” added Mrs. +Talmage.</p> + +<p>Thus besieged, Aunt Selina decided to yield to the children.</p> + +<p>“Let me see,” she began. “I must have been about eighteen when my +dearest friend, Rebecca Crudup, invited me to spend Easter Holidays at +her Southern home. We had been chums from the moment we met at Miss +Wyland’s Seminary for Young Ladies, and the Christmas before the time I +just mentioned, Rebecca had visited my <span class='pagenum'><a name='pg_136' id='pg_136'>136</a></span>home at Happy Hills. Mother +liked Rebecca immensely, but she feared the fighting in the South might +create trouble for me if I went with Becky. We reassured her, however, +and an unwilling consent was written from home.</p> + +<p>“A week before the vacation began, Becky received a letter asking her to +start home as soon as she received the word, as important matters in the +family had to be looked after.</p> + +<p>“As this would give us an extra week’s holiday we hailed the letter with +joy. The girls stood about enviously watching us pack our carpetbags and +Rebecca’s trunk. I packed many of my things in her trunk to save the +trouble of transporting two to Tennessee. We left the next morning +’midst shouts reminding us to be sure to be on hand when school +re-opened.</p> + +<p>“We enjoyed the journey during the first part of the way, but, as the +train sped on, the country showed signs of the desolation wrought by +war, and we sobered from our happy laughter to serious contemplation.</p> + +<p>“The nearer to Nashville that we came, the deeper the evidence that war +was an awful thing. <span class='pagenum'><a name='pg_137' id='pg_137'>137</a></span>We saw burned homes, devastated land and +forlorn-looking families as we passed by.</p> + +<p>“Rebecca’s father met us at the station in Nashville and welcomed me +with a surprised manner. Turning to his daughter, he spoke in a serious +tone.</p> + +<p>“‘We will endeavor to give your friend an enjoyable visit, daughter, but +it doesn’t seem promisin’. Evidently you did not receive our telegram?’</p> + +<p>“‘Only this letter, father,’ replied Becky, showing him the last letter +received by her.</p> + +<p>“‘Hum! well, we will live up to our reputation, Miss Selina, and be the +true Southern hosts.’</p> + +<p>“As we came out of the station and walked toward the carriage-posts, +Rebecca looked about for the family equipage.</p> + +<p>“Mr. Crudup led us toward a great spring wagon which was drawn by two +raw-boned farm horses. An old darky sat on the front seat.</p> + +<p>“‘Why, father! Surely we are not going home in <i>this</i>!’ cried Rebecca +with deep chagrin.</p> + +<p>“‘Sorry, daughter, but it must be so,’ returned her father in a grieved +voice. ‘You will find many changes here since the fightin’ began.’</p> + +<p><span class='pagenum'><a name='pg_138' id='pg_138'>138</a></span>“‘Selina, I’m awful sorry you have to ride this way, and I can’t +understand why it is. Father seems to know,’ said Becky, in an +apologetic tone.</p> + +<p>“‘I don’t mind, Becky. Really and truly, I don’t. I love the country so, +that I would just as soon ride a plow if we had to, to get to your +home.’</p> + +<p>“‘Well, I’m glad your little friend is so sensible, Rebecca,’ commended +Mr. Crudup.</p> + +<p>“We climbed into the back seat after the baggage had been stowed away, +and the horses started off.</p> + +<p>“‘Father, why didn’t you drive Jerry and Jim?’ asked Rebecca, +wonderingly.</p> + +<p>“‘Becky, your brothers, I trust, are astride them, showin’ the Yankees +how to fight!’</p> + +<p>“‘Daddy!’ cried Rebecca in dismay.</p> + +<p>“Mr. Crudup looked dreadfully sorry, but said nothing.</p> + +<p>“‘Daddy, have Newell and Ed left home?’</p> + +<p>“‘Yes, child. And I’m mighty sorry to say that most of your friends and +cousins are with them. Some will nevah return—but we are prayin’ +constant, that our boys will win honahs for the South—and come home to +enjoy them.’</p> + +<p><span class='pagenum'><a name='pg_139' id='pg_139'>139</a></span>“Becky and I sat as stiff as sticks as we realized what this meant.</p> + +<p>“‘Still, I don’t see why <i>some</i> of our carriage horses couldn’t have +come for us!’ insisted Rebecca.</p> + +<p>“‘The horses have been used by some of the boys who had none, and the +spring wagon has to come in often with supplies for the troops. This +happened to be one of the days. So mothaw thought her girl would not +mind, particularly as we believed you received the telegram,’ explained +Mr. Crudup.</p> + +<p>“I was almost sorry I had come, so unexpected did my appearance seem to +be, but Becky cheered up when she saw me grow uncomfortable, and tried +to amuse me by pointing out neighboring plantations.</p> + +<p>“As we drove about a bend in the road, Rebecca’s beautiful old home +could be seen situated upon a knoll that commanded a view of the +surrounding country. We entered the grounds by a road that ran through a +dense wood, and then ascended gradually until we reached the +porte-cochère. The house itself, large, solid and in perfect <span class='pagenum'><a name='pg_140' id='pg_140'>140</a></span>condition, +was a landmark from every point of view round-about.</p> + +<p>“Mrs. Crudup and her two older daughters welcomed me to their home and +made me feel more at ease. Rebecca, being the youngest member of the +family, was petted and made much of, and I came in for my share of it +for being her best friend.</p> + +<p>“After our baggage was placed in our rooms, we were escorted upstairs +and left to prepare for dinner, which was generally at noon, but had +been delayed for Rebecca’s arrival.</p> + +<p>“My, but that was a delicious dinner! I can almost taste the tender +chicken with corn waffles, hot and crisp, this minute!</p> + +<p>“Not a word had been said about the reason of calling Rebecca home a +week earlier than usual. Toward evening, however, vehicles of all +descriptions drove to the side yard and were left to the care of the +negro servants. As the neighbors came to the house they went directly to +a large room which had been closed and locked since our arrival, until +now. Rebecca and I were invited to join the sewing meeting, but neither +of us liked sewing, and we had planned to visit the horses <span class='pagenum'><a name='pg_141' id='pg_141'>141</a></span>before it +grew too dark. However, I saw heaps of flannel garments, half-finished +socks on knitting needles, warm caps, and clothes of all kinds being +made up for the Confederate soldiers.</p> + +<p>“Becky and I strolled down toward the stables, but it was too dark to +inspect the thoroughbreds I had heard so much about, so we returned to +the house.</p> + +<p>“As we passed the great barn we saw men busily engaged in packing all +kinds of produce and supplies in long hemp sacks to be carted to +Nashville the following day. In the sewing room the ladies were still +plying needles that flashed in and out as if speed would save a life.</p> + +<p>“At eight o’clock a hot supper was served, and at nine the neighbors +left for their homes.</p> + +<p>“That night, after we retired to our rooms, Rebecca came into my room +for a cozy chat. She looked very pretty as she sat on the corner of the +bed hugging her knees up in her arms.</p> + +<p>“‘Selina, it’s a shame you are dragged into such a vacation! I declare, +had I known that all of the boys were away, nothing would have tempted +me to bring you. Even the girls are too <span class='pagenum'><a name='pg_142' id='pg_142'>142</a></span>busy sewing for their +sweethearts to bother with parties or sociables,’ pouted Rebecca.</p> + +<p>“‘I came to visit you—not to see the boys or go to parties, and I want +you to believe that I don’t mind a bit having you all to myself,’ I +said.</p> + +<p>“‘You’re a good little mouse to say that, but, all the same, I will trot +you all over the country on our saddle horses. You will have plenty of +fresh air, and that is what Miss Wyland said you needed for your +paleness,’ replied Becky.</p> + +<p>“Rebecca kissed me good-night, but I felt ill at ease in that Southern +home for being one of the ‘detested Yankees.’ Never, by word or sign, +was such a thought given out, but I felt that everyone would have been +more at ease had I never come.</p> + +<p>“Every other afternoon Mr. Crudup went to Nashville with a load of bags +for the commissary department. One afternoon, about a week after our +arrival, he came back from the city earlier than usual and we noticed a +troubled look on his face.</p> + +<p>“‘How now, father?’ asked sweet Mrs. Crudup.</p> + +<p>“‘Reports in Nashville say that the fighting is <span class='pagenum'><a name='pg_143' id='pg_143'>143</a></span>turned toward this part +of the country,’ he said.</p> + +<p>“‘Someone has to bear the burden—perhaps the Lord has selected us to +carry a share,’ returned Mrs. Crudup, reverently.</p> + +<p>“‘The one thing that worries me is that our place is well known in this +part of the country, and our fertile acres are known to produce the +finest edibles. Then, too, the fact that we raise some of the best-bred +horses in Tennessee may cause the Yanks to come down on us at any time +and raid the stables. In that case, they will carry off everything—not +even a plow-horse will be left.’</p> + +<p>“‘Father, our boys have had all they could use for this conflict, and +wouldn’t it be bettah to ship our horses to Nashville fo’ the army to +use?’ asked Mrs. Crudup.</p> + +<p>“‘I would rather see every head of cattle dead than in the hands of a +Yankee!’ cried Sally Crudup, bitterly, for her sweetheart had been +killed in a battle a few weeks previous.</p> + +<p>“‘Sally, Sally! let no bittehness feed your sorrow!’ reproved the gentle +mother, patting me upon the back as if in apology for her daughter’s +breach of etiquette.</p> + +<p><span class='pagenum'><a name='pg_144' id='pg_144'>144</a></span>“Mr. and Mrs. Crudup walked away in private converse, and Becky and I +started for the paddocks which I had not yet visited.</p> + +<p>“‘Selina, I’m plannin’ a desperate deed!’ said Becky, in a whisper, as +we passed down the shady lane that led to the stables and pastures.</p> + +<p>“I looked at her in surprise, for her tone was shaky.</p> + +<p>“‘I have not introduced you to Imp. Imp is the most valuable horse on +the place and would bring a high price in Nashville. My only relief is +that no one can ride him, manage, or harness him but Tim and me. When +Imp was born Tim was there, and when Imp’s mother died soon after his +birth, she turned her eyes on Tim and seemed to ask him to look after +her baby. I got there just as she turned back her head and saw me. I +took her head upon my lap and promised that I would adopt her boy, and I +always felt that she knew what I said and died happier for it. From that +minute, I took charge of Imp and fed him on a bottle until he could eat +alone. Tim and I have had sole charge of his training, but he is surely +an Imp when anyone else tries to <span class='pagenum'><a name='pg_145' id='pg_145'>145</a></span>come near him.’ Becky almost wept as +she told me the story of the poor mother-mare.</p> + +<p>“‘Imp understands everything one says to him, but he can’t talk; +however, his eyes tell you what he wishes to say! Now, if any stranger +should raid the stables and spy Imp, they would certainly try to steal +him first, for he is the finest thoroughbred that ever stepped over +Tennessee soil! But, he will bite, and kick, and bolt with anyone who +dares to trifle with him. Then do you know what will happen? They’ll +either put a bullet through his heart, or hitch him to an army +ambulance, which will break his heart just the same.’</p> + +<p>“Rebecca walked along in silence after that, until we reached a stile +that divided the house lands from the pastures.</p> + +<p>“‘Selina, there’s only one thing to do—take him away and hide him until +this war is over. From what I gather from the servants about the place, +this plantation is in a straight line for Nashville, the point the +Yankees are making for. So, the sooner Imp is hidden the better!’</p> + +<p>“‘Becky,’ asked I, in alarm, ‘will these slaves desert or sell you out +to the Yankees?’</p> + +<p>“‘Mercy, no, Selina! They are like children <span class='pagenum'><a name='pg_146' id='pg_146'>146</a></span>to us. It may be that one +or two would like the novelty of going North, but they would soon be +squelched if it was found out. Why, father and mother treat their old +slaves like their family—asking advice of Tim, or Martha the +housekeeper, as the case might be. As for our old mammy—and the +cook—gracious, Selina! I’d die for either one of them, and so would any +one of us, and they know it. They’d stick to us even if we lost this +war—which we won’t!’ cried Rebecca.</p> + +<p>“I felt somewhat piqued, but said nothing, for I was a guest of +Rebecca’s. She sensed that she had said something difficult to forget, +and hugged me laughingly.</p> + +<p>“‘You wouldn’t give a fig for a friend that could hope anything but +success for her country, would you?’ she asked.</p> + +<p>“I made no reply, and she continued in a low voice.</p> + +<p>“‘Selina, I’m going to take you into a secret that no one but Tim and +father knows about. Father hasn’t an idea that I know about it, and Tim +won’t tell him that I know. I found it myself years ago, and I always go +there when I want to be all alone. I have driven Imp right through <span class='pagenum'><a name='pg_147' id='pg_147'>147</a></span>and +he knows the cave and has no fear of the water, now.’</p> + +<p>“I listened in surprise to the words but knew nothing of what she meant.</p> + +<p>“After we had walked about a mile down the lane, Becky turned off across +the field. We came to a lovely little patch of woods where I could hear +the roar of a rushing stream. Rebecca led me by crooked paths until we +came to the brink of this torrent where it tumbled over a ledge of rock +about twenty feet high, and made a most beautiful waterfall. The +current was so swift above the falls that the water shot over making an +arch as it fell. The steep banks at either side were mossy and tall +ferns almost covered them.</p> + +<p>“Rebecca led me straight to the falls. I hesitated as I saw her take a +step toward the back-rock under the falls and suddenly disappear in the +spray, calling upon me to follow.</p> + +<p>“I was sure she knew what she was doing, so I too went headlong into the +spray to find myself behind the arched falls on a huge flat rock which +lay before a deep crevice opening straight into the cliff. Not a drop of +water penetrated here, <span class='pagenum'><a name='pg_148' id='pg_148'>148</a></span>but the spray made a thick curtain between the +cave and the outer world.</p> + +<p>“Rebecca led me by the hand along a tunnel, and, after we had gone about +twenty feet, it opened into a high-vaulted cavern. Soon Rebecca found +the lantern and lighted it. I looked about in surprise; the place was +quite comfortably furnished with a chair, a rough table and a mattress +with bedding upon it.</p> + +<p>“‘I made Tim carry these things over here from the store-room and made +him swear never to tell father. Tim is almost seventy years old and he +believes in an oath as firmly as he does in Heaven. As far as I know, +Tim and Daddy are the only ones beside myself who know of this cave. The +reason I am bringing you here—a Yankee, too—is because I feel in my +bones that you will have to help me in some danger or need. Here is +where Imp is going to be hidden and I shall have to see if I can get him +to make friends with you, for you may have to claim him some day and +take him North with you.’</p> + +<p>“‘Oh, Becky, don’t talk like this! You frighten me! I wish you were all +at Happy Hills with me where you would be safe.’</p> + +<p><span class='pagenum'><a name='pg_149' id='pg_149'>149</a></span>“‘Do you think that one of us would seek another safer home while we +are needed here?’ asked Rebecca, sternly.</p> + +<p>“I made no reply and Rebecca carried the lantern ahead, bidding me +follow her out. We reached the extreme end of the cave, when Rebecca +handed me the lantern to hold down close to some lichen. I did so and +found that the mass of roots and moss that hung there swayed slowly back +and forth in a current of air. This, then, was the cause of the cave +being so well ventilated. Becky stooped, pushed aside the mossy curtain +and crawled into a small tunnel, taking the lantern from me after she +had entered.</p> + +<p>“I followed close behind, upon hands and knees, through an opening the +size of a bushel basket. Finally, we reached a wider opening where we +could stand upon our feet again. We crept through this queer tunnel for +a long time and then I felt that we were ascending gradually and that +the air was growing purer. In a few moments more, we emerged from +another narrow crevice hidden under the gnarled roots of a live-oak. +Moss, lichen and fern covered this opening <span class='pagenum'><a name='pg_150' id='pg_150'>150</a></span>so completely that no one +would have dreamed there was an entrance there to a secret cave.</p> + +<p>“We were in a grassy dell hemmed in by a thin ribbon of woods which +ended in a grove of tall pines upon a knoll.</p> + +<p>“Rebecca extinguished the light and led me toward this grove. She +selected an old veteran pine and climbed up into its wide branches until +a comfortable notch was reached. I did likewise. As we sat there +admiring the wonderful view of distant mountains, Rebecca clutched my +arm, and pointed with one hand toward the low range of mountains about +fifty miles away.</p> + +<p>“I looked and saw a heavy cloud of smoke hanging low over the crests. At +intervals we heard the echo of a ‘boom.’</p> + +<p>“‘Oh, Selina, there’s no time to lose, now! The fighting is so near that +we can hear the cannon over the mountain!’</p> + +<p>“‘What shall we do?’ I cried helplessly.</p> + +<p>“‘Do!’ almost screamed Rebecca, as she tore her clothes on the pine +boughs in her rapid descent. ‘Why, I’ll run Imp down to the cave, while +you race to the house and tell Timothy the news. Order him to bring +oats, bedding, blankets, and <span class='pagenum'><a name='pg_151' id='pg_151'>151</a></span>whatever Imp might need for a long siege. +Tell him you know the secret and will help me take care of Imp. Then, on +to the house, warning the negroes as you go, and tell the folks at the +house. If they ask how we know, answer that we were on the ridge and saw +it. Don’t tell them that we were in the pine tree!’</p> + +<p>“Calling these hurried directions as she went, Becky ran back through +the glade until we reached the woods near the lane. She pointed toward +the house, which could be seen in the distant haze, then ran for the +shed where Imp was kept.</p> + +<p>“I did as I was ordered, wondering all the way why I was placed in such +an undesirable position—a Northerner plotting, as it were, against my +own people. I cared little about the war at that time, for I knew +nothing of war or its toll.</p> + +<p>“However, I reached the outer buildings where the slaves lived and my +news acted like an electric current upon the inmates. Immediately they +ran in different directions, seemingly bent upon doing a part of a work +that had been carefully planned and arranged. I found out later, that +such was the case. The older slaves, who were <span class='pagenum'><a name='pg_152' id='pg_152'>152</a></span>trusted implicitly, set +to work burying (as I supposed) whatever fruit, vegetables, smoked +meats, and other edibles they could find—in fact, everything stored in +cellars or store-rooms.</p> + +<p>“I was curious to see how they could prevent the articles from coming in +contact with the soil, and found that a chain of bricked cellars had +been built a short time before, and the bushes and weeds carefully +replaced on the dirt that covered the roofs. A door, opening into the +first of the chain of cellars, was made in a steep bank of earth. It was +merely a large hole in the ground covered with a flat stone that turned +upon a pivot. About this spot the soil and grass had been very cleverly +arranged to conceal any sign of what lay beneath.</p> + +<p>“By afternoon not a piece of extra linen, bedding, or silver could be +found about the house. The jewelry, valuable bits of art and pictures, +heirlooms and a valuable library, had disappeared as if by magic. I knew +it had all been placed in some safe place and felt relieved at the +knowledge.</p> + +<p>“I wandered about feeling lonesome for Rebecca and wishing I might +assist Tim who seemed <span class='pagenum'><a name='pg_153' id='pg_153'>153</a></span>busy in some undertaking. I watched him tie down +a canvas covering over a loaded cart and caught his glance, which seemed +to beckon me. I walked over to the mule’s side and patted its head while +Tim spoke.</p> + +<p>“‘Miss Becky, she say you’se come wif me. I’se got’ter take dis load +down to der paddock!’ Tim looked about as he spoke and winked at me +knowingly.</p> + +<p>“I walked beside him as he drove the mule along the lane. The cart +seemed laden and the mule walked slowly, but we reached the wall that +divided the gardens from the farm, and then Tim made the beast go as +fast as possible, all the while looking covertly about for a run-away +negro or a Yankee scout.</p> + +<p>“I suspected where we were going, and, sure enough! As we reached the +woods by the lane, Rebecca called softly, ‘No further, Tim!’ and came +out with several huge market baskets.</p> + +<p>“Tim tied the mule to a tree by the roadside and removed the canvas +covering. There was everything one would need for light housekeeping for +several weeks. Besides the food and clothing, there were bandages, +medicine, bedding, <span class='pagenum'><a name='pg_154' id='pg_154'>154</a></span>lanterns, an oil-stove, dishes, and numerous other +necessities. These were piled in the baskets and carried to the cave +where they were placed in crannies for some future emergency.</p> + +<p>“‘Imp, I want you to be introduced to my best friend,’ said Rebecca, +after we had brought in our first basket.</p> + +<p>“I heard a whinny and looked about in the gloom.</p> + +<p>“Rebecca went over to a corner near the spot whence fresh air entered +the cavern, and held the lantern up for me to see her pet.</p> + +<p>“I stood making friendly advances to the beauty and, to Becky’s +amazement, he never moved an inch, but wrinkled his nose for sugar.</p> + +<p>“‘Witch! that is what you are!’ laughed Becky, as Imp poked his nose +under my arm. ‘I have never known him to do such a thing.’</p> + +<p>“Imp stood listening to his mistress as if he thoroughly understood the +situation.</p> + +<p>“I turned to tell Rebecca what a beauty he was, and he deliberately +poked his nose out against my face.</p> + +<p>“After all the supplies were stacked away, Rebecca <span class='pagenum'><a name='pg_155' id='pg_155'>155</a></span>slipped the halter +over Imp’s head and led him to a ring cemented in the solid rock.</p> + +<p>“‘Now, Imp, you will have to be good and not whinny or make a sound. I +know what is good for you, and you must do just as I tell you, or a bad +Yankee soldier will catch you and then you will see!’ warned Rebecca, +shaking her finger at him.</p> + +<p>“The horse stood looking at her as if striving to understand what that +strange word ‘Yankee’ meant; then he threw up his head and shook it +defiantly.</p> + +<p>“We said good-by to Imp and returned to the cart where Tim waited. We +sent Tim to the barns with the mule and we went back to the house.</p> + +<p>“That was such a busy day that everyone felt weary and glad when the sun +showed its slanting rays over the trees. It must have been about four +o’clock when sounds of approaching cavalry reached the house. It was the +company Newell and his brother had formed a few months before. They had +been driven over the mountainside and decided to spend the night in +hiding at home.</p> + +<p><span class='pagenum'><a name='pg_156' id='pg_156'>156</a></span>“The sewing room was filled with neighbors whose boys were members of +the company, so you can imagine the joy of seeing them again.</p> + +<p>“The boys were covered with mire halfway to the waist, and their horses +looked as if they must drop where they stood. Many of the soldiers were +hatless, powder smirched, and, oh, so tired!</p> + +<p>“Rebecca took me to her room and locked the door.</p> + +<p>“‘Selina, did you see that tall dark officer—the one that kept smiling +at us? Well, he is my best friend, and I want you to fall in love with +him. He knows all about you and I showed him your picture a long time +ago, so he knows you quite well, you see.’</p> + +<p>“I laughed merrily at Becky’s match-making.</p> + +<p>“‘Oh,’ she sighed, as her thought rushed to something else. ‘Wasn’t it +just like Providence that we got Imp and all of those supplies hidden +away in time?’</p> + +<p>“‘Yes, but it is not necessary with the rebels in command of the place,’ +I said, using the term ‘rebel’ quite unconsciously, for the first time.</p> + +<p><span class='pagenum'><a name='pg_157' id='pg_157'>157</a></span>“Rebecca noticed it, too, but said nothing at the time.</p> + +<p>“‘Well, I showed you just how to get in and out of that cave in case you +are the only one who can take care of Imp. One never knows what may +happen, but you, being my guest, are safe with our friends, and, being a +Yankee, will be taken care of in case the enemy take the place. But, +remember, if Imp is to be taken from me, I would rather you had him than +anyone on earth—and you must assert your ownership if necessary to take +him home with you.’</p> + +<p>“That was a great reunion, that dinner! Besides all of the young +soldiers, their families were there, listening to their account of the +struggle.</p> + +<p>“The happy families had finished dinner and were about to have coffee +when a colored boy raced up the steps of the piazza. His face was gray +with fear as he gasped, ‘De Yanks am comin’—oh, dey am comin’ pell mell +foh dis house! oh, Lud, Lud!’</p> + +<p>“‘Tell all the folks, Jeremiah, quick!’ shouted Becky, as she sprang +forward to warn her friends.</p> + +<p>“‘The horses—quick, Tim! The horses—rush <span class='pagenum'><a name='pg_158' id='pg_158'>158</a></span>them to the house!’ yelled +Newell, as he grabbed his gun and threw on his cap.</p> + +<p>“‘Mother, good-by,’ cried Ed, as he caught a kiss from her lips, and +Newell hurriedly did the same.</p> + +<p>“The next minute all was confusion as the soldier boys jumped into the +saddle, while still buckling on knapsacks and ammunition belts.</p> + +<p>“Five minutes after Jeremiah had given the alarm, the boys were lost in +a cloud of dust galloping on the way to Nashville. But not soon enough!”</p> + +<p>Here, Aunt Selina leaned back in her chair and looked away over the +lawns as if she saw again the scurrying horses racing for dear life in +one direction, while from the opposite direction she saw another picture +she had not yet mentioned.</p> + +<p>“If you are wearied, Aunt Selina, we will postpone the story for another +day,” suggested Mrs. Talmage.</p> + +<p>“Oh, no! please don’t!” begged the excited children.</p> + +<p>“Oh, Flutey, I simply couldn’t wait until to-morrow <span class='pagenum'><a name='pg_159' id='pg_159'>159</a></span>to find out what +happened,” cried Ruth, beseechingly.</p> + +<p>Aunt Selina smiled at the children, and Uncle Ben added: “They are +right! I don’t want to wait either!”</p> + +<p>“Really! is it as good as that?”</p> + +<p>“Good! I should say it is! It’s a big ‘seller’ if it was only in a +book!” returned Uncle Ben.</p> + +<p>“Well, then, after the magazine is done with it suppose we sell it to a +publisher for the benefit of the children,” ventured Aunt Selina, +eagerly.</p> + +<p>“Fine idea! We will try it!” said Uncle Ben.</p> + +<p>Aunt Selina moved her chair to keep the rays of the setting sun from her +eyes, and then continued with her story.</p> + +<hr class='major' /> +<div style='margin: auto; text-align: center; padding-top: 1em; padding-bottom: 1em'> +<a name='HOW_THE_YANKEES_TOOK_POSSESSION_3615' id='HOW_THE_YANKEES_TOOK_POSSESSION_3615'></a> +<h2>CHAPTER IX</h2> +<h3>HOW THE YANKEES TOOK POSSESSION</h3> +</div> + +<p>“I think the rest of this story is the most interesting of all,” +murmured Aunt Selina, as she permitted her memory to roam in years long +gone.</p> + +<p>The children waited patiently for Aunt Selina to begin and, after a +short moment, she sat up erect, looking fearfully out over the lawn, and +spoke hurriedly.</p> + +<p>“Right there before our very eyes we saw the Yankee regiment tear down +the lane and swerve toward the road just taken by the Southern boys. +They were still to be seen making for the woods just over the slope of +the hill toward Nashville.</p> + +<p>“We heard the captain shout, ‘Halt! Aim! Fire!’ and, as a volley rang +out, many of the ladies on the piazza screamed or fainted, while Rebecca +and I stood petrified at the result of that happy dinner.</p> + +<p><span class='pagenum'><a name='pg_161' id='pg_161'>161</a></span>“Almost at the same time the Yankees fired there came the rattle of +musketry from the woods which the boys had reached.</p> + +<p>“From the veranda I saw several of the Yankees’ horses leap up and two +of them rolled over on the ground. One man threw up his hands, fell over +on his horse’s neck, and dropped his gun. The horse, frightened, started +galloping directly toward the house. Tim, who was coming down the side +steps, ran forward and caught hold of the bridle. Mr. Crudup and some of +his friends lifted the young soldier from the saddle and carefully +carried him up the piazza steps, and placed him on the floor.</p> + +<p>“While much of my attention was distracted by this incident, the company +of Yankees spurred their horses on toward the patch of woods where the +Southerners were hidden.</p> + +<p>“The firing continued for half an hour, while everyone at the house +waited, fearing the worst and hoping against hope that their boys had +gotten away to Nashville.</p> + +<p>“Rebecca’s two brothers, cousins and old friends were all in that +handful of men, and naturally those gathered at the house would wait +<span class='pagenum'><a name='pg_162' id='pg_162'>162</a></span>until the outcome of the skirmish could be known.</p> + +<p>“They had not long to wait, for, just as twilight deepened into night, +the negroes came in with the report that all of the boys had been +captured and were being taken as prisoners to the old school-house. In +another half-hour the officers rode up to the door, followed by +orderlies and an ambulance corps bringing in the wounded. Slaves were +dispatched here and there for hot water, bandages, beds, bedding and +medicine. We all hastened to prepare a place for those who needed our +care and attention so sorely.</p> + +<p>“As the wounded were carried up the steps and past the neighbors, who +stood by watching for their own, Rebecca’s mother saw her youngest boy +lying unconscious with his face white as death and his hair matted with +blood that oozed from a wound in his neck. She almost fainted, but +Rebecca held her firm, saying, ‘Mother, now is the time to brace up and +take care of Newell that he may soon recover.’</p> + +<p>“Of the Yankees, one was killed outright and five badly wounded, while +the Southern boys sustained more serious injuries. Two were killed and +nine wounded. The house was immediately <span class='pagenum'><a name='pg_163' id='pg_163'>163</a></span>turned into a hospital, both +sides receiving the same attention.</p> + +<p>“The officers were very considerate but insisted upon having their +rights observed. When it was found that some foraging parties were in +the neighborhood, the captain sent an orderly to say that the Crudup +Plantation was well supplied. The Yankees, receiving the message, rode +over, took what was needed, food, cattle and horses, and went away.</p> + +<p>“Mr. Crudup spared his family the harrowing details of the raid, but +looked upon it as the fortune of war and thanked heaven that so much of +his property was safely buried.</p> + +<p>“When the store-rooms, linen-presses, blanket-trunks, and cellars were +found almost empty, the officer in charged looked surprised and wondered +aloud.</p> + +<p>“‘Most unusual to find so large an establishment short of all supplies, +and a retinue of servants to feed, to say nothing of the droves of +neighbors always coming in for supper.’</p> + +<p>“Mr. Crudup overheard the soliloquy and replied courteously.</p> + +<p>“‘Sir, do not forget that your company is not <span class='pagenum'><a name='pg_164' id='pg_164'>164</a></span>the first to stop here +and demand my hospitality. Naturally, we would lavish our all upon our +own men, you know.’</p> + +<p>“The officers were very polite and interesting young men, but Rebecca +and I had to go about the plantation very warily, for we never knew when +we might be spied upon. Imp had to be cared for daily, so we found +plenty of amusement in eluding the Yankees.</p> + +<p>“The youngest of the officers was a handsome boy and it was not long +before we became very friendly. When he learned that I was a Yankee and +how I happened to be South, he insisted upon my returning home at once, +saying that the neighborhood about Nashville soon would be an impossible +place to live.</p> + +<p>“When he found that my home was at Happy Hills he was greatly pleased.</p> + +<p>“‘Why, I have called at your home many times; my sister and yours are +school friends.’ He described his home and how his sister looked when +she came to visit us, and I faintly recalled seeing him with the others +who were some years my senior.</p> + +<p>“From that day he became the sworn ally of <span class='pagenum'><a name='pg_165' id='pg_165'>165</a></span>Rebecca and myself. He +understood there was a secret between us and often managed to screen us +when we left the house to creep to the cavern to look after Imp.</p> + +<p>“The wounded were getting along beautifully, and nothing exciting had +occurred for a fortnight. Foraging parties that stopped at the house and +found Yankees in possession moved on. It seemed more like a house-party.</p> + +<p>“But a change soon took place.</p> + +<p>“It was afterward learned that Ed Crudup escaped during the transfer of +the prisoners from the school-house to the army; he found out from some +of the Crudup slaves that the Yankees who shot his brother and +imprisoned himself were holding the premises until further orders from +Headquarters. So he raised a small company at Nashville and drilled them +for a few days, planning to surprise the men at the house and take them +prisoners.</p> + +<p>“One day, while some of the Yankees were out foraging, Ed and his men +came upon them suddenly and a skirmish ensued.</p> + +<p>“Ed was shot down and so was our young officer who was in command of the +foragers that <span class='pagenum'><a name='pg_166' id='pg_166'>166</a></span>day. The others fought like madmen, hand to hand, until +the men at the house, hearing the shots, ran out to their assistance.</p> + +<p>“The Southerners, outnumbered, took flight, but were pursued and +captured.</p> + +<p>“The two men, Ed and Vernon, lay still as death in the tall grass, and +no one missed them at the time of the pursuit.</p> + +<p>“Tim, however, on his way to water Imp, found his young master shot +through the heart, and the young Yankee unconscious. In his faithful +loyalty to the family, he decided to make a prisoner of the Yankee, so +he dragged Vernon over to the waterfall, carried him through the spray, +and laid him down on the mattress in the cave. The cold water which had +fallen upon Vernon’s face had partially revived him, and he moaned as if +in pain.</p> + +<p>“Tim lighted the lantern and examined him. He found a clean bullet hole +in his chest, but very little bleeding. He decided the best thing to do +would be to notify the master. So, after attending to Imp, he crept out +of the cave and went over to the remains of the young master. He managed +to carry him until he met some of the slaves, <span class='pagenum'><a name='pg_167' id='pg_167'>167</a></span>then had them improvise a +stretcher to carry the body to the house.</p> + +<p>“There was great sorrow in the household, and his death changed the +attitude of the Crudups toward the Yankee officers.</p> + +<p>“When it was found that young Vernon was missing, with no trace of him +anywhere, it was thought that he had been taken captive by a few of the +Confederates who got away. Rebecca and I felt dreadfully lonesome after +our friend was missing, and I wished, for the first time since I came +South, that I could go home.</p> + +<p>“Then one morning, Rebecca and I decided to go through the hole in the +live-oak tree and crawl to the cave to see Imp. We had not dared to +visit him for some days, as a Yankee sentry was stationed in the woods +by the waterfall.</p> + +<p>“Rebecca hid a small lantern under her cloak and we strolled +unconcernedly down the lane toward the dell. We looked carefully about +to make sure no spies were watching, and in another minute both of us +disappeared. We groped along until we reached the opening into the cave +and as we crawled out near Imp’s bed, he greeted us with a joyful +whinny. Rebecca ran over and <span class='pagenum'><a name='pg_168' id='pg_168'>168</a></span>placed her hand over his mouth, so she did +not see the apparition that stared at me from the mattress. Had I held +the lantern I would have dropped it. As it was, I almost dropped myself, +so frightened was I.</p> + +<p>“I clutched Rebecca’s arm and she turned about to see what ailed me. In +a second she recognized Vernon and ran over with the lantern. As he +could not tell us how he came there, but confided that Tim and Mr. +Crudup came daily to attend to him, we learned that they knew of his +whereabouts. Rebecca snapped her teeth close and her eyes blazed at the +thought of her father keeping this man a prisoner in such a suffocating +place.</p> + +<p>“While we were there, Tim and Mr. Crudup crept through the tunnel and +found us talking to the sick man.</p> + +<p>“‘Becky, better leave this business to us,’ suggested Mr. Crudup.</p> + +<p>“‘Father, how could you keep this man in such a place?’ cried Rebecca, +unguardedly.</p> + +<p>“‘Ssh!’ warned Tim, apprehensively.</p> + +<p>“Mr. Crudup told Rebecca how Tim had carried Vernon here to square +accounts for Ed’s death; how he had shown Tim the folly of the <span class='pagenum'><a name='pg_169' id='pg_169'>169</a></span>deed, +and that being done, it had to be made the best of, or disclose the +secret of the cave. Tim was so repentant that he agreed to remain in the +cave and nurse the prisoner.</p> + +<p>“After our discovery, Rebecca spent several hours with Vernon each day +reading or talking to him, while Imp began to show his fondness for +Vernon in every way a horse can.</p> + +<p>“Matters at the house became troublesome, for the larder was empty, and +there was no way to get at the great store-rooms dug out of the ground +without letting the Yankees into the secret.</p> + +<p>“Tim had been very meek since he found the serious blunder he had made +with Vernon, and he was eager to make amends in any way.</p> + +<p>“From the time that Tim heard of the threatened famine he was seldom +seen about the place. Now and then, one of the family would meet him +coming from the basement with his face and hands smeared with black, but +he never confided in anyone as to his work or whereabouts, and being an +aged favored man, Mr. Crudup never questioned him.</p> + +<p>“One morning the cook entered the room <span class='pagenum'><a name='pg_170' id='pg_170'>170</a></span>where the family was gathered +and announced: ‘There ain’t no aigs fer brekfus.’</p> + +<p>“‘Have plain ham or bacon,’ suggested Mrs. Crudup.</p> + +<p>“‘De ham an’ bacon done all et up, too,’ said cook.</p> + +<p>“Mrs. Crudup looked deeply concerned, but said: ‘Then we’ll have just +coffee and muffins.’</p> + +<p>“‘Done used all de flour yistiddy—not a smitch lef’.’</p> + +<p>“Here, indeed, was a quandary! Nothing to eat!</p> + +<p>“This was Tim’s opportunity.</p> + +<p>“He came in, bowed with old hat in his hand, and turned to the cook with +the request, ‘You please ’scuse yo-se’f fum de room whiles I conflab wid +de missus?’</p> + +<p>“Cook tossed her head and went out, followed by everyone except Mr. and +Mrs. Crudup.</p> + +<p>“Tim turned his hat about in his hands for a time and then looked up +smilingly and said: ‘I done squared myself wid you all fer makin’ dat +blunner ’bout the Yank. I done gone and dug a tunnel fru fum de coal +cellah to the fust storehouse <span class='pagenum'><a name='pg_171' id='pg_171'>171</a></span>on de fiel’. I fixed a doh to the cellar +an’ heah’s de key to de padlock.’</p> + +<p>“‘You what!’ exclaimed Mr. Crudup, in amazement.</p> + +<p>“‘Yas’m, das whad I did!’ said Tim.</p> + +<p>“Mr. Crudup threw back his head and laughed while he slapped Tim on the +back and said, ‘Tim, it will take more than a company of Yankees to +starve us out while you are about!’</p> + +<p>“But Mrs. Crudup took Tim’s hand and thanked him with tears in her eyes.</p> + +<p>“The supply question was easily solved after that. No one but Tim knew +where the tunnel was, for Mr. Crudup never allowed anyone to be about +when the old servant started his daily trip to the underground +store-rooms. Oftentimes, the officers expressed their wonder as to how +Southern cooks could manage the way they did, with so little on hand to +cook with. If they suspected the truth they never hinted at it.</p> + +<p>“The secret of Vernon’s prison had been kept, and several weeks after +the fight that disabled him, his company was ordered to join the main +army. The moment the place was entirely freed from the Yankees, Mr. +Crudup ordered one of <span class='pagenum'><a name='pg_172' id='pg_172'>172</a></span>the guest-rooms prepared, and, to the surprise of +Mrs. Crudup, told her he had a prisoner to bring in. That night Vernon +was blindfolded, placed upon a stretcher, and taken to the house.</p> + +<p>“As soon as he could sit up and come down upon the veranda, we wondered +what to do with him. He was our prisoner but we had no use for him. +Everyone liked him and disliked sending him to the dirty barrack-jail in +Nashville.</p> + +<p>“Suddenly Rebecca was inspired with a brilliant plan.</p> + +<p>“When the Yankee officers left the place they took the convalescent +prisoners with them. Now Rebecca suggested that negotiations be started +to exchange Vernon for Newell.</p> + +<p>“Mr. Crudup immediately sent Tim to Nashville to see if this could be +done, and friends there promised to attend to it without delay. +Consequently, in a few days, a number of soldiers from Nashville rode to +the Crudup house and carried away the prisoner, giving Mrs. Crudup the +slip of paper that stated that Newell’s freedom would be granted upon +the return of Vernon.</p> + +<p>“We all felt sorry about losing Vernon, but he <span class='pagenum'><a name='pg_173' id='pg_173'>173</a></span>promised to visit me at +Happy Hills when the war was over.”</p> + +<p>Aunt Selina stopped and the children began plying questions.</p> + +<p>“Aunt Selina, what became of Imp?” asked Dot.</p> + +<p>“We kept him in the cave for a few days more, and then, one morning, the +negroes all turned green with fear when they saw Rebecca riding Imp down +the road from the paddock, for they believed Imp to have been taken with +the other horses, and were sure that this was a ghost of the real Imp.” +And Aunt Selina laughed as she recalled Rebecca’s mad ride down the lane +and the high wall Imp vaulted before he stopped stock still in front of +the quaking, superstitious slaves.</p> + +<p>“Did Newell come back home?” asked Betty, whose sympathy was all for the +mother who lost one boy and then had the other one taken prisoner.</p> + +<p>“We received word of his transfer from the Yankee army to his own. He +went into active service again and fought all through the rest of the +war. He won many honors for bravery before the Confederate Army was +disbanded.”</p> + +<p>“Do you know what became of him afterwards?” <span class='pagenum'><a name='pg_174' id='pg_174'>174</a></span>asked Don, interested in +such a fighter.</p> + +<p>“He married and settled out West upon a large ranch. Now and then +Rebecca’s daughter has a letter from him, giving news of his children or +the grandchildren.”</p> + +<p>“Oh, then, Rebecca married too. Did you know who it was?” asked several +curious voices.</p> + +<p>“Yes,” smiled Aunt Selina. “She married the very beau she had selected +for me.”</p> + +<p>“I am so anxious to know if that fine old house is still there and if we +could find the cave and underground store-rooms if we ever went there?” +asked Norma.</p> + +<p>“No, dear; the beautiful old mansion was entirely destroyed by fire +started from a shell during the time the battle line closed about +Nashville. I was not there at the time, but Rebecca wrote and told me of +the dreadful scenes. Almost every family for miles about was left +homeless and destitute. The Pines, Rebecca’s home, stood as long as any +and sheltered every homeless Southerner round about.”</p> + +<p>“I guess Rebecca liked to remember that, didn’t she?” said Ruth.</p> + +<p>“Yes, indeed, Fluff.”</p> + +<p><span class='pagenum'><a name='pg_175' id='pg_175'>175</a></span>“Aunt Selina, you didn’t tell us what became of Imp and Rebecca that +day she rode up to the house,” reminded Ned.</p> + +<p>“Rebecca laughed at the servants’ fear and rode Imp over to the steps of +the piazza. We stood watching her as she jumped off and led Imp right up +to the rail. ‘Lady,’ said she to me, ‘this horse just told me that he +was going North on a little visit. As there is no one here but you who +can take him there, I believe he intends taking you home.’ Although +Rebecca’s eyes filled with tears and her voice trembled, we all laughed +and made a great fuss over Imp.</p> + +<p>“Later, she confided to me that she had entrusted Vernon with the +request to secure a passport for Selina Talmage and her horse, Imp, +going home to Happy Hills, Pennsylvania. The passport came that day in a +letter for Rebecca explaining how I was to go and to whom I was to +entrust myself. A note for me was inclosed in the letter, and I read it +with a smile. Vernon said he would demand payment for the favor given me +as soon as he reached Happy Hills. Rebecca teased me about that note and +said that she knew what the favor would be, for Vernon was in love <span class='pagenum'><a name='pg_176' id='pg_176'>176</a></span>with +me. I pooh-poohed the suggestion but felt very glad to pack my clothes +for home. In a few days word came that I was to ride to a certain town +where an escort would meet me and conduct me to the nearest railroad. +And so Imp and I went home.”</p> + +<p>“And now tell us, Aunt Selina, did Vernon come home and ask that favor?” +wondered Norma, interested in a love-story.</p> + +<p>“Oh, yes! He had leave of absence for several months to fully recover +from the wound that had partially punctured a lung. He used to ride over +to Happy Hills every day, and I tell you we missed him when he returned +to his regiment.”</p> + +<p>“Where is he now, Aunt Selina?” asked Ruth.</p> + +<p>“Gone—his name is carved on the monument at Washington for bravery in +the Battle of Bull Run,” whispered Aunt Selina.</p> + +<p>“Oh, oh, Aunt Selina! Is <i>he</i> the same one you told me about last +spring?” gasped Ruth.</p> + +<p>Aunt Selina dabbed her tear-moistened eyes and tried to smile as she +said, “The same, Honey.”</p> + +<p>“What’s that—tell us, Aunt Selina; we never heard about it,” cried +several children.</p> + +<p>“Well, Vernon came back North about a year <span class='pagenum'><a name='pg_177' id='pg_177'>177</a></span>after his leave of absence +expired with important letters for a general in Philadelphia. After +delivering the letters he was to have two days’ leave in which to go +home and see his folks. He rode over to our house one evening and asked +my father and mother if he might pay court to me when the war was over. +My parents were delighted, for they knew him and liked him. Vernon and I +walked out to the very summer house that Ruth was in when she thought of +the farm plan, and there he told me what he had said to my parents. He +would not bind me, for he said he might never come back. But I said it +would make no difference to me—if he never returned I would wait just +the same. We exchanged rings—one which had been given me for my +birthday and one he had received on his twenty-first birthday. When he +left that night mother gave him a paper, but I never knew what was in it +until later. When news of his bravery and death came home, the letter +contained a ring and a small daguerreotype picture of me. Then mother +said he had asked for it the night he went away.”</p> + +<p>“Oh, Aunt Selina, how lovely of you!” cried <span class='pagenum'><a name='pg_178' id='pg_178'>178</a></span>several little girls as +they crowded about the old lady and hugged her.</p> + +<p>“Rebecca did not return to school again, but as soon as the war was over +we wrote and invited Mr. and Mrs. Crudup to bring Rebecca North to visit +us. The elders were too heart-sore to come to a country they blamed for +all their losses, but Rebecca came and stayed a long time.”</p> + +<hr class='major' /> +<div style='margin: auto; text-align: center; padding-top: 1em; padding-bottom: 1em'> +<a name='BEGINNING_TO_SPELL_SUCCESS_4031' id='BEGINNING_TO_SPELL_SUCCESS_4031'></a> +<h2>CHAPTER X</h2> +<h3>BEGINNING TO SPELL SUCCESS</h3> +</div> + +<p>Another nest of Blue Birds had been formed under Mrs. Catlin’s +supervision, and these little girls were chosen to act as agents to +secure subscriptions for the forthcoming magazine. They were also +permitted to donate short stories or pictures to the magazine and, being +so young a branch of the first Nest, felt this was a special privilege.</p> + +<p>Aunt Selina had written her interesting Civil War story and had it ready +for Uncle Ben, but Mrs. Catlin was still busy trying to arrange her +chapters so they would make a good serial.</p> + +<p>The Blue Birds had written their pages over and over, and finally Mrs. +Talmage said they would lose all sense in the telling if they kept on +rewriting. So the pages were taken as they were and corrected by Uncle +Ben.</p> + +<p>As the various short articles came in to the Publishing House, Mrs. +Talmage took charge <span class='pagenum'><a name='pg_180' id='pg_180'>180</a></span>of them. Many a pleased surprise she had as she +read the different articles submitted by the boys, and the suggestions +and hints sent in by the girls.</p> + +<p>The Bobolinks spent every afternoon at their Publishing House, setting +type, trying to run machines, and find out various things about +business. The two young men promised by Uncle Ben were not expected +until actual work on the magazine began.</p> + +<p>So much talk had been heard at various dinner-tables in Oakdale, that +fathers manifested enough curiosity in the work to ask for an invitation +to the Publishing House. The habit of “dropping in to watch the boys” +grew to be regular meetings, and the men enjoyed the social evenings as +much as the boys did. Naturally, the work did not lose any of its value +by the suggestions and ideas given by the older, experienced business +men, but the Blue Birds grew envious over the evident interest shown in +the Bobolinks while they were never about.</p> + +<p>One afternoon the Blue Birds gathered about Mrs. Talmage with a +complaint.</p> + +<p>“Mother Wings, those Bobolinks will be ’way <span class='pagenum'><a name='pg_181' id='pg_181'>181</a></span>ahead of us in this fun, +unless you get the mothers to meet once in a while to suggest things for +us to do,” said Ruth, dolefully.</p> + +<p>“And from something I heard Don tell Mete, those fathers have promised +to help the Bobolinks do the <i>work</i>, too!” broke in Dot Starr.</p> + +<p>“Since Ned has moved his printing stuff to the carriage house his den is +vacant—we might use that for our Winter Nest, until we find something +better,” suggested Mrs. Starr, after thinking seriously of what had just +been said.</p> + +<p>“That will be all right, but it won’t boost our work like the boys are +being boosted,” fretted Norma.</p> + +<p>“I shall have to think of it,” replied Mrs. Talmage, deeply concerned +over the discontent of the Blue Birds; but Aunt Selina, who had been a +silent listener of the complaint, spoke.</p> + +<p>“Are those Bobolinks and the men actually helping the success of the +magazine?”</p> + +<p>“No, not that we can see; they just use paper and fool away every +evening running those machines,” snapped Dot, who generally heard all +the doings from her brothers.</p> + +<p>“Then they are not getting ahead so fast with <span class='pagenum'><a name='pg_182' id='pg_182'>182</a></span>success as you seem to +think,” replied Aunt Selina, calmly. “The principal things in making a +magazine pay are its circulation and the advertising contracts. If these +are not being thought of and tried, the Bobolinks are wasting their +precious time.”</p> + +<p>“But they are so well acquainted with the machines that they say they +can print anything!” said Dot.</p> + +<p>“All right, suppose we take them at their word and ask them to give us +proof of some circulars,” laughed Mrs. Talmage.</p> + +<p>“I suppose they would, but where would we use them?” asked Norma.</p> + +<p>“This is what I would suggest—we’ll play the game of the ‘Tortoise and +the Hare,’ and they’ll be left asleep at their work while we win the +race,” declared Aunt Selina.</p> + +<p>The Blue Birds gathered closer to Aunt Selina’s chair, and she continued +her instruction.</p> + +<p>“We’ll have Mother Wings write a letter and ask Mr. Wells to bring down +that Institution Book he promised us, as we wish to use it at once. Then +we’ll count up the number of institutions where we could send a magazine +and circular. <span class='pagenum'><a name='pg_183' id='pg_183'>183</a></span>Some of these will subscribe most likely, while the +circular letter will reach the hands of some of the wealthy patrons of +the Homes. We’ll compose a letter and order those Bobolinks to print ten +thousand for us. I guess that will keep them busy for a time and at the +same time make them wonder what <i>we</i> are doing without their knowledge +or consent.”</p> + +<p>“Shall we mail the letters when they are printed?” asked Betty.</p> + +<p>“No, I thought we could address large-sized envelopes with the names of +the institutions and as soon as the magazines are printed we can place a +letter and a magazine in each envelope. Of course, we inclose a +subscription blank, too; this work of folding and sealing the letters +and magazines is where we will invite the mothers to help. After that we +can send out some samples to other folks, but we will make the Bobolinks +wonder why the mothers are here so often.”</p> + +<p>The Blue Birds laughed and thought the plan very good, and Dot Starr +added, “We’re surely glad you’re here, Aunt Selina.”</p> + +<p>“And we will keep all of our papers and work <span class='pagenum'><a name='pg_184' id='pg_184'>184</a></span>in the den and no one will +see what is being done,” added Mrs. Talmage.</p> + +<p>“You must keep the key, Mother Wings,” advised Ruth.</p> + +<p>The letter for Mr. Wells was written without delay, for Norma was to +hand it to her father that evening. After this was finished the +important work of composing a letter for folks who would receive the +magazine was started.</p> + +<p>This letter provoked many suggestions and criticisms, but finally was +concluded and read aloud to the children, who declared it just right.</p> + +<p>“But we haven’t a bit of paper for the printing,” exclaimed Ruth.</p> + +<p>“Maybe Aunt Selina and I can go to the paper mills in the morning and +see if they have any small lot that will do,” suggested Mrs. Talmage.</p> + +<p>This offer cheered the Blue Birds again, as a few hours’ delay would not +matter very much.</p> + +<p>“Now, that’s done, what next?” asked Dot.</p> + +<p>“Next thing is to say ‘good-afternoon’ and go home,” laughed Mrs. +Talmage, looking at her watch.</p> + +<p>“Oh, dear, mother, it cannot be dinner-time,” said Ruth.</p> + +<p><span class='pagenum'><a name='pg_185' id='pg_185'>185</a></span>“It is almost six o’clock, and I have some matters to look after, +dear,” returned her mother.</p> + +<p>“Well, we can invite our mothers to join us, anyway, can’t we, Mrs. +Talmage?” said May.</p> + +<p>“Yes, but I wouldn’t mention the fact that we feel that we must have +them to enable us to get ahead of the Bobolinks, for your fathers will +hear of it and plan some way to win out in spite of us,” advised the +astute Aunt Selina.</p> + +<p>“We won’t! We’ll just say that as long as the boys have their fathers +with them, we girls are going to invite our mothers,” explained Norma, +while the others nodded approval.</p> + +<p>“May we come to-night?” asked Betty.</p> + +<p>“How about school lessons?” asked Mrs. Talmage.</p> + +<p>“And I want to revise several parts of my story to-night, besides the +paper mills have not yet been visited, you know,” objected Aunt Selina.</p> + +<p>“Girls, we’d better wait until to-morrow; that’s Friday and we won’t +have to go to bed so early as other evenings,” suggested Ruth.</p> + +<p>“All right, we’ll meet in the den to-morrow afternoon and report how +many mothers will be here,” consented Dot.</p> + +<p><span class='pagenum'><a name='pg_186' id='pg_186'>186</a></span>“And I’ll have Mrs. Catlin here in the evening,” added Mrs. Talmage.</p> + +<p>“Mother Wings, if we use that old room of Ned’s, why couldn’t we call it +our Winter Nest? We can move in our cherry-tree Nest furniture when it +grows colder and make the room look real comfy,” said Ruth.</p> + +<p>The other Blue Birds approved of the suggestion and Mrs. Talmage said +she had no objection to having the Winter Nest in the den, so it was +decided then and there.</p> + +<p>Ruth accompanied her friends to the steps and as they stood vainly +wishing there were several extra hours to add to an afternoon, Dot saw +Don jump out of the wide-open door of the Publishing House and laugh +derisively at someone inside.</p> + +<p>“Now I wonder what that boy is up to?” she said.</p> + +<p>“Oh, say, wouldn’t it be fun to creep in back of the carriage house and +peep in at the windows to watch the boys!” suggested Edith.</p> + +<p>“I know a better way,” answered Ruth. “We will ask Ike to let us go up +in the loft from the <span class='pagenum'><a name='pg_187' id='pg_187'>187</a></span>small room and we can look down through the wide +chinks of the floor.”</p> + +<p>“Oh, do let’s!” cried the Blue Birds, as they hurried back of the house +to steal noiselessly over to the garage.</p> + +<p>Ike understood the rivalry growing between them, and decided to be +perfectly impartial, so he unlocked the door of the small room where the +stairs led to a loft over the Publishing House.</p> + +<p>The Bobolinks were making such a noise that they never heard the +creaking of the floor overhead, or the giggles of the girls as they +glued their eyes to the crevices between the boards.</p> + +<p>“Now it’s Tuck’s turn to be an advertising solicitor!” called Don, who +evidently had been discharged from some make-believe service when he was +so unexpectedly put out of the door.</p> + +<p>“Ah, I’d never make a solicitor of any kind,” grumbled Tuck Stevens.</p> + +<p>“But you’ve got to play the game as we all promised,” coaxed some of the +boys.</p> + +<p>“I’ll be the man you want to see,” persuaded Jinks.</p> + +<p>“Come on, Tuck. We’ll have to go home pretty soon, so get busy,” +commanded Ned.</p> + +<p><span class='pagenum'><a name='pg_188' id='pg_188'>188</a></span>The girls began to understand that the Bobolinks were not playing, but +practicing their duty for the future, so they silently looked at each +other and nodded understandingly.</p> + +<p>“Here goes, then,” ventured Tuck, bravely.</p> + +<p>He strutted across the floor toward the office and met one of the boys +stationed there.</p> + +<p>“Good-morning, sir; do you wish to see anyone?” asked the impromptu +clerk.</p> + +<p>“I have an appointment with Mr. Slamhim,” quivered Tuck, as if the visit +was an actual affair.</p> + +<p>The boys tittered with glee as Tuck turned red and white.</p> + +<p>“Your name, please?” asked the polite clerk.</p> + +<p>“Reuben Stevens,” replied Tuck, in a whisper.</p> + +<p>“Ha! the name’ll queer you, Tuck!” laughed Don, behind his chum’s back, +but the older boys hushed Don.</p> + +<p>The clerk rapped upon the office door and a voice said, “Come in.”</p> + +<p>“Reuben Stevens to see you, sir. He has an appointment.”</p> + +<p>“Show him in,” said the voice which Ruth recognized as a disguised bass +of Ned’s.</p> + +<p><span class='pagenum'><a name='pg_189' id='pg_189'>189</a></span>Tuck walked to the office and then turned about and asked the other +boys: “Now, what shall I say—I’ve forgotten.”</p> + +<p>Immediately there was a loud chorus of laughter, and a scuffle and Tuck +was ousted in the same manner that Don had been.</p> + +<p>“Didn’t I say that name would spoil you?” teased Don.</p> + +<p>“Next!” called one of the boys who had a list of names which he marked +down “good, indifferent, bad.”</p> + +<p>The boy whose turn came next carried off the rehearsal as if he had been +a solicitor all of his short life. The other boys cheered his efforts +and even the Blue Birds were tempted to clap their hands.</p> + +<p>“Well, Bobolinks, I think this will do for to-day; we have drilled three +of the boys after the manner shown us last night, but Don and Tuck seem +to be hopeless cases,” said Ned.</p> + +<p>“I’ll practice it at home on Dot, and show you what I can do to-morrow,” +eagerly promised Don.</p> + +<p>Dot looked up at her friends when she heard this and shook her head +energetically.</p> + +<p>The Bobolinks carefully covered the machines <span class='pagenum'><a name='pg_190' id='pg_190'>190</a></span>with the canvas covers and +started to go out. At the same time the girls in the loft crept across +the floor toward the steps. The boys were not making so much noise as +when the Blue Birds went up in the loft, and Meredith stood surprised +when he heard something moving over his head.</p> + +<p>“Where’s Ike?” he whispered to Ned.</p> + +<p>“Just outside the door—why?” replied Ned.</p> + +<p>“Don’t you hear those footsteps?”</p> + +<p>“What—where? Yes, of course!” exclaimed Ned.</p> + +<p>Simon was seen crossing the lawn and Ike stood outside with the boys, so +who could be upstairs?</p> + +<p>Meantime, Ruth overheard Meredith’s exclamation and hurried the girls +down and out, and pushed them inside the garage before any of the boys +could persuade Ike that someone was upstairs. Finally he allowed them to +drag him to the small carriage room and ascend the steps.</p> + +<p>The Blue Birds lay hidden in the bottom of the automobile and almost +suffocated trying to keep from laughing outright at the way the +Bobolinks were hoodwinked.</p> + +<p>Every one of the boys trudged up the steps, but found the loft empty. As +soon as they were <span class='pagenum'><a name='pg_191' id='pg_191'>191</a></span>out of sight in the small room, the girls jumped out +of the car and ran madly for the shrubbery which sheltered the kitchen +gardens from the lawns. Here, they could creep toward home without being +seen from the barns.</p> + +<p>Ike looked carefully about the loft but hid a smile when his back was +turned.</p> + +<p>“There, I told you no one was here!” he said.</p> + +<p>“Well, I don’t care, I <i>heard</i> them!” retorted Ned.</p> + +<p>“Maybe it was rats!” ventured Ike.</p> + +<p>“No, sir, you said that you were never pestered with rats; besides, this +noise was just like walking would sound,” insisted Ned.</p> + +<p>Ike kept the boys upstairs arguing for a sufficient time to permit the +Blue Birds to get out of the way, then he started down.</p> + +<p>“Well, I’ll keep the door locked and the key in my room,” promised Ike, +as the boys waited for him to lock up.</p> + +<p>“If it was a tramp, Ned, he couldn’t move our machinery, so what’s the +use bothering?” said Don.</p> + +<p>“He could steal our type and other things, and sell them,” grumbled Ned, +still unassured.</p> + +<p><span class='pagenum'><a name='pg_192' id='pg_192'>192</a></span>Ruth was walking slowly up from the main gates when Ned reached the +veranda. She was stooping over a chrysanthemum blossom to note its +beautiful coloring when Ned whistled to attract her attention.</p> + +<p>“Better hurry in and wash up for dinner—it’s almost seven, and mother +doesn’t like dinner delayed, you know,” Ned said, as Ruth skipped up +smilingly.</p> + +<p>Not a word was said, and the Bobolinks never found out how the Blue +Birds watched them practice their future business tactics.</p> + +<p>The next morning Mrs. Talmage and Aunt Selina had Ike drive them to the +paper mills.</p> + +<p>Mrs. Talmage explained her errand and selected some samples of +stationery paper. The manager then showed them over the mills and Aunt +Selina whispered aside to Mrs. Talmage: “What an interesting article +this work would make.”</p> + +<p>“Indeed, yes!” replied Mrs. Talmage, turning to the manager to tell him +of the new venture of the Blue Birds and ask him to write up a story +about the manufacture of paper.</p> + +<p>“That I will! I like to write, and often, when <span class='pagenum'><a name='pg_193' id='pg_193'>193</a></span>I’m tired or worried, I +sit down to write a funny sketch. I have sold a number of them to Sunday +papers,” was the surprising reply.</p> + +<p>The two ladies were escorted to the manager’s office and chairs were +placed for them while a price list was prepared for the convenience of +the Blue Birds.</p> + +<p>This done, the manager sat back in his office chair.</p> + +<p>“Have the children planned any campaign for securing circulation?” he +asked.</p> + +<p>“Why, no, Mr. White, we intended talking that matter over with the +mothers to-night. We are all so inexperienced in this undertaking that I +suppose a business man would laugh at our way of putting ‘the cart +before the horse,’ as the saying is,” laughed Mrs. Talmage.</p> + +<p>“The fact is, this whole proposition is so sudden and different from +anything the children had dreamed of!” added Aunt Selina, in defence of +their mistakes.</p> + +<p>“I know! When I heard of the daring of the children I certainly admired +their spunk, but I couldn’t help shaking my head, too, for it is no +<span class='pagenum'><a name='pg_194' id='pg_194'>194</a></span>joke to start a real business, as they are doing,” said Mr. White, +seriously.</p> + +<p>“Well, we will need the help of all of our friends,” smiled Mrs. +Talmage.</p> + +<p>“You’ll have it, too. Why, everybody in Oakdale felt the Blue Birds’ +work last summer was wonderful; now, this new venture will have the +support of all of the townsfolks.”</p> + +<p>“It is very encouraging to hear you speak so, and if you think of any +way to boom our circulation, I wish you would come over some evening and +tell us all about it,” replied Mrs. Talmage.</p> + +<p>Suddenly the manager sat upright and looked toward the book-shelves, +which contained rows of business-like looking reference books.</p> + +<p>“I believe we have the idea!” exclaimed he, jumping up and going over to +the shelves to take down a heavy volume.</p> + +<p>“This book contains all the names and addresses of stationery stores in +the United States and Canada. It is only a year old, so most of these +addresses will be up-to-date. We use it for mailing samples of our +paper, but I have an idea that you would get plenty of subscriptions and +make willing agents of these storekeepers. If <span class='pagenum'><a name='pg_195' id='pg_195'>195</a></span>you send a sample of your +magazine and give them a liberal commission there is no reason why these +firms would refuse to act as agents. Anyway, it would do no harm to try +out the suggestion,” said Mr. White.</p> + +<p>“Why, Mr. White, do you know that you are a direct answer to my prayer!” +cried Aunt Selina.</p> + +<p>“I am grateful to be favored,” laughed Mr. White, “but it must be your +faith that brought the answer.”</p> + +<p>“Well, to tell the truth,” continued Aunt Selina, “I am so very anxious +to have this movement of the children a fine success that I have been +praying in season and out for the way to open that we might be blessed +in this work. All we needed for the next step was a hint for +circulation.”</p> + +<p>“And I’ll confide a secret, too,” said Mrs. Talmage, leaning over toward +the desk. “The boys have had their fathers meet with them every evening, +advising and drilling them in ways and means to succeed, while my girls +have had to do the best they can with Aunt Selina and me. This book will +boost us far ahead of the Bobolinks and <span class='pagenum'><a name='pg_196' id='pg_196'>196</a></span>give the men who are advising a +fine surprise.”</p> + +<p>Mr. White laughed as he understood the rivalry between the two factions, +and promised to send his wife to the meetings of the mothers to convey +any advice or suggestions he might think of.</p> + +<p>“Oh, splendid! We expect to hold our first meeting at our house +to-night. Do bring her over!” cried Mrs. Talmage.</p> + +<p>As the three were going out to the automobile, Mr. White ventured a +remark.</p> + +<p>“I have been told that the paper for the sample issue was to be sent +over when you wished it. Now, I thought of making an advertising +proposition to the corporation at their next meeting. If the magazine +would mention that all the paper used by them for letters, circulars and +magazines was furnished by the Oakdale Mills, it would be a good +exchange if the company donated the paper needed for the first year’s +work.”</p> + +<p>The ladies stood amazed at the generous idea.</p> + +<p>“Every paper mill in the country will try to place a contract with the +children as soon as news of this plan is out. Now, the Oakdale Mills can +secure its contract for future years by being <span class='pagenum'><a name='pg_197' id='pg_197'>197</a></span>wide-awake for the +present. It is a strictly business proposition, you see,” explained Mr. +White.</p> + +<p>“It may seem so to you, but I know that it is a proposition that no +other firm would offer, and we are deeply grateful for your interest,” +replied Mrs. Talmage, sagaciously.</p> + +<p>“I’ll suggest it, and you find out if the magazine is willing to give us +the mention I hinted at,” said Mr. White.</p> + +<p>Handing the huge book of addresses to Ike, Mrs. Talmage shook hands with +Mr. White and reminded him to bring his wife to the meeting.</p> + +<p>“Well! that was the best hour’s business yet!” exclaimed Aunt Selina, as +the car sped away.</p> + +<p>“Wonderful, isn’t it? I hope everything will glide along as nicely as it +has up to the present,” said Mrs. Talmage.</p> + +<p>Being Friday, school closed an hour earlier than usual. The moment the +Blue Birds could catch their hats from the pegs in the cloak-rooms, they +ran out to join Ruth, who was hopping from one foot to the other in a +vain effort to calm her impatience.</p> + +<p>“Hurry, girls! Don’t you know Mother Wings went to the mills this +morning for samples of <span class='pagenum'><a name='pg_198' id='pg_198'>198</a></span>paper?” called one to the other as they ran up +to Ruth.</p> + +<p>It was not long thereafter that seven eager little girls crowded about +Mrs. Talmage on the veranda to hear the news.</p> + +<p>“I’ll show you the samples, but we will wait for the mothers’ opinion +to-night. But this great secret I will give to you now!” and, forthwith, +Mrs. Talmage told the Blue Birds all about Mr. White’s interest and +ideas, and showed them the precious volume loaned them.</p> + +<hr class='major' /> +<div style='margin: auto; text-align: center; padding-top: 1em; padding-bottom: 1em'> +<a name='THE_WINTER_NEST_COUNCIL_4518' id='THE_WINTER_NEST_COUNCIL_4518'></a> +<h2>CHAPTER XI</h2> +<h3>THE WINTER NEST COUNCIL</h3> +</div> + +<p>Before eight o’clock that night the Blue Birds and their mothers were +assembled in the living-room ready for a council. The children had not +seen the den for a few days and stared in delight as they filed into the +room. Mrs. Talmage had purposely had all meet together before mentioning +that they might as well spend the evening in the Winter Nest.</p> + +<p>“Why, Mother Wings, when <i>did</i> you fix this up?” asked Ruth, as much +surprised as the others.</p> + +<p>Mrs. Talmage smiled, but said nothing.</p> + +<p>The guests looked about and admired the unique charm of the Blue Bird +quarters for the winter, and Betty ventured the question: “What has +become of our other chairs?”</p> + +<p>The room had all been renovated. The windows were hung with snow-flake +madras, and the floor covered with heavy knotted white rag carpet that +looked like snow freshly packed. The <span class='pagenum'><a name='pg_200' id='pg_200'>200</a></span>walls had been repapered with a +sparkling white paper which glistened like ice in the electric light. +From the wainscoting to the picture rail branches of dark green spruce +and pine were fastened and upon these green needles were caught flakes +of make-believe snow—made of white cotton-batting with diamond dust +powdered on it. The furniture of the summer Nest had been brought in +late that afternoon and the slip covers, which had been made for it, +were slipped over until the thick white covers hid the familiar chairs +under the novelty cloth that looked like snow-drifts. The whole effect +was so beautiful that the children danced about with joy.</p> + +<p>“Well, we must get at our work,” reminded Aunt Selina, after enough +chairs had been brought in for all.</p> + +<p>“I walked over with Mr. Wells and he was quite surprised to find I was +coming to the house,” said Mrs. Wells, laughingly.</p> + +<p>“I never said a word to Mr. Talmage or his brother,” confided Mrs. +Talmage, smiling at the secret.</p> + +<p>“Mr. Stevens knows I am at this council with <span class='pagenum'><a name='pg_201' id='pg_201'>201</a></span>Betty, but he hasn’t the +faintest idea for what,” admitted Mrs. Stevens.</p> + +<p>And so it was that not one of the men who had formed the habit of +dropping in to help the Bobolinks could imagine what their wives were +doing with the Blue Birds.</p> + +<p>If the inmates of the Winter Nest that night could have seen the +questioning faces of the boys and men when it was known that a meeting +of mothers was being held, they would have felt the balm of satisfaction +applied to wounded pride.</p> + +<p>Mrs. Talmage showed the sample of paper and, after a discussion of merit +and price, a selection was made of an artistic grey paper to be printed +in blue—the colors of the Blue Birds.</p> + +<p>“We must have envelopes to match, mother,” said Ruth.</p> + +<p>“I never thought of that, but it is so!” admitted Mrs. Talmage.</p> + +<p>“I know the address of a firm where Mr. Wells has all of his +‘made-to-order’ envelopes made—we will get them to do it,” suggested +Mrs. Wells.</p> + +<p>“What a relief to hear that offer!” sighed Mrs. Talmage. “I was just +wondering where I could find anyone who would make them for us.”</p> + +<p><span class='pagenum'><a name='pg_202' id='pg_202'>202</a></span>“It also goes to prove that many heads gathered to discuss Blue Bird +affairs are better than one, and I suggest that we meet at least once a +week,” suggested Aunt Selina.</p> + +<p>So it was then and there agreed that the mothers would come regularly to +hold a council in the Winter Nest with the Blue Birds.</p> + +<p>“Just as soon as the envelopes come back we can begin to address from +mother’s big book, can’t we?” asked Norma.</p> + +<p>“If there’s only one book, how can all of this crowd read it at the same +time and then write down the names?” demanded Dot Starr.</p> + +<p>“Why, we won’t have to do that work,” added Mrs. Wells. “There’s a firm +in the city that addresses envelopes for a dollar a thousand.”</p> + +<p>“Another fine hint! I’m sure I’d rather pay my share than risk Dot’s +ruining dozens of envelopes with ink,” laughed Mrs. Starr, patting Dot +on the hand.</p> + +<p>“We wouldn’t want to write ’em in here, because the snow would freeze +our fingers so the ink would spatter all over,” said Dot, ludicrously.</p> + +<p>“Yes, I suppose these lovely covers would be speckled black by the time +the Blue Birds completed, <span class='pagenum'><a name='pg_203' id='pg_203'>203</a></span>say, fifty thousand addresses,” laughed Aunt +Selina.</p> + +<p>“I would vote against Edith’s writing—I fear the person would never get +the letter—it would go straight to the Dead Letter Office,” said Mrs. +Wilson, pulling Edith’s curls.</p> + +<p>As everyone knew how Edith hated writing and never could write a legible +hand, a laugh went up, in which Edith joined heartily.</p> + +<p>So the Blue Birds were spared the arduous task of copying thousands of +names.</p> + +<p>“I have heard that these large addressing bureaus prefer to employ +children—I wonder why?”</p> + +<p>“Because children just finishing grammar school are more careful in +forming letters and can write much better than adults. Besides, they +have to pay children but a third that an adult would demand for his +labor,” explained Mrs. Wells.</p> + +<p>“Why, isn’t that just as bad as working children in a factory?” +questioned Miss Selina.</p> + +<p>“The rooms that I visited are just as bad. The girls are crowded close +together in a wretchedly lighted room without ventilation, and they sit +writing all day with their poor backs bent double <span class='pagenum'><a name='pg_204' id='pg_204'>204</a></span>and fingers grown +crooked from habit,” said Mrs. Wells.</p> + +<p>“Goodness! Can’t we do something to stop it?” cried Mrs. Starr.</p> + +<p>“They have to have the money for home needs, and it isn’t quite as bad, +you know, as working all day in cold water to your knees, opening +oysters at a cent a hundred.”</p> + +<p>“Oh, dear, dear! don’t tell me any more,” half wept Aunt Selina. “I feel +like a criminal to think I lost all of these years with money piling up +in the bank that could have helped hundreds of these little workers. +Let’s get busy this minute!”</p> + +<p>“It would be nice to take all these little workers to the country, +wouldn’t it?” queried Mrs. Talmage.</p> + +<p>“Yes, yes! But, Mary, don’t delay me longer in this work—I have so many +years to make up, and so little time to do it in,” mourned Aunt Selina.</p> + +<p>“All right! Now that is settled—we hire a firm to do the addressing, +and Mrs. Wells will see to the envelopes. What next?” said Mrs. Talmage.</p> + +<p><span class='pagenum'><a name='pg_205' id='pg_205'>205</a></span>“Oh, Mother Wings, don’t forget about that book—you know?” reminded +Ruth.</p> + +<p>“Oh, of course! One of our great secrets! Here is a volume loaned us by +Mr. White, of the Oakdale Paper Mills, and it has the addresses of all +the stationers in the country,” explained Mrs. Talmage. “He suggested +that we send a sample magazine to each, with a letter stating agents’ +commissions and price of subscription.”</p> + +<p>“And that reminds me—the book you wrote for was given me to bring in +to-night, and I left it out in the hall,” said Mrs. Wells, turning to +Frances and asking her to get it.</p> + +<p>The institution book was brought in, and its pages eagerly scanned.</p> + +<p>“My! what a lot of poor children there are!” said Dot sympathetically.</p> + +<p>“It doesn’t seem possible, does it?” said Mrs. Starr, turning to the +others.</p> + +<p>“We never realize what needs there are for help until we face something +of this sort,” said Mrs. Talmage, turning page after page. Suddenly she +stopped.</p> + +<p>“Has anyone here an idea of how many dependent <span class='pagenum'><a name='pg_206' id='pg_206'>206</a></span>little ones there are in +the United States alone?”</p> + +<p>Heads were silently shaken, and Mrs. Talmage continued:</p> + +<p>“There are 87,000 children’s institutions—homes, hospitals, asylums, +and homes for cripples that are mostly supported by gifts, philanthropy, +or legacies. About one-fourth of these are partially controlled by the +state. The number of inmates in these institutions amounts to 1,740,520 +children. Think of it! Practically a million and three-quarters! How +terrible!” And Mrs. Talmage had to find her handkerchief to dry her eyes +at the picture of so many, many dear little ones bereft of home and +mother-love.</p> + +<p>“Mary, Mary, I shall have to run away from here if you keep on!” cried +Aunt Selina.</p> + +<p>“But, Aunty, it is not your fault, and you must not feel this way, +especially as you are doing so much to improve the conditions,” said +Mrs. Talmage.</p> + +<p>“Well, mother, I should say that if there are 87,000 addresses to send +letters to, we’d better begin that letter now, and not spoil Flutey’s +pleasure <span class='pagenum'><a name='pg_207' id='pg_207'>207</a></span>by thinking of all the things she never did,” advised Ruth, +very sensibly.</p> + +<p>“Yes, that letter is very important—let us compose it,” said Aunt +Selina.</p> + +<p>After an hour of writing and rewriting, Mrs. Talmage read aloud the +result of their labor:</p> + +<p>“Dear Friend:</p> + +<p>“The Blue Birds of Oakdale have started a philanthropic work which must +appeal to everyone who is willing to help our poor children. A magazine +is being published, a sample of which is being sent you, that will +contain instructive, helpful, interesting articles.</p> + +<p>“Perhaps you know that there are 87,000 benevolent institutions in this +country filled with over a million and a half poor children, to whom +this magazine will prove a welcome visitor. The cost of producing this +magazine is partially paid for by donations, and the profit of the work +is all devoted to a settlement in the country where the city children +can spend the summer.</p> + +<p>“Inclosed find a subscription blank. Make all checks payable to ‘Blue +Birds of Happy Times Nest.’”</p> + +<p>“Wish we had time to run over to the Bobolinks <span class='pagenum'><a name='pg_208' id='pg_208'>208</a></span>and order fifty thousand +of these letters,” suggested Dot.</p> + +<p>“Oh, wouldn’t it be fun to see their faces!” laughed Norma.</p> + +<p>“Maybe we will have time—it is only five minutes to nine,” announced +Mrs. Talmage, looking at her watch.</p> + +<p>“We can try it—we will walk down the path, and if we find they are +leaving we can keep our own council until another night,” said Mrs. +Talmage, as everyone rose hurriedly to go.</p> + +<p>The children hurried on before, while the ladies followed more sedately.</p> + +<p>The heavy doors were closed, but an opening about a foot wide left space +enough for Ruth to squeeze through and pull one of the sliding doors +along the groove to admit the other visitors.</p> + +<p>The men had been lounging about, talking and watching their sons work, +but upon the entrance of the ladies everyone arose in surprise.</p> + +<p>“Rather a late hour for a call, dear,” ventured Mr. Stevens.</p> + +<p>“Oh, not at all. We were attending a business meeting, and found it +necessary to leave an order with the Bobolinks.”</p> + +<p><span class='pagenum'><a name='pg_209' id='pg_209'>209</a></span>“An order—what kind of an order?” questioned Ned dubiously.</p> + +<p>Mrs. Talmage handed over the copy of the letter she wanted printed, and +directed the company to get out a proof as soon as possible, for they +would need about fifty thousand.</p> + +<p>“Fifty thousand!” gasped the boys, while the men looked incredulous.</p> + +<p>The Blue Birds could not restrain a giggle at the utter amazement of the +Bobolinks, and the ladies thoroughly enjoyed their husbands’ surprise.</p> + +<p>“Oh, well, I suppose it will take you a long time to run off so many, so +you may do ten thousand at a time,” said Mrs. Talmage.</p> + +<p>The Bobolinks could find no words with which to reply, and the men +seemed to have lost their tongues also. While Mrs. Talmage waited for an +answer, Don scowled at his twin sister.</p> + +<p>“I am still waiting to hear you accept the order,” smiled Mrs. Talmage, +feeling that the Blue Birds had scored a point.</p> + +<p>“Maybe you are not yet ready to do business,” suggested Mrs. Wells, with +just a touch of sarcasm.</p> + +<p><span class='pagenum'><a name='pg_210' id='pg_210'>210</a></span>“Of course we are ready!” exclaimed several boys, faintly echoed by the +men.</p> + +<p>“Then tell us how long will it be before you can show us a proof?” asked +Mrs. Talmage.</p> + +<p>“H’m! We will have to consult,” replied Ned, as he beckoned some of the +Bobolinks to the rear of the room.</p> + +<p>The Blue Birds were so delighted at catching the Bobolinks napping that +they danced up and down, finding it very difficult to keep their secret.</p> + +<p>Don was the first to come over to the ladies.</p> + +<p>“Say, what do you want that letter for? Where will you ever get paper +enough to print ten thousand—we can’t buy it for you,” he growled.</p> + +<p>“Don, come back here and mind your business!” shouted Meredith.</p> + +<p>“When you return to the boys, please ask them to hurry, as we have +another letter to ask them about—we may need 100,000 of these,” said +Mrs. Starr sweetly.</p> + +<p>The Blue Birds noticed that their fathers looked sceptical at the last +sentence.</p> + +<p>“You never made up a list like that!” grunted Don, looking at the Blue +Birds with fire shining in his eyes.</p> + +<p><span class='pagenum'><a name='pg_211' id='pg_211'>211</a></span>“What do you think we were doing while you spent your evenings having a +good time?” retorted Dot.</p> + +<p>“Humph!” was the only reply Don granted his sister.</p> + +<p>“Folks said this summer that we Blue Birds were little hustlers, but I +never paid much attention to them then; but <i>now</i> I think we are +hustlers when I see the way you Bobolinks poke away for two weeks and +nothing to show for it,” teased May.</p> + +<p>Mr. Wells was called over to join the conference of the Bobolinks before +an answer was given the Blue Birds.</p> + +<p>“We will set this type and run off a proof by to-morrow evening; will +that do?” said Ned, coming forward with the letter.</p> + +<p>The Blue Birds thought it would take the boys about three days to set +type and give a proof, so it was their turn to be surprised. Mrs. +Talmage seemed to understand, however, and replied in a very +condescending voice:</p> + +<p>“Oh, yes, to-morrow will be Saturday, and Uncle Ben will be here at +noon. That will be fine, for, of course, he will show you what to do; +and <span class='pagenum'><a name='pg_212' id='pg_212'>212</a></span>I am sure he knows just what he would like for the purpose.”</p> + +<p>The looks exchanged between the Bobolinks and Mr. Wells were sufficient +proof that Mrs. Talmage was right in her surmise, but the Blue Birds +were too polite to say anything more.</p> + +<p>The men said it was long past closing hours, so the lights were +extinguished, and the whole party went out into the cool night air.</p> + +<p>Early Saturday morning the Blue Birds met again in their pretty Winter +Nest, and Mrs. Talmage told them what she had thought over since the +night before.</p> + +<p>“Since Uncle Ben will be here all afternoon to supervise the work, I +think it would be as well for us to form the letter for the +philanthropists, too; then he can help the Bobolinks set the type.”</p> + +<p>The Blue Birds agreed that this was a wise plan, and so the letter was +discussed and composed. This done, they went to the Publishing House +with the copy, and told the boys what they wanted. The Bobolinks were +hunting for the right style of type and fussing about the machines so as +to have them in readiness for the afternoon.</p> + +<p>Uncle Ben arrived at noon, and the boys placed <span class='pagenum'><a name='pg_213' id='pg_213'>213</a></span>their work under his +supervision. From the expression on his face when he read the letters, +it appeared that he understood the plans the Blue Birds were keeping so +quiet.</p> + +<p>“What are you smiling at, Uncle Ben?” asked Ned, keen to find out what +the Blue Birds were planning.</p> + +<p>“At the remarkable progress the Blue Birds have made since I last +visited you,” returned Uncle Ben.</p> + +<p>“Why, they haven’t done anything—much,” grumbled Don.</p> + +<p>“Only fixed up these two letters for us to print,” added Meredith.</p> + +<p>“They haven’t done their usual sewing and playing in the cherry-tree +nest, either,” said Jinks.</p> + +<p>“Is that so? Well, how do you know <i>what</i> they have been doing without +your knowledge?” asked Uncle Ben laughingly.</p> + +<p>The boys looked at him, and their eyes asked the question, “What?”</p> + +<p>“As an old magazine man, I can see signs in these two letters that tell +me of two tremendous pieces of work being started—and being very nicely +handled, too. Why, I would not be surprised <span class='pagenum'><a name='pg_214' id='pg_214'>214</a></span>to have the Blue Birds fly +down upon this Publishing House some day and settle here long enough to +say that they had a paid-up subscription list of ten thousand! At any +rate, you boys had better prepare to print about fifty thousand sample +copies of the first magazine.”</p> + +<p>The faces of the Bobolinks looked as if their owners must sit down or +collapse. Uncle Ben laughed heartily at them.</p> + +<p>“Ah, you’re only fooling us, as usual,” ventured Ned.</p> + +<p>“No, siree! I am not. Wait and see,” returned Uncle Ben.</p> + +<p>Without further discussion, Uncle Ben showed the boys the proper style +of type to use for a letter, then helped them run off a proof of both +letters.</p> + +<p>“This will show the Blue Birds that we are not so slow but that we can +turn out samples in up-to-date style,” said Ned, as he admired the +printing.</p> + +<p>“Now, run off a few letters on this paper,” ordered Uncle Ben, producing +some beautiful bond paper.</p> + +<p>“My, but it’s pretty! Where’d you get it, Uncle Ben?” asked Ned.</p> + +<p><span class='pagenum'><a name='pg_215' id='pg_215'>215</a></span>“I brought it out for the Blue Birds’ inspection, but I shouldn’t doubt +but that they have already attended to that detail, so we will present +our proof all finished on my paper.”</p> + +<p>“Now, tell us, Uncle Ben, why you think the Blue Birds have a big plan +of their own,” entreated Ned.</p> + +<p>Uncle Ben smiled and reminded the boys to keep his words from becoming +public property.</p> + +<p>“I should say that the fact that the Blue Birds have not been near their +old Nest all week, when the weather is so glorious, proves that they +have a deeper interest elsewhere. Now, what can that be? Here you have a +hint of part of the interest,” and Uncle Ben waved the letters at the +boys. “How do I know?</p> + +<p>“Take these two letters—either one of them would startle a slow +circulation manager in the city if he thought a competitor suddenly +produced it! Why, in some way the Blue Birds have found a way to reach +book stores, stationers, and similar business places. Then, too, the +mention of needing thousands shows me they have found a mine of +addresses that is worth a large price to a publisher.”</p> + +<p><span class='pagenum'><a name='pg_216' id='pg_216'>216</a></span>“Ah, Uncle Ben, you’re wrong there! The Blue Birds haven’t gone +anywhere, and no one has been here to tell them how to get such names,” +said Ned.</p> + +<p>Without replying to Ned’s words, Uncle Ben continued:</p> + +<p>“Then, too, they must have the institution work well under consideration +or they would not have ordered the form letter—and hinted at the size +of the order.”</p> + +<p>The boys shook their heads, unwilling to admit that Uncle Ben’s surmises +sounded practical.</p> + +<p>“Lastly, they have their paper selected, because they told you the size +this sheet of printing is to be; and therefore they must know how deep a +margin they will need. To get the size of their printing correct, they +would have to know how many sheets will cut out of a large sheet of +paper, and order it cut accordingly.”</p> + +<p>“If they have done all those things that you say they have, they are +’way ahead of us Bobolinks,” grumbled Don.</p> + +<p>Uncle Ben laughed and advised:</p> + +<p>“Boys, work <i>with</i> these Blue Birds, not against them or ahead of them. +Do not think that just <span class='pagenum'><a name='pg_217' id='pg_217'>217</a></span>because they are girls, and you are boys, that +they are going to remain in the shade and let you boys come out and +shine in the light. If you boys ever do business in the city, you will +find that a woman will contest your right at every step, for to-day’s +women are equal in every way to the men—I rather think a number of them +are superior to the men. These Blue Birds are but a proof of what I say. +They will not permit the Bobolinks to walk off with the honors that are +due them.” And Uncle Ben chuckled at the idea.</p> + +<p>“Well, Uncle Ben, you’ll help us in every way until we are even with the +girls, won’t you?” asked Ned.</p> + +<p>“And you won’t help the Blue Birds any more, will you?” asked Don.</p> + +<p>“I am absolutely neutral,” replied Uncle Ben, holding both hands up over +his head. “I won’t take sides, but I will help the work along in every +way, for I want it to succeed. I’ll help you when you need it, and I’ll +help these little Blue Birds. But do as I said: Work together, not in a +spirit of rivalry, for that will only sow seeds of strife and +discontent.”</p> + +<p>“Come on, boys, let’s take Uncle Ben to the <span class='pagenum'><a name='pg_218' id='pg_218'>218</a></span>house and show our letter +proofs to the Blue Birds,” said Ned.</p> + +<p>So the Bobolinks were taught their lesson in trying to win a race by +running for a time and then resting.</p> + +<hr class='major' /> +<div style='margin: auto; text-align: center; padding-top: 1em; padding-bottom: 1em'> +<a name='THE_STORY_OF_AN_ALASKAN_TRIP_4988' id='THE_STORY_OF_AN_ALASKAN_TRIP_4988'></a> +<h2>CHAPTER XII</h2> +<h3>THE STORY OF AN ALASKAN TRIP</h3> +</div> + +<p>When the Bobolinks reached the house, they found the veranda occupied by +the Blue Birds, who sat in a semi-circle about three ladies in rocking +chairs—Mrs. Talmage, Aunt Selina, and Mrs. Catlin. The latter had a +roll of paper in her lap, and evidently had been explaining something to +the audience.</p> + +<p>“Oh, boys, you’re just in time!” cried Ruth.</p> + +<p>“Mrs. Catlin’s got her story all written for our magazine, and she was +just going to read it,” explained Dot.</p> + +<p>“May we hear it?” asked Ned, for the Bobolinks.</p> + +<p>“Why, certainly. Sit right down on the steps,” said Mrs. Catlin.</p> + +<p>As soon as the boys were comfortable, she continued:</p> + +<p>“I was about seventeen when I read the exciting tales of gold in +California and the wealth <span class='pagenum'><a name='pg_220' id='pg_220'>220</a></span>to be obtained in Seattle—a town that was +boomed in a night. I knew my father would never consent to my leaving +home, so I said nothing, but pawned my watch and ring, drew my savings +from the bank, and raised enough money to pay my way West. I worked part +of my way, and stole rides on freight cars part of the way, until I +found myself in Seattle. I was not particular where I went as long as it +was in the West. Well, in Seattle I found that the fever of gold mining +in Alaska was reaching a boiling point, and every steamer bound for +Sitka was already overloaded, but I managed in some way to steal aboard +and hide until the captain could not turn me off. I had to do some +awfully dirty work, however, and had very little to eat.</p> + +<p>“We arrived at Sitka, and there I spent some more of my money for a +passage to Juneau City. There I landed with forty dollars left in my +pockets. Ten of this was paid out for a hard bed and some scanty food, +and I soon feared that I would be left without a cent unless I started +somewhere for the gold mines. I heard all kinds of stories about the +gold found up on the Yukon River, so I found a shed where outfits were +sold, <span class='pagenum'><a name='pg_221' id='pg_221'>221</a></span>and paid twenty dollars for an outfit that was said to be all I +would need. I still had a few dollars left when I started on the road, +with my outfit strapped to my back, visions of finding millions of +dollars’ worth of gold always before my eyes.</p> + +<p>“I walked along a trail that seemed to be well traveled, and felt glad +to get away from the drink-sodden town. I had tramped for hours, when +the outfit began to rub painfully on my back. I was hungry, too, for the +food given me at the eating-houses was unfit to eat. In buying my +outfit, I added a strip of bacon and a loaf of black bread, so I decided +to rest for a bit and have my dinner.</p> + +<p>“The country, as far as I could see, was very beautiful, so I sat down +beside the trail and dropped my pack. I took out the tiny frying pan and +cut some bacon into it. I gathered some sticks, and then tried to light +one of the matches that was in the waterproof box, but it merely +sputtered and went out. I used so many matches in this way that I became +nervous lest the supply give out. Finally I ate my bread and bacon as it +was, and was about to strap the outfit together <span class='pagenum'><a name='pg_222' id='pg_222'>222</a></span>again when I spied a +caravan leaving the town several miles beyond the point where I sat. I +was so interested in watching the long line, as it lengthened out along +the trail, that I forgot how soon night comes down in this country. I +had no plans for the night, and expected to go much farther before I +struck camp. When the caravan had come halfway the distance from town +toward me, I picked up my pack and started on.</p> + +<p>“I found the pack dreadfully heavy this time, and had to rest several +times. I was thus resting on a large rock when the caravan passed me.</p> + +<p>“The sledges were piled high with camp equipment. At the end of the line +was a cumbersome-looking affair that was covered with canvas and drawn +by four horses. A grizzled man drove these horses, and seemed intent +upon his job.</p> + +<p>“So interested was I in watching them go by that I was startled when one +of the men in the sledge called to me:</p> + +<p>“‘Hello, Kid! What are you doing—picking flowers?’</p> + +<p>“A number of the men laughed, but the younger one who sat with the man +in the sledge shouted: ‘Want to join us as far as your road <span class='pagenum'><a name='pg_223' id='pg_223'>223</a></span>lies? This +is no place for a boy to travel alone. Beasts on two and four legs are +too powerful about here.’</p> + +<p>“I felt an irresistible desire to join them, but they never stopped. +However, taking it for granted that they wanted me or they wouldn’t have +spoken, I ran after the caravan and tried to keep up with them. The pack +grew heavier every moment, and at last I decided to give it up. Just +then one of the leading horses of the four stumbled down upon his knees.</p> + +<p>“This caused a halt while the driver got down and examined the horse. I +had the opportunity that I needed, so I took a deep breath and shouted, +at the same time running as fast as my weary legs would carry me.</p> + +<p>“‘How are you comin’?’ asked the driver.</p> + +<p>“‘Coming!’ I cried, so tired I could have wept. ‘Why, I’ve been coming +ever since the man asked me.’</p> + +<p>“‘Some run, eh?’ asked the old man, smiling.</p> + +<p>“‘Didn’t they mean it?’ I asked, in a tremble lest I be left again.</p> + +<p>“‘Guess so. Don’t believe they gave you another thought. But, now that +you’re here, you <span class='pagenum'><a name='pg_224' id='pg_224'>224</a></span>kin sit with me,’ said the man gruffly, as I thought, +while he rubbed the skinned knee with whale-oil.</p> + +<p>“I climbed up and sat in the seat beside the driver. He gathered the +reins together and started the horses again before he spoke another +word.</p> + +<p>“‘Kid, I watched you runnin’ after this crew, and I jus’ said to mysel’, +“Old Hal, keep an eye on that kid and see what stuff he’s made of.” I +reckon you’ll win out, even if this brazen outfit loses. I’m goin’ to +take a likin’ to ye, kid, d’ye hear that!’ grinned the old man, as he +chirked to the horses.</p> + +<p>“I sat still and pondered what he said.</p> + +<p>“‘Thar ain’t many men as kin say that Old Hal the Guide took a likin’ to +’em, kid,’ he continued, watching the trail where his horses stepped.</p> + +<p>“I had overheard the men at the town talking about a guide called ‘Old +Hal,’ and the conjectures as to how much the swell outfit had to pay him +to get him to take charge of their expedition.</p> + +<p>“I felt unduly elated at hearing the man address <span class='pagenum'><a name='pg_225' id='pg_225'>225</a></span>me so comradely, and I +decided to be as friendly as I could.</p> + +<p>“‘What’s the great hulk under this canvas?’ I asked, nodding my head +toward the load back of us.</p> + +<p>“‘Hulk! You’re right, sonny, it is a great big hulk. These men from the +East think they know a lot about goin’ on a expedition like this—they +git their learnin’ from the books. But I could have saved ’em heaps of +money hed they consulted me fust. Now, this pertickler hulk is dead +trash! <i>They</i> call ’em canoes, but the fust little jolt one of ’em gits +in the end of its nose—down she goes!’</p> + +<p>“‘Canoes, eh?’ I said wonderingly.</p> + +<p>“‘How many did yeh bring in yer outfit?’ asked Hal, nudging me in the +ribs.</p> + +<p>“‘I may have all of those to take care of if you don’t watch the +horses,’ I growled.</p> + +<p>“‘Right choo are, kid! Did yeh ever hear the verse, “From the mouths of +babes, etc.”? Guess yeh didn’t know I ever read Scripter, did yeh?’ +laughed the old man.</p> + +<p>“‘Guess you don’t or you wouldn’t joke that way about such a good Book,’ +I replied.</p> + +<p><span class='pagenum'><a name='pg_226' id='pg_226'>226</a></span>“‘Right choo are agin, kid! My, but you are a lucky find fer Hal to +have. Jus’ fancy all the fun we will have durin’ the long winter +nights,’ said the guide, in a conciliatory tone.</p> + +<p>“‘Hope so! If I ever get the chance to show you that I am thankful for +this help, I surely will,’ I said, full of gratitude that I was not +dragging my feet along the tiresome trail at that very moment.</p> + +<p>“‘Now, that’s the kind of a heart to have—one that kin thank a feller +without feelin’ ’shamed to show his colors! I see where you and me are +goin’ to make a fine team!’ said Hal.</p> + +<p>“After some silence, the old man asked: ‘Where’er yeh bound fer, +anyway?’</p> + +<p>“‘Don’t know—just going out to find gold,’ I said.</p> + +<p>“He turned square around and stared at me for a few moments, then +gasped: ‘Father an’ mother dead?’</p> + +<p>“I had to gulp hard before I could answer this question, then I said: +‘No. Had my own money in the bank, and so I just came.’</p> + +<p>“‘How fer?’ he asked abruptly.</p> + +<p>“‘All the way from New York state. I worked <span class='pagenum'><a name='pg_227' id='pg_227'>227</a></span>my way out and worked part +of my way on the Seattle boat,’ I said, with great pride in my +achievement.</p> + +<p>“‘Why, yeh little fool!’ cried the irate guide.</p> + +<p>“‘What’s the matter?’</p> + +<p>“‘An’ I s’pose yeh hev ben payin’ fer full board an’ keep to yer mother +ever sence yeh wuz borned, eh?’ scoffed Hal.</p> + +<p>“I was silent. I was looking at the matter from a new point of view.</p> + +<p>“‘S’pose yer pa an’ ma was on’y too glad to git yeh out’en the way, eh?’ +he continued.</p> + +<p>“Again I had to gulp when I thought of my mother.</p> + +<p>“‘I see the hull fool thing. Yeh jus’ went crazy readin’ trashy papers, +an’ yeh run away widdout tellin’ a soul, ’cause yeh knew they wouldn’t +let yeh come otherwise.’</p> + +<p>“I marveled at how close he had come to the truth.</p> + +<p>“‘Well, yer here, kid, an’ I s’pose Old Hal’s got to see yeh through wit +it, so thet worritin’ mother of yourn’ll see yeh agin, some day.’ And he +swung the whip over the horses’ heads with a crack that saved me from +his ire.</p> + +<p><span class='pagenum'><a name='pg_228' id='pg_228'>228</a></span>“We came to a bad grade then, and Old Hal had to keep a wary eye on the +trail, for the horses were not as sure-footed as the dogs and deer.</p> + +<p>“It must have been four o’clock before we halted. The air was growing +colder as we advanced, and I was glad enough to open my pack for a chunk +of bread and a slice of bacon.</p> + +<p>“‘Hist, kid, stow that away!’ whispered Hal, as he began to unhitch the +horses for the night.</p> + +<p>“In a short time the two men from the sledge came up.</p> + +<p>“‘Hello, youngster! You did come, after all, didn’t you?’ said the older +man.</p> + +<p>“As the supper was being cooked by an Indian guide, I was welcomed in +the circle sitting about a blazing fire and asked about myself. To each +question I replied truthfully, and wondered at the smiles and surprise +shown at my answers.</p> + +<p>“One of the two men who owned the expedition turned to the old guide +after a time and said: ‘Hal, what shall we do with the kid? Send him +back home?’</p> + +<p>“‘If ’twere me, I’d give him his fill. He’ll be safe enough wid us, an’ +we kin git heaps of work outen him; but he’ll never ‘mount to nothin’ ef +<span class='pagenum'><a name='pg_229' id='pg_229'>229</a></span>yeh send him home, ’cause he’ll allus think of the gold he might have +got,’ said Hal astutely.</p> + +<p>“‘Guess you’ve hit the nail on the head, Hal,’ laughed the younger man, +as he looked at me.</p> + +<p>“So I became a member of the Yukon Gold Expedition, under the management +of John Herrick and Julius Dwight, engineers.</p> + +<p>“We traveled over hundreds of miles of snow, for we were trying to reach +a certain trail that Old Hal knew, before the thaw set in.</p> + +<p>“We did not quite get there, however, before the general thaw struck us. +Then the canoes were needed. I had wondered why we delayed our traveling +to cart those canoes with us, for there were no streams or lakes to +cross, but the moment the thaw set in it seemed that every piece of ice +and snow in the North was turning to water. Instead of trails, we had to +travel by green-blue rivers, or over deep, dark seas.</p> + +<p>“Well, after losing one canoe and two of the Indians, Old Hal hit his +trail and led us up toward the mountains.</p> + +<p>“All of that short summer was passed in the usual work of prospecting: +digging, panning, washing, or testing for gold. Permanent camp <span class='pagenum'><a name='pg_230' id='pg_230'>230</a></span>had been +built by the men, and a number of Indian servants took precaution that +every emergency should be provided for in case of a hard, long winter. +Every kind of edible bird or beast was trapped and prepared for food, +while the skins and pelts of animals were cured and made into garments +and covers.</p> + +<p>“I was the youngest in camp, so I was known as the ‘Kid,’ and Old Hal +took the office of guardian toward me from the first and ordered me +about—always for my good, be it known—and kept a watchful eye over my +doings and the men I happened to work with.</p> + +<p>“Toward the end of the short summer we struck a rich vein of gold!</p> + +<p>“I shall never forget the change in everyone’s character the moment the +gold was discovered in the shining sand. Some became savages, others +grew crafty and cunning, and Old Hal had his hands full to keep +discipline in the camp. Dwight and Herrick saw the tendency of their +hired men to mutiny against Hal and themselves, and perhaps jump the +claim when the owners were out of the way, but they were farsighted men, +and <span class='pagenum'><a name='pg_231' id='pg_231'>231</a></span>Hal was no greenhorn in handling Esquimo and half-breed Indians.</p> + +<p>“A large tract of land on both sides of the creek was staked off and a +diagram of the area carefully drawn by Herrick, to be filed in the +office at Forty-Mile Station, where a legal land-office was maintained +by the government.</p> + +<p>“As it was most necessary to file this claim before winter came on, a +conference was held between Hal and the two engineers. Hal said he could +easily make the trip to Forty-Mile and back again before winter froze +everything solid, so he was ordered to take a canoe, with two of the +mutinous men, and start immediately. Two dogs were placed in the canoe, +in case they would be needed for sledging, and a store of food and pelts +were packed under the seats. At the last moment, Hal was led to take his +own canoe, which he had made that summer, and ask for my company. I was +delighted to know I could accompany my old friend, so one of the dogs +and a sledge were placed in Hal’s canoe, and but one of the men got in, +while I was placed in the other canoe, with the other man.</p> + +<p>“We started in good order and made quick <span class='pagenum'><a name='pg_232' id='pg_232'>232</a></span>time. We had no route, map, or +survey, for there were none in those days, but Hal knew every foot of +the way, unless unusual conditions prevailed. We made camp that night, +and rested, all unmindful of the plot the two mutinous men were hatching +against us to get possession of the claim papers.</p> + +<p>“In the morning, after an early breakfast, we started, and had gone but +a short distance before our canoes ran out of the stream into a broad +expanse of water that was unfamiliar to Hal.</p> + +<p>“He looked carefully around for some landmark to guide him, and saw, +some miles further on, what he believed to be a blazed spot. So he +directed his man to paddle for that place.</p> + +<p>“When Hal was about ten feet in advance of us, and as I sat in the stern +of our canoe, I saw the man paddling our canoe suddenly raise a +rifle—where he got it no one knows—take aim, and shoot. It was all +done so quickly that I could scarcely move. Hal always held his revolver +ready to enforce obedience from his men, and the moment I heard the shot +I saw his arm jerk spasmodically and his revolver fly out and fall in +the bottom of the canoe. At the same time I tore <span class='pagenum'><a name='pg_233' id='pg_233'>233</a></span>my revolver out of my +belt and covered the man who had shot.</p> + +<p>“I was so occupied in this that I had no time to see what Hal was doing, +but I heard him yell: ‘Go overboard this second or I’ll shoot you dead!’</p> + +<p>“I immediately followed suit, and cried: ‘Go overboard, and swim ashore, +or I’ll shoot you!’</p> + +<p>“The man sat and stared at me for a moment, as he never dreamed I had +the spirit to do what I had. I was so nervous, and my heart seemed to +bulge out in my throat so that I could hardly swallow. The man still sat +and looked at his pal, who had jumped overboard and was swimming for +shore. I never knew how it happened, for I had no idea of shooting him, +but in that moment that he turned his look from me to his pal my fingers +twitched with dread, and the revolver rang forth its shot, and the +fellow fell into the water. I was so frightened that I clung to the neck +of the dog and hid my eyes. Meantime, the fellow who was swimming saw +what had occurred, and went under water to escape being shot.</p> + +<p>“Soon Hal had his canoe alongside, and said: ‘Step in here, Kid.’</p> + +<p><span class='pagenum'><a name='pg_234' id='pg_234'>234</a></span>“My canoe was fastened to the other one, and the transfer made without +further mishap. I looked about for the swimmer, but could see nothing of +him. He might have drowned or gone ashore.</p> + +<p>“We managed to travel pretty well until night, when we again camped on +shore, but Hal seemed worried at the strangeness of the land.</p> + +<p>“After a few days’ futile seeking for the trail, we felt a sudden chill +in the air. Hal was concerned, and sought in every direction for some +familiar object.</p> + +<p>“We made camp one night while the dogs sniffed ravenously about for +food, for our stock had run so low that Hal had to economize to make it +last another day. The next morning I awoke to find snow blowing in every +direction. The change was so unlooked for that I rubbed my eyes to make +sure I was awake.</p> + +<p>“‘Well, Kid, this settles our trip to Forty-Mile for some time,’ +admitted Hal forlornly.</p> + +<p>“‘What do you mean, Hal?’ I asked.</p> + +<p>“‘If we don’t make camp quick, we’ll be caught in the cold and frozen. +If I was alone, I’d try to make some Esquimo hut or die, but havin’ you +<span class='pagenum'><a name='pg_235' id='pg_235'>235</a></span>I can’t take a chance.’ Hal’s manner of speech had improved a great +deal during his intercourse with cultured men, and I took note of it as +he spoke—such queer things will impress one when a sudden calamity +presents itself.</p> + +<p>“That morning Hal set me to cutting down some small trees. He said he +would take the sledge and the dogs and try to find the trail. I begged +him not to leave me alone, and he promised that this would be the last +effort if he was unsuccessful.</p> + +<p>“I felt the terrible fear of being alone in this wilderness all winter, +but I kept busy chopping down trees. All day long I worked and prayed, +and before dark settled down I rejoiced to see Hal coming back. I could +tell in a moment that he had not found any trail, so I said nothing.</p> + +<p>“That night Hal saw all the signs of winter breaking upon us, and he +worked fast and furious to make camp so that we might survive the cold +months.</p> + +<p>“In his search the day before, he had found a stream whose banks were +well covered with sheltering pines. Here he proposed to build a hut. +While, with the help of the dogs, he hauled the <span class='pagenum'><a name='pg_236' id='pg_236'>236</a></span>small logs I had cut to +the stream, I was ordered to fish and hunt for all the supplies I could +gather before the waters froze solid.</p> + +<p>“I went to work with a forlorn hope of ever living to see another year, +but the fish were plentiful, and the task of preparing them for winter +use kept me from thinking too much.</p> + +<p>“Hal set traps for animals, and this game we skinned; the meat we dried +and the pelts we hoped to use in the winter. The fats I dried out and +kept in a skin pouch Hal made. Some of the game could not be eaten, so +we used that for bait.</p> + +<p>“Hal built a rude log hut about eight feet wide, with a smoke hole at +the top. The wide chinks were plastered full of clay from the +river-bank. A door was made of split logs and fastened together with +rope and strips of skin. We had brought no nails or screws, and had to +use whatever came to hand. The hinges of the door were made of tough +strips of hide and fastened to the logs with some nails Hal took out of +the sledge.</p> + +<p>“A rude fire-bowl was made in the center of the hut and some flint-rock +carefully placed in a <span class='pagenum'><a name='pg_237' id='pg_237'>237</a></span>chink in the wall. The hut completed, Hal felt +relieved, for the winter seemed to hold off for our benefit.</p> + +<p>“We chopped wood, and stacked it on one side of the wall, inside, and +then started to pile up more on the outside near the door. Some of our +food was buried in a pit just outside the hut, but Hal hung all there +was room for to the logs of the roof.</p> + +<p>“We were feeling quite contented one night, when Hal remarked: ‘Kid, +she’s comin’ down on us. I kin tell by the queer sounds through those +pines.’</p> + +<p>“‘Let her come. We are ready,’ I laughed.</p> + +<p>“‘All but the beds. I’ll have to go out now and bring in those balsam +branches I have been savin’ all these days.’</p> + +<p>“That night we slept upon our fresh balsam beds. When I rose I could not +have told whether it was twilight or dawn. The blizzard howled outside, +but Hal had a cheerful fire cracking inside.”</p> + +<hr class='major' /> +<div style='margin: auto; text-align: center; padding-top: 1em; padding-bottom: 1em'> +<a name='A_WINTER_IN_THE_FROZEN_NORTH_5419' id='A_WINTER_IN_THE_FROZEN_NORTH_5419'></a> +<h2>CHAPTER XIII</h2> +<h3>A WINTER IN THE FROZEN NORTH</h3> +</div> + +<p>“For ten days that blizzard raged, and I began to think we never would +get out again. Then one morning Hal called me to see the beautiful snow. +I stretched and got up. Hal had managed to chop away some of the drift +that had piled against the door, and after some digging we squeezed +through an aperture and stood without.</p> + +<p>“My, but it was grand! One great world of sparkling white, with drifted +mountains of snow all over. Even our hut was but a smaller drift in the +general picture. While I stood and admired, Hal brought out two pails +which we had had in the canoes, and told me how important it was to get +some water from the stream. We carried the water carefully to the hut, +and then I watched Hal set a bear trap, as well as a trap for small +game.</p> + +<p>“The dogs enjoyed being out once more and lapped the water greedily +while we filled the buckets. <span class='pagenum'><a name='pg_239' id='pg_239'>239</a></span>We worked several hours taking wood from +outside the hut and piling it up on our depleted stack inside. Long +before we were done, I heard a distant howling, and looked toward Hal +for its meaning.</p> + +<p>“‘Wolves! They scent our meat,’ he said laconically.</p> + +<p>“We managed to fasten our door again, and sat down by the fire while the +dogs went over to their corner to sleep.</p> + +<p>“That night the thermometer dropped to thirty degrees below zero and +stayed there for a week. Everything that could froze up solid, and the +wild beasts could catch no more fish or small game, so took long jaunts +away from their lairs to find food.</p> + +<p>“Inside of forty-eight hours I heard every kind of a growl and howl +imaginable, as bears prowled about the hut sniffing at the buried food, +or scratching at our hut to get in.</p> + +<p>“‘Wish we could get some of ’em in the traps,’ I said.</p> + +<p>“‘They’d be torn to pieces and soon et up by the other wild beasts,’ +replied Hal, as he made <span class='pagenum'><a name='pg_240' id='pg_240'>240</a></span>another notch in a log where he was keeping +record of the days.</p> + +<p>“It wasn’t very pleasant that week, for the room was small, and the dogs +and meat began to make the air reek, so we were mighty glad, one +morning, to wake and find it warmer. Without delay, Hal and I chopped +the door out of the ice and snow and got out, followed by the dogs. The +air was still so cold that it felt like a knife going through my lungs, +but it was sweet and fresh. The dogs, too, were glad to have a run.</p> + +<p>“The only thing to mark the hut from the other humps of snow round about +was the dirty spot where the smoke came out. While we aired the room we +cleaned up whatever débris lay about and filled the pails with some ice +that Hal chopped out of the frozen stream.</p> + +<p>“Meantime, the dogs were scenting about in the drifts and growling and +yelping. Hal looked up and saw that they were off following some tracks. +He ran after them for a few rods and then came back, calling them to +come in.</p> + +<p>“‘Those were bear tracks,’ he explained, as the dogs obeyed most +unwillingly. ‘I wish I had <span class='pagenum'><a name='pg_241' id='pg_241'>241</a></span>some way to trap them without having the fur +ruined by other animals.’</p> + +<p>“‘Couldn’t you set a trap right in range with the chink of the door, and +if you hear other animals about you can shoot them,’ I said.</p> + +<p>“‘But it would waste a lot of valuable ammunition,’ he replied.</p> + +<p>“He set the trap where I had suggested, however, and said he would wait +and see what happened.</p> + +<p>“We felt better for that day’s fresh air, but the storm settled down +again during the night, and it was several days before it stopped +snowing. The cold held on longer, but we knew it was clear by the bright +gleam of light that filtered through our smoke-hole.</p> + +<p>“‘I wonder if we can get out to-day?’ I asked, but at the same time +howls were heard coming from the pines.</p> + +<p>“‘Guess you will do better to stay in to-day,’ smiled Hal.</p> + +<p>“That night we found it impossible to sleep, for the wolves howled madly +just outside the hut, and some of them pawed at the smoke-hole so that +Hal finally picked up a red-hot firebrand <span class='pagenum'><a name='pg_242' id='pg_242'>242</a></span>and poked it up through the +opening just as one of the beasts tried to nose down into the hut. It +must have caught him well, for he set up a terrific howling.</p> + +<p>“The next night, as the wolves came back again to pay their nightly +visit, we heard a new growl coming from a distance. I looked at Hal for +information, and he chuckled with satisfaction.</p> + +<p>“‘Ha! I thought so! I was sure a bear would come along before long.’</p> + +<p>“‘A bear! Oh, I wish we could get him in that trap!’</p> + +<p>“‘Will he attack the wolves?’ I asked.</p> + +<p>“‘He will come sniffing about that pit for meat, and if the wolves +bother him they will most likely get into trouble,’ said Hal, laughing.</p> + +<p>“‘Gracious, Hal! S’pose he gets our meat—what will we do?’</p> + +<p>“‘We’ll have to prevent him from gettin’ it, that’s all,’ said Hal, +looking at his rifle to see that it was in good order.</p> + +<p>“‘How are you going to do it?’</p> + +<p>“‘Shoot him while he’s busy with the wolves, or try and get him while he +is digging at the pit.’</p> + +<p><span class='pagenum'><a name='pg_243' id='pg_243'>243</a></span>“‘Wait and try the last plan. Let him kill off a pack of hungry wolves, +and when he has driven them away he will come to the pit. Then is your +time,’ I said.</p> + +<p>“‘Kid, you’re comin’ on fine! Another season in the north and you will +be a regular hunter,’ laughed Hal.</p> + +<p>“I saw that I pleased the old man, and felt happy that I could do it so +easily. But my attention was attracted by the din of battle outside, as +howls and snarls mixed together so furiously that the dogs huddled down +in a corner of the hut and showed their teeth at the doorway.</p> + +<p>“We couldn’t tell from the sounds which was being worsted, but the fact +that the wolves were so numerous led us to believe that they could +finally tear to pieces any bear. Then, while we were checking off the +howls, quite a singular snarl came from the opposite direction.</p> + +<p>“We could tell from the noises that another bear had taken a hand in the +fight, which continued for a long time. Then all was quiet.</p> + +<p>“All that night we heard something scratching at the door and climbing +up to the smoke-hole, but a firebrand always met the inquisitive nose, +<span class='pagenum'><a name='pg_244' id='pg_244'>244</a></span>for we could hear the snarl of rage as a hasty retreat was made. One +queer thing, though, was the fact that we only heard one beast clawing +about.</p> + +<p>“When light came again, Hal placed his ear to a chink in the door and +listened. He seemed satisfied that the coast was clear, so we started to +chop out the snow that bound the door on the outside.</p> + +<p>“We got the door open about an inch, and Hal peeped out, but could see +nothing. Then we managed to push it open a little further, and still +nothing but snow was visible.</p> + +<p>“Then suddenly a dark shadow fell across the light from outside. I stood +rigid while Hal took a good aim.</p> + +<p>“‘Why don’t you shoot?’ I cried, as I saw the largest bear I had ever +seen standing there scenting the air.</p> + +<p>“‘He isn’t in perfect range yet. I’d only ping him and make him run, if +I shoot now,’ whispered Hal, still holding his finger on the trigger.</p> + +<p>“‘If he’d only move a foot this way!’ I sighed.</p> + +<p>“As if the brute felt my wish, he turned his head in our direction. +Instantly a deafening report <span class='pagenum'><a name='pg_245' id='pg_245'>245</a></span>seemed to blow up the cabin, and powder +smoke hung thick over our heads. The dogs were so startled that they +yelped and rolled over on the floor.</p> + +<p>“There was not a sound from outside, and Hal smiled to himself.</p> + +<p>“‘Bet I got him first try. Didn’t hear any objections from him, did +you?’</p> + +<p>“‘Gee! I wish we could open this door and drag him in before those +wolves come back,’ I said, digging frantically.</p> + +<p>“‘They won’t get back straight off. They have been whipped for the time +and will be feared to try it again unless they get the scent of the dead +bears,’ said Hal, digging away at the top of the drift while I scooped +at the bottom.</p> + +<p>“We finally managed to open the door enough to get out.</p> + +<p>“The bear had dropped dead in his tracks. At his feet—but out of range +of the chink of our door—lay the other, literally ripped to pieces by +the wolves during the night’s battle. She had put up a fine fight, +though, for the area all about her was covered with the bodies of the +wolves <span class='pagenum'><a name='pg_246' id='pg_246'>246</a></span>she had slaughtered, and the snow was all trampled and red.</p> + +<p>“The dogs ran out, their hair bristling along their spines as they +sniffed at the carcasses.</p> + +<p>“We heard the wolves’ howls from the pine woods, so we hurriedly dragged +the bear Hal had shot inside the hut. We put the carcass in one corner +of the room, which left us scarcely enough space to move around in.</p> + +<p>“Hardly had the door been closed before the pack of wolves were upon it, +scratching and tearing at the logs.</p> + +<p>“We had a difficult time skinning the bears and trying to cut the steaks +properly; the grease we kept for oil after it had been melted down. I +used to implore Hal to throw out the whole dreadful mess, but he knew +the value of bear-grease and steaks, so kept his own counsel and minded +me not at all.</p> + +<p>“Parts that could not be used, however, and refuse were thrown to the +wolves, thus keeping a howling horde of them in our vicinity constantly. +This, as it happened, proved our salvation.</p> + +<p>“We sat cross-legged one morning, figuring out <span class='pagenum'><a name='pg_247' id='pg_247'>247</a></span>by the notch calendar how +many weeks of winter remained. Suddenly a most startling sound rose +above the din of the snarling, fighting beasts outside.</p> + +<p>“A shot rang out, followed by a shrill yelp of pain from one of the +beasts; again a rifle cracked, and one more wolf was struck, judging +from the noise and confusion that ensued.</p> + +<p>“Hal and I looked at each other as if in a dream; then we comprehended, +and almost choked with joy. The beasts outside slunk away as the +strangers who had dealt death so swiftly among them approached. Hal and +I both raised our voices and shouted and called as loudly as we could. I +thought of his rifle, and brought it to him.</p> + +<p>“‘Shoot through the rifle-hole in the door,’ I said, excitedly.</p> + +<p>“‘Sure thing!’ he cried, raising his gun to his shoulder and shooting +toward the sky.</p> + +<p>“We heard an answering shot, and then voices approaching to within a few +yards of the hut. We pried the door open far enough to hand out the +spade. The unknown visitors already had one spade, and between the two +we were soon excavated, <span class='pagenum'><a name='pg_248' id='pg_248'>248</a></span>the door was opened, and we leaped forth! There +stood an Indian squaw with a boy of about twelve.</p> + +<p>“Fancy our chagrin and sinking hearts! Hal said afterward that he +thought a rescue party had started out to find us, although he knew this +was practically impossible.</p> + +<p>“The squaw and Hal could speak, after a fashion, and he explained to me +that she and her son were hunting the day before, and had been caught by +night’s swift approach. They were forced to rest in a cave until +morning. Here they had to keep the wild animals at bay, although they +could see them moving around in the shadows just outside the circle of +their campfire, and heard them howling all through the night. When light +came again, they started to find their way home, and had seen the beasts +prowling around a hump in the snow from whence issued a thin stream of +smoke. They knew immediately that some human being was there, and tried +to drive away the animals long enough to investigate.</p> + +<p>“Hal explained how we had come to be there—and how grateful we would be +to get away. The <span class='pagenum'><a name='pg_249' id='pg_249'>249</a></span>squaw managed to tell us that she would return to her +tribe at once and find out whether or not we would be welcomed among +them.</p> + +<p>“Hal made her understand how much money she would have if she would help +us reach Forty-Mile, where he had ‘much money’ waiting for him in the +bank.</p> + +<p>“The squaw had heard of ‘Old Hal,’ the guide, and was evidently +surprised to find him lost while so near the trail.</p> + +<p>“‘With this kid, I couldn’t take any chance at hunting for the trail any +longer,’ he explained, ‘but decided to follow the most sensible course, +and wait until Spring!’</p> + +<p>“We offered the squaw the bear-pelts if she would return with help and +rescue us. In the native manner of ‘hearing without speaking’ she +stalked away, and we were not sure as to whether she would return or +not.</p> + +<p>“In a few days, however, we again heard the sound of a shot which came +from the direction of the woods, and after forcing the door open we +found the squaw with two young men from her tribe.</p> + +<p>“‘Trail—him all right,’ mumbled the squaw.</p> + +<p><span class='pagenum'><a name='pg_250' id='pg_250'>250</a></span>“We found the weather clear enough to enable us to travel, so we packed +all of our belongings upon the sledge, leaving the canoe in the +snowbank, where it lay hidden against the house. The bear-steaks were +almost gone, but Hal showed the squaw where the other food was buried, +and told her she could use the hut any time she liked. She nodded, and +as soon as the dogs were hitched to the sledge, we proceeded on our +journey, guided by the squaw and the two boys.</p> + +<p>“We had only a few hours in which to travel, but in that time we reached +the cave the squaw had told us of, and there spent the night. The +following morning, we continued the journey, reaching the village before +dark.</p> + +<p>“The settlement was small, comprising but a dozen families and about six +huts, but it seemed like a town to us, who had been lost all Winter with +nothing but wild animals and snow around us.</p> + +<p>“Our dogs were delighted at being able to join some of their breed +again, and, upon the whole, we were all treated as well as could be +expected.</p> + +<p>“We stayed there for two nights, then made <span class='pagenum'><a name='pg_251' id='pg_251'>251</a></span>an early start on the third +morning for Forty-Mile.</p> + +<p>“The faithful squaw and her two boys accompanied us a short distance, +until Hal had gotten his bearings and said he would be all right.</p> + +<p>“We started on the trail at a goodly speed, and reached a small +settlement by night-fall. The next day we arrived at the first real +colony of white people we had encountered since we left the camp, and a +week after we had left the squaw we came to the town of Forty-Mile, +where we filed the papers for the claim Herrick and Dwight had staked +out.</p> + +<p>“Hal knew this was an important matter, and wondered if the rascal who +stranded us had found his way to the land-office first.</p> + +<p>“I was sitting in the little smoking-room in the place they called +‘Hotel’ one morning, while Hal was in our room sewing his gold-dust belt +a bit safer inside of his shirt.</p> + +<p>“I had changed so much in appearance—with a boyish growth of beard over +my chin, and my hair as long as a poet’s—that a villainous-looking man +who came in and asked for whiskey failed <span class='pagenum'><a name='pg_252' id='pg_252'>252</a></span>to recognize me; but I knew +him at once as being the man who had escaped from our canoe.</p> + +<p>“I managed to get out of the room without being seen, and ran to Hal.</p> + +<p>“‘What do you think! The murderer is downstairs!’</p> + +<p>“‘Who?—Sit down and talk sensible,’ said Hal.</p> + +<p>“‘One of the Indians who got away from the canoe,’ I cried in a hoarse +whisper.</p> + +<p>“Old Hal leaped to his feet. He strapped on his belt and swung his gun +over his arm. After making sure his revolver was all right, he crept +downstairs. I was not going to be cheated out of anything as exciting as +this promised to be, so I cautiously followed him.</p> + +<p>“The tavern-keeper and by-standers knew Hal well, and, of course, would +stake their all on his word; so when he entered the bar-room and cried: +‘Hands up!’ to the Indian, everyone took sides with him, and we soon had +the fellow safely bound.</p> + +<p>“‘Now, let me see those papers you forged for our claims,’ snarled Hal, +fishing through the man’s dirty pockets, but finding nothing.</p> + +<p><span class='pagenum'><a name='pg_253' id='pg_253'>253</a></span>“The man’s face showed too much elation for an old guide like Hal to be +fooled, and he ordered the boys standing about to help him strip the +Indian, and there—fastened to his back with strips of plaster—were +found the drawings rudely sketched, somewhat like the set of surveys Hal +had already filed.</p> + +<p>“They were ripped off and thrown into the fire and the villain was +chained to a post out in the shed with the dogs, with his arms tied +behind him to prevent his escape, until the Sheriff should come in the +morning.</p> + +<p>“Hal told the crowd all about the treachery of the Indians, and they +promised to attend to this man after we were gone.</p> + +<p>“A public sledge was about to leave for Dyea in a few days, and Hal +engaged seats for himself and me. He paid the tavern-keeper to keep the +dogs until he returned.</p> + +<p>“I had refrained from asking Hal about my future while there was any +doubt of our getting to the Coast, but this seemed to be the best time +to speak of it.</p> + +<p>“‘What you going to do with me?’ I asked.</p> + +<p>“‘We’ll skip right down to Juneau, and see if <span class='pagenum'><a name='pg_254' id='pg_254'>254</a></span>there are any letters +there. It all depends,’ he replied.</p> + +<p>“In a few days more we reached Dyea, where Hal secured some trustworthy +men into whose charge he could commit the mining work. Then we took the +boat and started for Juneau.</p> + +<p>“After a rough voyage of more than ten days, we docked at the wretched +little city, and went to the post-office for our mail.</p> + +<p>“Three letters awaited me—but every one of them were from chums to whom +I had sent cards from Seattle. My mail had been forwarded to me from +Seattle to Juneau, but there was no word from my parents.</p> + +<p>“As Hal and I stood reading our letters, the postmaster—a +shrivelled-up, little old man, peered at me over the rim of his +spectacles, and called out:</p> + +<p>“‘Be you the one thet jist got some old letters from the East?’</p> + +<p>“‘Yes, sir,’ I returned, going over to the counter.</p> + +<p>“‘Waal, heah’s one thet cum a long time ago, an’ I meant to send it +back, but somehow fergot it. I cum across it yistiddy, and made up my +<span class='pagenum'><a name='pg_255' id='pg_255'>255</a></span>mind to do somethin’ with it sure, so heah ye aire.’</p> + +<p>“With relief I recognized my father’s writing, but the letter was dated +two months previous.</p> + +<p>“I opened the letter and read it through with intense emotion. First, I +learned that my Mother had died after a brief illness. Next, my Father +had lost his fine saw-mill by fire. Third, my oldest sister had married, +and the home was broken up, Father having gone to live with her in New +York.</p> + +<p>“I wondered where I would go if I went home. There was no Mother +waiting, no home, and my Father was in a strange city with his +son-in-law.</p> + +<p>“I turned and handed the letter to Hal. He read and comprehended.</p> + +<p>“‘Guess it’s Alaska for ye, Kid. Want to go back with me?’</p> + +<p>“Did I?—well, I just guess I did, and I fairly jumped at the hand that +was held out to me.</p> + +<p>“‘Glad myself, Kid, to have you. I sure would have missed you tol’able +ef I saw you sailin’ away from me, headed for Seattle.’</p> + +<p>“‘Hal, will the bosses think it is all right now?’ I asked.</p> + +<p><span class='pagenum'><a name='pg_256' id='pg_256'>256</a></span>“‘Sure thing, when they read this letter, Kid. And, say, I never told +anyone this, but seein’ thet I am to be your ’dopted father, now, I may +as well tell yeh—I am to have a tenth-share in the claim up there, and, +as my ’dopted son, you come in fer a part of mine—see?’</p> + +<p>“‘Hal, do you mean you will take me under your wing?’ I cried, all +forgetful of the goldmine.</p> + +<p>“This pleased the old guide so much that he laughed as he retorted, ‘I +knew I wasn’t wrong on the stuff you’re made of. That was a lucky day +when my horse stumbled, eh?’ and he slapped me kindly on the back.</p> + +<p>“Well, we went back to Dyea, and waited for a caravan to start on the +trail. We joined the very first one out, and Hal earned our passage and +keep all the way, as guide.</p> + +<p>“We found the camp in excellent condition, and the new miners we had +chosen in place of the villainous Indians proved to be all that could be +desired.</p> + +<p>“Some machinery was purchased by Hal at Dyea, and as soon as it was +delivered at our camp, all hands set to work.</p> + +<p><span class='pagenum'><a name='pg_257' id='pg_257'>257</a></span>“I stayed at that camp with Hal for three years before we sold out our +interests and took a vacation. The bosses had only remained until the +gold was panning out well, then they sent for experts to come and value +the entire mine.</p> + +<p>“Hal had filed some property claims for himself and me adjoining the +Dwight mine, and after the experts had rendered their verdict on the +property we were able to sell them at a big price.</p> + +<p>“Hal and I decided to go to Seattle for a while, and then travel a bit; +if we found the life too lazy we could easily get back to Alaska.</p> + +<p>“We put in a year of pleasure-seeking together, but the life and climate +was too mild for the old guide who had always been accustomed to work +and cold, and one night I found him breathing hard, and he complained of +pains in his chest. In a week he had passed away, leaving me with all of +his wealth to add to my own.</p> + +<p>“I had written father, and sent him some money several times during the +year, and now I wrote to tell him I was coming home.</p> + +<p>“Needless to say, we were overjoyed to see each other again, and then I +told him I was going to take him on a little trip.</p> + +<p><span class='pagenum'><a name='pg_258' id='pg_258'>258</a></span>“We went straight to our old home town, and to his surprise I took him +to the old homestead where I was born, telling him that I had +repurchased it from the folks who had bought it from him. He trembled +with happiness as we entered the door and found all of the familiar old +furniture there, too. Above all, there stood his maiden-sister, in the +dining-room door, smiling a welcome!</p> + +<p>“I explained how I had found Aunt Delia, and made her promise to keep +house for him, and how we had collected the old furniture that the +village-folks bought when mother died. I was always thankful that my +money enabled me to make his last days happy.”</p> + +<hr class='major' /> +<div style='margin: auto; text-align: center; padding-top: 1em; padding-bottom: 1em'> +<a name='THE_BnbspB_amp_BnbspB_MAGAZINE_5896' id='THE_BnbspB_amp_BnbspB_MAGAZINE_5896'></a> +<h2>CHAPTER XIV</h2> +<h3>THE B. B. & B. B. MAGAZINE</h3> +</div> + +<p>By the fifteenth of October the Blue Birds and Bobolinks were deep in +the work of constructing a magazine. Uncle Ben sent out the two young +men he had spoken of, and they showed the children what to do and how to +do it.</p> + +<p>The Oakdale Paper Mills passed a vote to supply the paper for one year, +and the B. B. & B. B. Company had agreed to give the mills advertising +credit for the donation.</p> + +<p>The two important letters which had caused such consternation in the +Bobolink nest were all printed on beautiful grey paper in blue ink, and +the envelopes all addressed and packed in boxes ready to be used.</p> + +<p>All the stories, articles and lessons had been given to Uncle Ben before +the tenth of the month and he had sent back the linotype by the +thirteenth as he promised he would. Then work began in real earnest.</p> + +<p><span class='pagenum'><a name='pg_260' id='pg_260'>260</a></span>The Bobolink Boys had to make a galley proof of the printing, and the +Blue Birds had to read it (or at least their mothers did) and construct +the dummy. This last work was great fun.</p> + +<p>Every evening fathers and mothers visited the Publishing House and the +Winter Nest and assisted where they could, or watched progress when they +were not needed; after every meeting it became the custom for one or the +other of the fathers to treat the publishing company and guests to +refreshments. This, Don thought, was reward enough for every aching back +or arm. To keep the children from tiring of the treats, the fathers +planned each morning, while going into the city, just what new kind of a +surprise to furnish that night.</p> + +<p>The interest shown at first had not abated—possibly due to the fact +that so much fun was always to be had from unexpected sources—and the +two men from the city said it was a marvel that children could produce +such splendid work.</p> + +<p>“Goodness! those Bobolinks ought to! they spent heaps and heaps of time +fooling with those machines to learn how to work ’em!” said Dot Starr, +overhearing what the men said.</p> + +<p><span class='pagenum'><a name='pg_261' id='pg_261'>261</a></span>“And just see how the fathers help!” added Norma.</p> + +<p>“I guess the magazine wouldn’t be much of a paper if the Blue Birds +hadn’t done their part so well,” said May.</p> + +<p>“And the Blue Birds’ mothers!” reminded Ruth.</p> + +<p>The Blue Birds were sitting on the steps of the piazza waiting for Mrs. +Talmage and Aunt Selina to join them, when Dot told them of the +“city-man’s” commendation of the work.</p> + +<p>“Here comes Flutey, now,” said Ruth, hearing the slow steps of her aunt.</p> + +<p>“Well, Blue Birds, how’s the song this morning?” cried Aunt Selina, +happily.</p> + +<p>The children all turned with one accord and looked at her. Some great +happiness must have been sent her, for she was bubbling over with secret +joy and her face looked as young as one of the Blue Bird’s. She took a +chair near the children.</p> + +<p>“Say, Flutey, you won’t be offended if I ask you a very happy question, +will you?” asked Dot, in a half-whisper.</p> + +<p><span class='pagenum'><a name='pg_262' id='pg_262'>262</a></span>“Why, of course not! Ask it, child,” smiled Aunt Selina.</p> + +<p>“Well, you look so happy, you know, I thought maybe <i>that</i> soldier-man +came back to marry you—maybe his being shot was all a mistake and he +has been a prisoner all this time and just got away,” said Dot with +horror and awe in her tones.</p> + +<p>Mrs. Talmage had stepped out just in time to overhear the funny little +girl’s remark and she had to run inside and smother her laughter in a +handkerchief, for Dot was most serious in her statement, and it would +never do to make her feel badly by laughing at her sympathy.</p> + +<p>“Oh, no, dearie, those prisons were abandoned soon after the war. But +this surprise I have for the Blue Birds is entirely different from +anything personal,” replied Aunt Selina.</p> + +<p>“Oh, what is it?” asked several voices.</p> + +<p>“I have a letter here,” said Aunt Selina, taking it from her reticule, +“in reply to one I wrote an old-time friend a short time ago. This +friend started an advertising business in Philadelphia many years ago +and has been very successful. <span class='pagenum'><a name='pg_263' id='pg_263'>263</a></span>Let us see what advice this friend gives +about securing contracts for advertising.”</p> + +<p>The Blue Birds hovered about Aunt Selina’s chair eager to hear the +letter read.</p> + +<p>The letter was short, but to the point. Mr. Sphere said he was delighted +to hear from his old friend and hoped his information would give her +little friends the satisfaction they deserved for their undertaking. He +said that one of his best representatives had been told to call at Mossy +Glen to interview the Blue Birds and to do just as the ladies directed. +This man would tell them how to get advertising.</p> + +<p>“Oh, Flutey! is that all he said?” murmured Ruth.</p> + +<p>“Why, I don’t call that such a piece of ‘happy’ news to smile over as +you did!” pouted Dot.</p> + +<p>“He didn’t ask you how you had been all the time since you two knew each +other, and he never said a word about our magazine,” grumbled Norma, +feeling a personal offence in the letter.</p> + +<p>“Why, children! <i>I</i> think it is a wonderful piece of good news to hear +that he takes enough interest in the work to send one of his best men +down here to talk matters over,” said Mrs. Talmage.</p> + +<p><span class='pagenum'><a name='pg_264' id='pg_264'>264</a></span>“If you knew my friend you would understand this letter better, for he +always was a quiet chap who listened to others, but said little +himself,” explained Aunt Selina.</p> + +<p>The following day while the Blue Birds were at the Publishing House +watching the wonderful process of stitching and trimming completed +magazines, a very alert young man rang the bell at the Talmage house.</p> + +<p>Mrs. Talmage and Aunt Selina welcomed the visitor.</p> + +<p>Shouts of excitement reached the house where the ladies were talking +with Mr. Sphere’s representative, and soon a crowd of boys and girls +swarmed up the steps and ran pell-mell for Mrs. Talmage, nothing daunted +by seeing the stranger.</p> + +<p>“Mother, mother, see, see!” cried Ruth, dragging Jinks by the sleeve.</p> + +<p>“Oh,” gasped little Betty, “see our magazine!”</p> + +<p>“It’s perfectly lovely, Mrs. Talmage!” cried Dot.</p> + +<p>The older boys were more subdued when they saw the stranger.</p> + +<p>Mrs. Talmage introduced the gentleman, Mr. Richards, one of the New York +advertising solicitors <span class='pagenum'><a name='pg_265' id='pg_265'>265</a></span>for the Philadelphia agency. He smiled in a +condescending way when Don asked, “Want to see our magazine?”</p> + +<p>“Yes, indeed! It is such an unusual thing to find such dear little +children interested in such a way,” replied Mr. Richards, looking about +at the boys and girls.</p> + +<p>Don looked at Dot with a glance that said as plain as day, “Pooh! he’s +trying to pat us on the back!”</p> + +<p>And Dot said to the visitor: “Don’t think that we like to be fussed over +just because we are working!”</p> + +<p>The rest of the publishing company looked uncomfortable at the very +evident tendency to humor them on account of their work.</p> + +<p>The fact was, that the man couldn’t understand why his firm (such a +sensible lot of business men) should send him away from his important +work in New York to call upon some wealthy ladies and a number of +children, to talk about advertising pages in a toy magazine.</p> + +<p>The two copies of the completed magazine had been given to Aunt Selina +and Mrs. Talmage and they expressed such satisfaction at the appearance +<span class='pagenum'><a name='pg_266' id='pg_266'>266</a></span>of the work that the man turned his attention to Mrs. Talmage. She +handed him her copy.</p> + +<p>When Mr. Richards saw the magazine, he was surprised out of his usual +self-possession and exclaimed,</p> + +<p>“Why, who did this?”</p> + +<p>“Blue Birds and Bobolinks,” replied Ned, with head tilted on one side +the better to see the precious book the man held.</p> + +<p>“But this is first-class work!” exclaimed the visitor.</p> + +<p>“Sure! did you think we were going to turn out anything else?” asked +Jinks, insulted.</p> + +<p>“Oh, of course not, but it takes experienced hands to do anything as +good as this,” continued Mr. Richards, turning the pages slowly and +examining each one carefully.</p> + +<p>“Well, Uncle Ben knew the kind of workers we were when he trusted us +with his pet hobby!” declared Ned, proudly.</p> + +<p>Mr. Richards looked rather helpless, so Mrs. Talmage explained who +“Uncle Ben” was and what part he had taken in the enterprise.</p> + +<p>Light gradually began to break in upon the young man’s brain as he heard +the story of the <span class='pagenum'><a name='pg_267' id='pg_267'>267</a></span>magazine. Suddenly he sat up as if electrified with a +new idea. He looked about at the children, the house, lawns, and ladies; +finally he took his return railroad ticket from his pocket and noted the +name printed on the card—Oakdale.</p> + +<p>“Well, well, well! is this place called ‘Mossy Glen’?” he asked.</p> + +<p>“It is,” replied Mrs. Talmage, wonderingly.</p> + +<p>“And these youngsters, the same that set folks agog last summer with +their ‘Fresh Airs’?”</p> + +<p>Mother Wings bowed affirmatively, but the Blue Birds, who had never +dreamed that their doings had ever been heard of outside of their own +little community, were as surprised as their visitor.</p> + +<p>The solicitor looked everyone over with a new interest after that, and +breathed softly to himself, “Great Scott! What a piece of luck to get +the lead in this idea!”</p> + +<p>“We do not understand exactly what you mean,” said Mrs. Talmage, with +dignity.</p> + +<p>“Well, I was present at a meeting a short time ago when the talk veered +to a project evolved by some children. It was creating quite a little +interest among the older men, but I paid little attention <span class='pagenum'><a name='pg_268' id='pg_268'>268</a></span>to it at the +time, for I had my mind full of other matters. But I remember hearing +one of the leading publishers state that he believed we would hear of +this undertaking in the future, for he knew some of the children who +were in it. Now, here I am, unconsciously dropped into the heart of it.”</p> + +<p>From that moment Mr. Richards was the enthusiastic collaborator of the +company. He went over the pages of the magazine again and made some +valuable suggestions for the future. When he expressed a desire to visit +their plant, everyone jumped up ready to show him the B. B. & B. B. +Publishing House.</p> + +<p>Another great surprise awaited Mr. Richards. He had an idea that the +work was done upon toy machinery, or hand presses; but, to find a shop +equipped with electric motors and up-to-date machines, to say nothing of +type-stands and a real office, was more than he could comprehend.</p> + +<p>“I’m not surprised at the statement that man made at the meeting—he +must have known you children, indeed!”</p> + +<p>“Seems to me that we are getting this young man ‘rooted’ in this work,” +laughed Aunt Selina, <span class='pagenum'><a name='pg_269' id='pg_269'>269</a></span>who liked the expression ever since Mrs. Talmage +told her how to interest friends in the work.</p> + +<p>“Well, I’m ‘grafted’ upon this idea even if I’m not ‘rooted,’” returned +Mr. Richards, laughingly. “So much so, in fact, that I am going to make +a suggestion that I think will meet with the approval of all of you.”</p> + +<p>The children came closer to await his proposition.</p> + +<p>“At present I am an advertising man, but I used to be on one of the +large newspapers in the city, and whenever any unusual story came in I +was supposed to ‘dress it’ for publication. Now, in my opinion, this +whole affair will make a fine story for the press and at the same time +give this magazine the publicity it needs.” Mr. Richards looked at the +ladies for approval.</p> + +<p>“It doesn’t seem valuable enough for a paper to print,” ventured Mrs. +Talmage.</p> + +<p>“It is the <i>unusual</i> that papers are always after,” replied Mr. +Richards. “Show me anything more unusual than this (waving his arm about +to embrace the children, the plant and the work) and I will run after +it!”</p> + +<p><span class='pagenum'><a name='pg_270' id='pg_270'>270</a></span>“What would you say in the story?” asked Aunt Selina.</p> + +<p>“Well, I’d take kodak pictures of this office, of the plant, and of the +Winter Nest you have been telling me about. Then we would group the +children on the lawn in front of the house and have a picture of the +Blue Birds and Bobolinks who own and publish this magazine.”</p> + +<p>“What would Mr. Sphere say if he saw the story in the papers?” asked +Aunt Selina.</p> + +<p>“He’d say, ‘Richie, old boy, I always knew you had a grain of sense in +your head!’” laughed Mr. Richards.</p> + +<p>“I have a fine camera in case you want to use it,” said Ned, eagerly.</p> + +<p>“And we have everything in good shape to have a picture taken,” added +Meredith.</p> + +<p>“If the ladies consent we will lose no more time, but get the pictures +while the sun is right,” Mr. Richards said, as he turned toward the +ladies and Blue Birds.</p> + +<p>“Yes, yes, Mother Wings, let’s do it!” cried several Blue Birds. So Aunt +Selina and Mrs. Talmage smiled a consent.</p> + +<p>Ned brought his camera and Mr. Richards <span class='pagenum'><a name='pg_271' id='pg_271'>271</a></span>grouped the Bobolinks about the +machines in as workman-like poses as possible, and managed to get a good +picture of them. Next, the office, with Jinks at the typewriter and Ned +at the desk, was photographed. Outside, the Blue Birds and Bobolinks +grouped themselves in front of the door and another picture was taken. +The Blue Birds were given their pose as editors in the large library of +the house, where books and writing material could be utilized in the +picture. The Winter Nest was the last picture to be taken.</p> + +<p>“Now, watch the papers for a story of your entire plan and achievement, +with illustrations, and if you don’t tell me the next time I come out +that my idea was the best publicity plan imaginable, then you’ll be +ungrateful, indeed!” said Mr. Richards, pleased as he could be with the +success of his visit.</p> + +<p>“When will the papers come out?” asked Ned.</p> + +<p>“I’ll keep you posted day by day. I’m not going to lose sight of such a +promising crowd of young folks, <i>I tell you!</i>” laughed the young man as +he placed the film in his pocket and started to say good-by.</p> + +<p>“Say, here, are you going to take that magazine <span class='pagenum'><a name='pg_272' id='pg_272'>272</a></span>with you?” cried Don, +seeing the magazine rolled up in the visitor’s hand.</p> + +<p>“Well, I guess! I’m going to exploit this everywhere I go,” said Mr. +Richards, tapping the paper with his hand.</p> + +<p>“And tell the newspaper man that lots of famous folks have promised to +write for us,” said Ruth, who desired the magazine to have all the glory +possible.</p> + +<p>“And tell him to be sure and say that Aunt Selina will be glad to have +grown-ups write to ask her about Happy Hills,” added Aunt Selina, +anxious to have the children’s farm advertised.</p> + +<p>“I’ll make them write everything I can think of, and more too, if +possible,” laughed the young man as he started down the steps.</p> + +<p>“Oh, Mr. Richards, I forgot to tell——” Don started to say something, +but Ike interrupted from the automobile which had been waiting for some +time in front of the house.</p> + +<p>“There’ll just be time to jump aboard that train if we get off at once!”</p> + +<p>Mr. Richards jumped in and raised his hat to the ladies, while Ike +started the car at full <span class='pagenum'><a name='pg_273' id='pg_273'>273</a></span>speed, the children meantime waving their hands +and shouting reminders after the visitor.</p> + +<p>Back to the Publishing House trooped the bevy of workers, more eager +than ever to continue their work.</p> + +<p>“Now, he’s what I call an ‘all right’ man!” declared Don Starr, +emphatically, as he accented his words with punches at the stitcher.</p> + +<p>“What a piece of luck for us,” exclaimed Ned, overjoyed at the promised +newspaper story.</p> + +<p>“I always said I wanted to go through college,” said Tuck Stevens, +thoughtfully; “but what’s the use? When I have such a good business to +work in and will be all ready to live on my money by the time I’m a man, +why should I bother?”</p> + +<p>“That’s so, Tuck; better have a good time on that money,” laughed Jinks.</p> + +<p>“Better ‘not count your chickens before they’re hatched’ or they may +never come out of the shell,” teased Ned.</p> + +<p>The Blue Birds had been equally busy talking, while folding pages, but +the work soon engrossed too much of their attention to keep up any +conversation.</p> + +<p>After several hours’ work the Blue Birds <span class='pagenum'><a name='pg_274' id='pg_274'>274</a></span>began to feel tired and +decided to carry the finished magazines to the house.</p> + +<p>As each little girl came up the steps carrying a heap of neatly finished +magazines, the two ladies stopped talking and turned to watch the girls +deposit the magazines on the table in the hallway.</p> + +<p>“What were you saying about Happy Hills, mother?” asked Ruth.</p> + +<p>“Aunt Selina was telling me all about the three beautiful hills at the +back of the estate. She said what pretty kodak pictures they would make +if we wanted to use them for the magazine, and I said it might be a good +plan to write up a short story about our plan for next month’s issue.”</p> + +<p>“Oh, yes, that would be a fine start for the farm,” cried Ruth.</p> + +<p>“And we think that we would need all of the time we can get to make sure +of next summer’s success,” added Aunt Selina.</p> + +<p>“Aunt Selina, how many poor children do you think we can keep at Happy +Hills?” asked Ruth.</p> + +<p>“We could not tell without having expert help to show how many camps can +be built there,” said Aunt Selina.</p> + +<p><span class='pagenum'><a name='pg_275' id='pg_275'>275</a></span>“Oh, are you going to build camps, Aunt Selina?” asked Norma.</p> + +<p>“I thought the children were going to live in the woods,” said Dot.</p> + +<p>“But you didn’t expect them to sleep on the ground and dress behind the +bushes, did you?” said May.</p> + +<p>“I never thought what they would do,” returned Dot.</p> + +<p>“Will you have nests to live in like ours in the cherry-tree?” asked +Betty.</p> + +<p>“No, dearie, I am planning to build little houses that will hold about +six or eight bunks, and a locker for each child. These houses will have +a floor and a roof with posts to hold it up, but the walls will be made +of canvas curtains that we can roll up when we want the house wide open. +The long building where the children will gather to eat or have games, +will be centrally located if we build it in the valley between the three +hills,” explained Aunt Selina.</p> + +<p>“Are we going to give the camp a name?” asked Edith.</p> + +<p>“Why, we hadn’t thought of that—we can use <span class='pagenum'><a name='pg_276' id='pg_276'>276</a></span>the name ‘Happy Hills,’ +couldn’t we?” said Mrs. Talmage.</p> + +<p>“Nobody will know the camp is any different then. The place has always +been called Happy Hills, so how is a stranger going to know that it is +the same where the children are living?” said Dot.</p> + +<p>“The name ‘Hills’ sounds all right, but you can’t call the big house in +the valley by the name of ‘Hills’; we ought to have a new name for +<i>that</i> so the children will know what place we mean when we talk about +the dining-room,” suggested Norma.</p> + +<p>“Just say ‘Valley where the long house is,’” said Edith.</p> + +<p>“That doesn’t sound nice, a bit! Everything else we have have such nice +names,” complained Ruth.</p> + +<p>“But, why do you children want a name for the valley and one for the +children’s camps?” asked Aunt Selina.</p> + +<p>“Doesn’t everything in the world have a name?” asked Dot.</p> + +<p>The others laughed, but Ruth added, “Dot’s right; we have a name for our +cherry-tree nest, <span class='pagenum'><a name='pg_277' id='pg_277'>277</a></span>and one for the new nest; and Mrs. Catlin is going to +call her Blue Birds’ nest ‘Hill Top Nest’—‘Blue Birds of Hill Top +Nest.’”</p> + +<p>“But this is different,” argued Mrs. Talmage.</p> + +<p>“No, it isn’t, Mrs. Talmage,” insisted Dot. “We call our house ‘Oakwood’ +and you call this place ‘Mossy Glen’—and our town we call Oakdale. Why, +what for? Everyone knows where the Starrs live, and where the Talmages +live, and we all know where the town lives, so what’s the use of having +names?”</p> + +<p>“Dot, you hit the nail on the head every time,” said Aunt Selina, as all +of the others laughed at Dot’s explanation.</p> + +<p>“Yes, but that’s why we want a name for our children’s camp and the +valley,” said Ruth.</p> + +<p>“Really, it doesn’t matter to us how many names you choose to give +it—just please yourselves about it,” said Aunt Selina.</p> + +<p>“All right, then, if you don’t mind, we’ll try to get a real lovely name +for it,” said Betty, smiling at Aunt Selina.</p> + +<p>For quite a time, silence reigned, for the Blue Birds were trying to +think of a pretty name for the farm.</p> + +<p><span class='pagenum'><a name='pg_278' id='pg_278'>278</a></span>“In ‘Pilgrim’s Progress’ there is a ‘Valley of Humility,’” suggested +May.</p> + +<p>“I’ll run and get the Bible Concordance—that will have some valley +names in it,” said Ruth, running indoors to get the book.</p> + +<p>“Now, listen while I read some for you,” continued Ruth, bringing the +book over to the wicker table.</p> + +<p>“Here’s one—‘Inhabitants of the Valley’—turn that about and call it +‘Valley of Inhabitants.’”</p> + +<p>“No, that isn’t nice!” objected several voices.</p> + +<p>“Then comes a lot of hard-spelled names of valleys that won’t do, +either. Next comes: ‘valley of passengers’ and ‘valley of vision.’”</p> + +<p>“We don’t want either one,” grumbled Dot.</p> + +<p>“Would you like the name ‘Valley of Joy’?” asked Aunt Selina.</p> + +<p>After a few moments’ thought the children replied, “Better, but not +right yet.”</p> + +<p>Aunt Selina smiled and thought how difficult to please were these Blue +Birds; but Mrs. Talmage smiled, knowing that the children knew just what +they wanted.</p> + +<p>After much thinking and suggesting, Ruth <span class='pagenum'><a name='pg_279' id='pg_279'>279</a></span>said, “We ought to have a name +that will fit with Happy Hills, you know.”</p> + +<p>After “pleasure,” “fun,” “contentment” and other names had been +suggested, Aunt Selina suddenly mentioned “delight.”</p> + +<p>“Valley of Delight,” repeated Mrs. Talmage to hear the sound of it, +while the Blue Birds hailed the name as just right.</p> + +<p>“Happy Hills in the Valley of Delight!” said Aunt Selina, as pleased as +the children were.</p> + +<p>“Write it down—that’s its name from now on,” cried Dot.</p> + +<p>“We want it printed on all of our letter paper that will be used for +farm purposes,” said Mrs. Talmage.</p> + +<p>“Oh, yes; won’t it look fine to send out letters asking folks to send +donations for the poor children of ‘Happy Hills in the Valley of +Delight!’ and let them see the name on top of some nice grey paper,” +cried Edith.</p> + +<p>“Wish we could find a name for those poor children. I never like to say +that word—‘poor,’” complained Ruth.</p> + +<p>“Neither do I,” added Norma.</p> + +<p>“I know I wouldn’t like a country child to be <span class='pagenum'><a name='pg_280' id='pg_280'>280</a></span>always calling me ‘poor +city child,’” declared Betty.</p> + +<p>“Then you ought to find a nice name for all of them, too, so we won’t +have to say ‘poor’ any more,” said Mrs. Talmage.</p> + +<p>All heads were bent down again while busy brains tried to find a +suitable name for the protégés coming from the city.</p> + +<p>“Could they be called ‘birds’ like us?” asked Dot.</p> + +<p>“I do not think city children would care for such a name. You see, dear, +they are so precocious from their daily experiences that they might +think a bird-name silly,” said Mrs. Talmage.</p> + +<p>“Maybe they would like the name ‘Little Soldiers,’” ventured Norma.</p> + +<p>“Oh, that makes you think of ‘Onward Christian Soldiers’ and they would +guess we were goin’ to make them join a Sunday School class right off!” +objected Dot.</p> + +<p>Everyone laughed at Dot’s viewpoint, but Aunt Selina was given an idea +by Norma’s suggestion.</p> + +<p>“How would ‘Little Workers’ sound?” she asked.</p> + +<p><span class='pagenum'><a name='pg_281' id='pg_281'>281</a></span>“Then they will all fear you are going to make them work,” laughed Mrs. +Talmage.</p> + +<p>“‘Little Lambs’—‘Little Folks’—‘Little Friends,’” recited Dot, +zealously, then waited for a verdict.</p> + +<p>Heads were shaken in negation of the names, and Ruth started a list of +names.</p> + +<p>“‘Little Americans’—how’s that?”</p> + +<p>“Better, but not good enough,” replied her mother.</p> + +<p>“Oh, here’s one—everything that lives in a forest is called a ‘denizen’ +of the forest—let’s call our children ‘Little Denizens,’” cried Norma.</p> + +<p>“Wish someone could find a name that would mean the same as Americans +and woods folks,” came from Betty wistfully.</p> + +<p>“How does ‘Little Citizens’ sound?” asked Ruth.</p> + +<p>“Wait! say it again!” exclaimed Mrs. Talmage, while the children and +Aunt Selina seemed to like the name.</p> + +<p>“Little Citizens—of Happy Hills in the Valley of Delight,” rehearsed +Ruth.</p> + +<p><span class='pagenum'><a name='pg_282' id='pg_282'>282</a></span>“Why, just the thing—it’s lovely!” cried Aunt Selina.</p> + +<p>“Yes, Fluff, couldn’t be better,” said several of the Blue Birds.</p> + +<p>“Sounds almost like a book story-name, it’s so pretty,” commended Mrs. +Talmage.</p> + +<p>There was no more leisure to admire their new names, because shouts were +heard in the direction of the Publishing House, and the boys came out, +each carrying a stack of magazines piled up in their arms. They reached +the steps and Mrs. Talmage hurried to the hallway to show them in which +closet to place them.</p> + +<p>“My, but that was a big load!” exclaimed Don.</p> + +<p>“Big piece of work, that!” said Jinks.</p> + +<p>“More fun than I’ve ever had,” commented Meredith.</p> + +<p>“But it makes a fellow awful hungry to work so hard. I wish it was night +so the men could treat,” hinted Don.</p> + +<p>The last remark from Don made the children laugh at him, but Mrs. +Talmage said, “Don, if you will take Ned into the dining-room you will +find something there which you can carry out here.”</p> + +<p><span class='pagenum'><a name='pg_283' id='pg_283'>283</a></span>Don looked surprised, but Ned led him indoors to find what the surprise +could be.</p> + +<p>Soon both boys appeared again carrying a tray of cakes and dishes, while +the maid followed with a huge platter upon which stood a high brick of +ice-cream.</p> + +<p>The refreshments were so delicious that the boys said they could start +another day’s work if they were sure of being treated with more +ice-cream afterward.</p> + +<p>“How many magazines do you suppose you finished to-day?” asked Ruth, of +her brother.</p> + +<p>“Guess.”</p> + +<p>“I don’t know; we girls carried in ’most a hundred, but our piles were +not so high as the ones you boys brought in.”</p> + +<p>“Well, we counted before we left the office; there were thirty in a +pile, and we brought over thirty piles—that made nine hundred all told, +but the hundred you girls carried in makes just one thousand copies. +Isn’t that great?” cried Ned.</p> + +<p>“Then we can begin mailing copies to our philanthropists to-night, can’t +we?” asked Norma.</p> + +<p><span class='pagenum'><a name='pg_284' id='pg_284'>284</a></span>“Yes, and bring your mothers with you, to help,” said Mrs. Talmage.</p> + +<p>As everyone felt eager to get the thousand copies wrapped and mailed, +the children soon said good-by and went home to tell the great news of +the day’s work.</p> + +<hr class='major' /> +<div style='margin: auto; text-align: center; padding-top: 1em; padding-bottom: 1em'> +<a name='HOW_THE_MAGAZINE_WENT_OUT_6519' id='HOW_THE_MAGAZINE_WENT_OUT_6519'></a> +<h2>CHAPTER XV</h2> +<h3>HOW THE MAGAZINE WENT OUT</h3> +</div> + +<p>Before nine o’clock that night the magazines had all been wrapped, ready +for Ike to take to the post-office. The children were just as eager to +continue the work, but Mrs. Talmage said that nine o’clock was time to +go home.</p> + +<p>“We’ll all be here Monday afternoon to help some more, Mrs. Talmage,” +promised the Blue Birds as they skipped away beside their mothers.</p> + +<p>It took the Bobolinks all of that week, working every moment after +school, and many of the evening hours, to finish the rest of the +magazines. Everyone had decided that ten thousand would be enough for +the first issue, for it took so long to wrap each copy that no extra +time could be given to printing.</p> + +<p>The first week of November results began to appear. One day the Blue +Birds came to the Winter Nest and found several letters lying on the +table, addressed to the “Blue Birds of Oakdale.”</p> + +<p><span class='pagenum'><a name='pg_286' id='pg_286'>286</a></span>“Oh, oh! who do you s’pose they are from?” eagerly asked Norma.</p> + +<p>Dot was trying to look right through the envelope and the others laughed +at her expression.</p> + +<p>“Let’s open them and see!” said sensible Ruth.</p> + +<p>Mrs. Talmage entered the room just then and the letters were given her +to open and read aloud.</p> + +<p>“Maybe they are subscriptions,” suggested Mrs. Talmage, as she slipped a +paper-knife under the flap of an envelope.</p> + +<p>“Goodness! suppose they are?” whispered Betty.</p> + +<p>“What would we do with them?” said Dot.</p> + +<p>As this was an entirely new and unexpected problem, the Blue Birds +looked at each other and then at Mrs. Talmage.</p> + +<p>“I think we will have to invite the Bobolinks to a conference to-day and +talk this matter over,” said Mother Wings.</p> + +<p>Norma was sent to the Publishing House to invite the boys to be present +at the meeting that afternoon at five. As it was four-thirty, the boys +hurried to wash their hands and pull down their shirt sleeves, for +almost all of them had taken off their coats and rolled up their +sleeves.</p> + +<p><span class='pagenum'><a name='pg_287' id='pg_287'>287</a></span>The meeting proved to be very important in the judgment of the +children, for the letters were found to contain money orders and checks +which had to be deposited in some bank.</p> + +<p>After looking over the papers, Ned said, “We must sign these and send +back a receipt, eh, mother?”</p> + +<p>“Yes, and we must select some bank in which to place our account; shall +we say the Oakdale Trust Company?” said Mrs. Talmage.</p> + +<p>So that was agreed upon and the secretary told to stop at the bank in +the morning and get the necessary blanks for the company to fill in.</p> + +<p>“What a heap of money the magazines must make,” said Dot. “Just look at +all the money we have already with no list.”</p> + +<p>“But you forget we have really no costs to pay at present so all that is +paid in is profit. But the city publishers have heavy expenses to pay +out of all their income,” explained Mrs. Talmage.</p> + +<p>“Uncle Ben says that hardly any magazine published could pay its +expenses on the subscriptions only; it is the advertising that pays for +the work,” said Ned.</p> + +<p><span class='pagenum'><a name='pg_288' id='pg_288'>288</a></span>“We ought to get busy on our advertising, then,” urged Jinks.</p> + +<p>“If we don’t we won’t pay costs after all of these free donations of +paper and postage are over,” added Meredith.</p> + +<p>“You boys practised that part of the work, so why don’t you try and call +upon some big firms and ask for contracts?” asked Dot.</p> + +<p>“How do you know we practised?” questioned Ned, looking at the Blue +Birds, who started giggling as they recalled the visit to the loft over +the carriage house.</p> + +<p>“Ho, didn’t you?” insisted Dot.</p> + +<p>“No one but we boys knew it—we kept the doors closed while we tried to +see which one could do it best,” replied Don.</p> + +<p>“A little bird whispered it in our ears,” teased Ruth.</p> + +<p>“Say, Jinks! do you remember the time I heard those noises in the loft?” +asked Ned.</p> + +<p>The Bobolinks saw that the girls were laughing at them.</p> + +<p>“I wonder when Mr. Richards will get that story printed in the +papers—that will help so much!” sighed Betty.</p> + +<p><span class='pagenum'><a name='pg_289' id='pg_289'>289</a></span>“Don’t be impatient, little girl,” said Mrs. Talmage. “Remember, we +have only just begun, and I think there have been marvelous steps +taken.”</p> + +<p>“And when it once gets started, the subscription list will grow very +rapidly,” added Aunt Selina.</p> + +<p>And so it proved. In a few weeks’ time the letters containing checks and +money orders for subscriptions reached such proportions that Mrs. +Talmage was distracted trying to attend properly to the clerical work. +Mr. Talmage saw that it was such tiresome application to detail that he +telephoned Uncle Ben to send out a competent filing clerk; in a few days +a nice young girl of about eighteen arrived and took charge of all the +mail, and Mrs. Talmage heaved a deep sigh of relief.</p> + +<p>Uncle Ben had made it a custom to visit his brother’s family every +week-end since the inception of the magazine, and one Saturday he +arrived unusually early—in time for lunch.</p> + +<p>“Ned, can you call a meeting of the B. B. & B. B.’s at the Publishing +House for two o’clock?” asked Uncle Ben.</p> + +<p><span class='pagenum'><a name='pg_290' id='pg_290'>290</a></span>“The Bobolinks will be there anyway, but I am not so sure about the +Blue Birds,” said Ned, looking at Ruth.</p> + +<p>“We had something to talk over in the Winter Nest, but we can postpone +it until afterward,” said Ruth.</p> + +<p>So at two o’clock all of the children were gathered about Uncle Ben to +hear the news he had to tell them.</p> + +<p>Uncle Ben made a great fuss clearing his throat as if in preparation for +an oration, then took a packet of letters from his pocket.</p> + +<p>“The sample issue of your magazine made such a stir in various +publishing circles, that one of the officers of the Publishers’ +Association asked me Thursday night who was back of all this business +that a lot of youngsters had started down at Oakdale.</p> + +<p>“I didn’t reply right away, and a man sitting near me said, ‘Oh, some +folks, probably, who have a smattering of how to do printing!’</p> + +<p>“Some of my friends laughed hilariously, for they thought it a good joke +on me, but the President of the association was not satisfied.</p> + +<p>“‘This is no amateurish work, Mackensie,’ he <span class='pagenum'><a name='pg_291' id='pg_291'>291</a></span>said; ‘here is a copy of +the magazine and I tell you it can compete with any juvenile publication +in the country. Why, man, the names of some of the contributors are +familiar to me, for I know of offers made to induce these same writers +to throw us morsels of their wisdom.’</p> + +<p>“Then a friend of mine spoke.</p> + +<p>“‘This whole affair sounds very much like the pet hobby of a friend—he +told me about it years ago.’</p> + +<p>“The other men laughed at the explanation, but my friend looked at me +and said, ‘Talmage, what do <i>you</i> know about it?’</p> + +<p>“Then I said, ‘My niece and nephew belong to the Blue Birds and +Bobolinks that started the poor children’s outing at Oakdale, last +summer. They have become so interested in the work that they propose +raising enough money this winter to take over a farm of a few thousand +acres and send out hundreds of children for all of next summer.’</p> + +<p>“‘They what?’ exclaimed every man present.</p> + +<p>“‘Say that again!’ commanded the President, so I gladly told them the +story in detail.</p> + +<p><span class='pagenum'><a name='pg_292' id='pg_292'>292</a></span>“Well, B. B. & B. B.’s—do you want to know the result of that +meeting?”</p> + +<p>The children shouted and begged to be told at once, so Uncle Ben +continued with evident pleasure in the telling.</p> + +<p>“Those great publishers talked for hours of ways and means in which to +help along your good work. Some promised to interest prominent people +they knew, and others offered to insert advertising cards in their own +publications to tell about the magazine and its purpose. Almost every +one of them offered to make special clubbing offers with their own +magazines to induce readers to subscribe for yours.</p> + +<p>“Now, these letters are the results of some of the promises already kept +by these men. I will read them to you.”</p> + +<p>Uncle Ben then proceeded to read aloud the letters from prominent people +and philanthropists who had responded to the call made by friends. They +commended the interest shown by the younger generation and hoped the +sympathetic work done for the sick and poverty-stricken little ones of +the cities would win success. To this end a donation was inclosed.</p> + +<p><span class='pagenum'><a name='pg_293' id='pg_293'>293</a></span>As Uncle Ben read the last letter, he took from his wallet a package of +checks and handed them over to Ned.</p> + +<p>Ned saw the figure written on the face of the first check on top and +held the package as if it were dangerous.</p> + +<p>“Heigh, there, Ned, they aren’t loaded, are they?” laughed Jinks.</p> + +<p>“Read it off, Ned,” urged the boys and girls.</p> + +<p>“This top one is from the Cage Foundation and is for five hundred +dollars—subscriptions to be sent to hospitals. The next one——” and +Ned gasped again as he took up the second paper.</p> + +<p>Uncle Ben laughed at his evident amazement.</p> + +<p>“The second is from the Sarnegie Fund and is made out for a thousand +dollars, subscriptions to be sent to homes and orphanages.</p> + +<p>“And here’s another for five hundred dollars from Harriet Rowld. Then +there’s—let me see! One—two—three—four—for a hundred dollars each +for cripples’ homes.”</p> + +<p>When Ned finished the children were too surprised to say a word, but +Uncle Ben spoke for them.</p> + +<p>“Well, Chicks—I mean Birds—you see that <span class='pagenum'><a name='pg_294' id='pg_294'>294</a></span>any time you grow weary of +working out this scheme there will be no difficulty in selling the +business for cash. Any wide-awake publisher will jump over the moon to +get this magazine from you.”</p> + +<p>“Oh, Uncle Ben! what a dreadful thing to say!” cried Ruth.</p> + +<p>“As if we ever would sell out such a wonderful plan,” murmured several +of the children.</p> + +<p>“If every one of you feel the same about this matter, why not pass a +resolution that we will never sell out this business for mere commercial +reasons?” suggested Uncle Ben.</p> + +<p>It was instantly agreed upon and the resolution made a part of the +by-laws of the company.</p> + +<p>“Now, for a social proposition,” said Uncle Ben, smiling in his +possession of a pleasant secret.</p> + +<p>“I was thinking that we ought to get out an extra fine Christmas number, +and send out as many samples as could be turned off the press. To do +this you would have to have several men working during your school +hours, so I thought it best to ask the men already here to wait for +further orders. With all of this money on hand you can easily pay their +salary and that of another <span class='pagenum'><a name='pg_295' id='pg_295'>295</a></span>good man that I should like to send out here +to boss the work. Ike says he can fix up some rooms in the loft overhead +and the men can take their meals with him. The two men who are working +here like it very much and will remain if you want them to.”</p> + +<p>“But we would be crowded out of our work if the men did all of it,” +complained Don.</p> + +<p>“Not a bit of it! I said: ‘During school hours,’ so an extra large +number of magazines can be printed for Christmas. You boys worked every +moment of your time but could only finish ten thousand this month,” +explained Uncle Ben.</p> + +<p>So it was cheerfully agreed to have the men help them with the next +month’s magazine.</p> + +<p>“You said ‘social,’ but I don’t see anything social in having the men +help with the work,” grumbled Don.</p> + +<p>“Now that you will have the men to help with the work you will have time +to think of the social side of the plan I am going to suggest,” replied +Uncle Ben, winking at Don to cheer him up. “So many of my friends in New +York have heard of this B. B. & B. B. Company that I am constantly +answering questions as to your ages, looks, and <span class='pagenum'><a name='pg_296' id='pg_296'>296</a></span>other personal matters. +I think it will be a splendid plan to have all of you meet them soon and +spare me so many extra words and time, to say nothing of wear and tear +on my vocal cords.”</p> + +<p>“I know you’ve got a lovely surprise to tell us—I can tell it in your +voice!” cried Ruth, jumping up and hugging her uncle about the neck.</p> + +<p>“I don’t know whether it is or not—how can I say until the others tell +me whether it is,” said Uncle Ben, trying to look troubled over the +doubt.</p> + +<p>“Out with it, Uncle Ben!” laughed Ned.</p> + +<p>“Well, if I must, I must!” groaned Uncle Ben. “I have discovered a very +amusing play that has Saturday matinées. Of course, I suppose Birds +could get into a theatre, couldn’t they? Well, if we went to see the +show in the afternoon and then went to a hotel where we could have a +dining-room all to ourselves and give a little party to all of my +friends, it would save me so much trouble for the future.”</p> + +<p>Mere words failed to express the excitement and delight of the children +as they fully realized what Uncle Ben meant.</p> + +<p>“Oh,” said Betty, “I’ve never been to a theatre <span class='pagenum'><a name='pg_297' id='pg_297'>297</a></span>in my life—and to +think of going to one in New York, oh!”</p> + +<p>“Neither have I, Betty,” replied May. “Can you go?”</p> + +<p>“Will mother go with us, Uncle Ben?” asked Ruth.</p> + +<p>“Most assuredly, for you Blue Birds will have to have a Mother Wing to +cover you—and Aunt Selina, too, if she will come,” said Uncle Ben.</p> + +<p>“When can we go?” asked Don, eagerly.</p> + +<p>“Have you decided to come?” teased Uncle Ben.</p> + +<p>The storm of acceptance made him laugh.</p> + +<p>“Well, then, let’s say a week from next Saturday, if everyone can +arrange it for that time. I will invite my friends to be at our party at +six o’clock sharp, for afterward we will have to come home on the nine +o’clock train.”</p> + +<p>“And will some of those real publishers be there, Uncle Ben?” asked Ned, +sceptically.</p> + +<p>“Some of the greatest in America, my boy,” said Uncle Ben, seriously, as +he understood Ned’s ambition to meet them and his doubt of having the +desire fulfilled.</p> + +<p>“What must we wear?” asked Norma.</p> + +<p><span class='pagenum'><a name='pg_298' id='pg_298'>298</a></span>“The prettiest that you have, for I want to show off my publishing +company to the very best advantage,” replied Uncle Ben.</p> + +<p>Just then Mr. Talmage appeared at the doorway and said,</p> + +<p>“Do you know that dinner is almost ready and no one there to sit down to +table?”</p> + +<p>Then everyone began to tell of the party to be given in New York, and +Mr. Talmage seemed very much surprised.</p> + +<p>“If that is the case, you will all have to do your very best to have a +fine Christmas magazine so that the friends you meet in New York will +want to come to another party at some other time. Perhaps if the +magazine was very, very attractive they would feel so proud of being +acquainted with you that they would take the trouble to come all the way +out to Oakdale to have a party this winter,” ventured Mr. Talmage.</p> + +<p>“Wouldn’t it be fun to invite them all here at the Christmas Holidays +and give them a real country Christmas tree with Uncle Ben for Santa +Claus!” cried Betty, expectantly.</p> + +<p>“And sleigh-rides from the train, and bob-sledding <span class='pagenum'><a name='pg_299' id='pg_299'>299</a></span>down Oakdale Hill, +then over to our Publishing House for the Tree,” added Dot.</p> + +<p>“And have a present for everyone like we had on our Fourth-of-July +tree,” cried Ruth.</p> + +<p>“And after all the fun is over, a great big feast with plum-pudding,” +sighed Don, making them all laugh.</p> + +<p>“Yes, I think that will be fine, and I don’t believe one of those New +Yorkers will stay away if you tell them all the fun you propose giving +them,” laughed Uncle Ben.</p> + +<p>“But, first, let us have our party with you, Uncle Ben, then we can talk +about the Christmas one,” advised Ned.</p> + +<p>Families in Oakdale were entertained that Saturday night by hearing the +children tell of the plans made by Uncle Ben for the social side of the +B. B. & B. B.’s life. Many were the dreams of all the fun to be had when +that New York party came off.</p> + +<p>While the children were home talking over the anticipated dinner-party, +the grown-ups at Mossy Glen were engaged in perfecting plans for the +party. Invitations on grey paper, printed in blue ink, with a flight of +birds shadowed across <span class='pagenum'><a name='pg_300' id='pg_300'>300</a></span>the sheet was the suggestion of Aunt Selina. The +favors for the table and the tokens presented for speech-making were +suggested by Mrs. Talmage, while the dinner and decorations were planned +by Mr. Talmage and Uncle Ben.</p> + +<p>Much fun was the result of the party in New York. The guests accepted +the B. B. & B. B.’s invitation to have a Christmas Tree at the +Publishing House with great eagerness. But it will take another book to +tell about everything that happened.</p> + +<p>This book, called “THE BLUE BIRDS’ UNCLE BEN,” is the third of the +series.</p> + +<hr class='dashed' /> + +<div class='figcenter' style='width:114px'> +<a name='illus-001' id='illus-001'></a> +<img src='images/bb03.jpg' alt='' title='' width='114' /><br /> +</div> + +<p style='text-align:center; font-size:large;'>The Girl Scouts Series</p> + +<p style='text-align:center;'>BY EDITH LAVELL</p> + +<p>A new copyright series of Girl Scouts stories by an author of wide +experience in Scouts’ craft, as Director of Girl Scouts of Philadelphia.</p> + +<p class='center'>Clothbound, with Attractive Color Designs.</p> + +<p class='center'>PRICE, 65 CENTS EACH.</p> + +<hr class='pct45' /> + +<p>THE GIRL SCOUTS AT MISS ALLEN’S SCHOOL<br /> +THE GIRL SCOUTS AT CAMP<br /> +THE GIRL SCOUTS’ GOOD TURN<br /> +THE GIRL SCOUTS’ CANOE TRIP<br /> +THE GIRL SCOUTS’ RIVALS<br /> +THE GIRL SCOUTS ON THE RANCH<br /> +THE GIRL SCOUTS’ VACATION ADVENTURES<br /> +THE GIRL SCOUTS’ MOTOR TRIP</p> + +<hr class='pct45' /> + +<p class='center'>For sale by all booksellers, or sent postpaid on receipt of price by the +Publishers</p> + +<p style='text-align:center;'>A. L. BURT COMPANY<br /> +114-120 EAST 23rd STREET NEW YORK</p> + +<hr class='dashed' /> + +<div class='figcenter' style='width:126px'> +<a name='illus-002' id='illus-002'></a> +<img src='images/bb04.jpg' alt='' title='' width='126' /><br /> +</div> + +<p style='text-align:center; font-size:large;'>Marjorie Dean High School Series</p> + +<p style='text-align:center'>BY PAULINE LESTER</p> + +<p>Author of the Famous Marjorie Dean College Series</p> + +<p>These are clean, wholesome stories that will be of great interest to all +girls of high school age.</p> + +<p class='center'>All Cloth Bound Copyright Titles</p> + +<p class='center'>PRICE, 65 CENTS EACH</p> + +<hr class='pct45' /> + +<p>MARJORIE DEAN, HIGH SCHOOL FRESHMAN<br /> +MARJORIE DEAN, HIGH SCHOOL SOPHOMORE<br /> +MARJORIE DEAN, HIGH SCHOOL JUNIOR<br /> +MARJORIE DEAN, HIGH SCHOOL SENIOR</p> + +<hr class='pct45' /> + +<p class='center'>For sale by all booksellers, or sent postpaid on receipt of price by the +Publishers</p> + +<p style='text-align:center;'>A. L. BURT COMPANY<br /> +114-120 EAST 23rd STREET NEW YORK</p> + +<hr class='dashed' /> + +<div class='figcenter' style='width:114px'> +<a name='illus-003' id='illus-003'></a> +<img src='images/bb05.jpg' alt='' title='' width='114' /><br /> +</div> + +<p style='text-align:center; font-size:large;'>Marjorie Dean College Series</p> + +<p style='text-align:center'>BY PAULINE LESTER.</p> + +<p class='center'>Author of the Famous Marjorie Dean High School Series.</p> + +<p>Those who have read the Marjorie Dean High School Series will be eager +to read this new series, as Marjorie Dean continues to be the heroine in +these stories.</p> + +<p class='center'>All Clothbound. Copyright Titles. PRICE, 65 CENTS EACH.</p> + +<hr class='pct45' /> + +<p>MARJORIE DEAN, COLLEGE FRESHMAN<br /> +MARJORIE DEAN, COLLEGE SOPHOMORE<br /> +MARJORIE DEAN, COLLEGE JUNIOR<br /> +MARJORIE DEAN, COLLEGE SENIOR</p> + +<hr class='pct45' /> + +<p class='center'>For sale by all booksellers, or sent postpaid on receipt of price by the +Publishers.</p> + +<p style='text-align:center;'>A. L. BURT COMPANY<br /> +114-120 EAST 23rd STREET NEW YORK</p> + +<hr class='dashed' /> + +<div class='figcenter' style='width:121px'> +<a name='illus-004' id='illus-004'></a> +<img src='images/bb06.jpg' alt='' title='' width='121' /><br /> +</div> + +<p style='text-align:center; font-size:large;'>The Camp Fire Girls Series</p> + +<p style='text-align:center'>By HILDEGARD G. FREY</p> + +<hr class='pct45' /> + +<p class='center'>A Series of Outdoor Stories for Girls 12 to 16 Years.</p> + +<p class='center'>All Cloth Bound Copyright Titles PRICE, 65 CENTS EACH</p> + +<hr class='pct45' /> + +<p>THE CAMP FIRE GIRLS IN THE MAINE WOODS; +or, The Winnebagos go Camping.</p> + +<p>THE CAMP FIRE GIRLS AT SCHOOL; or, The +Wohelo Weavers.</p> + +<p>THE CAMP FIRE GIRLS AT ONOWAY HOUSE; or, +The Magic Garden.</p> + +<p>THE CAMP FIRE GIRLS GO MOTORING; or, Along +the Road That Leads the Way.</p> + +<p>THE CAMP FIRE GIRLS’ LARKS AND PRANKS; or, +The House of the Open Door.</p> + +<p>THE CAMP FIRE GIRLS ON ELLEN’S ISLE; or, The +Trail of the Seven Cedars.</p> + +<p>THE CAMP FIRE GIRLS ON THE OPEN ROAD; +or, Glorify Work.</p> + +<p>THE CAMP FIRE GIRLS DO THEIR BIT; or, Over +the Top with the Winnebagos.</p> + +<p>THE CAMP FIRE GIRLS SOLVE A MYSTERY; or, +The Christmas Adventure at Carver House.</p> + +<p>THE CAMP FIRE GIRLS AT CAMP KEEWAYDIN; +or, Down Paddles.</p> + +<hr class='pct45' /> + +<p class='center'>For sale by all booksellers, or sent postpaid on receipt of price by the +Publishers</p> + +<p style='text-align:center;'>A. L. BURT COMPANY<br /> +114-120 EAST 23rd STREET NEW YORK</p> + +<hr class='dashed' /> + +<div class='figcenter' style='width:120px'> +<a name='illus-005' id='illus-005'></a> +<img src='images/bb07.jpg' alt='' title='' width='120' /><br /> +</div> + +<p style='text-align:center; font-size:large;'>The Blue Grass Seminary Girls Series</p> + +<p style='text-align:center'>BY CAROLYN JUDSON BURNETT</p> + +<hr class='pct45' /> + +<p class='center'>For Girls 12 to 16 Years<br />All Cloth Bound Copyright Titles</p> + +<p class='center'>PRICE, 65 CENTS EACH</p> + +<p class='center'>Splendid stories of the Adventures of a Group of Charming Girls.</p> + +<hr class='pct45' /> + +<p>THE BLUE GRASS SEMINARY GIRLS’ VACATION ADVENTURES; +or, Shirley Willing to the Rescue.</p> + +<p>THE BLUE GRASS SEMINARY GIRLS’ CHRISTMAS HOLIDAYS; +or, A Four Weeks’ Tour with the Glee Club.</p> + +<p>THE BLUE GRASS SEMINARY GIRLS IN THE MOUNTAINS; +or, Shirley Willing on a Mission of Peace.</p> + +<p>THE BLUE GRASS SEMINARY GIRLS ON THE WATER; or, +Exciting Adventures on a Summer’s Cruise Through +the Panama Canal.</p> + +<hr class='dashed' /> + +<div class='figcenter' style='width:117px'> +<a name='illus-006' id='illus-006'></a> +<img src='images/bb08.jpg' alt='' title='' width='117' /><br /> +</div> + +<p style='text-align:center; font-size:large;'>The Mildred Series</p> + +<p style='text-align:center;'>BY MARTHA FINLEY</p> + +<hr class='pct45' /> + +<p class='center'>For Girls 12 to 16 Years.</p> + +<p class='center'>All Cloth Bound Copyright Titles</p> + +<p class='center'>PRICE, 65 CENTS EACH</p> + +<p class='center'>A Companion Series to the famous “Elsie” books by the same author.</p> + +<hr class='pct45' /> + +<p>MILDRED KEITH<br /> +MILDRED’S MARRIED LIFE<br /> +MILDRED AT ROSELAND<br /> +MILDRED AT HOME<br /> +MILDRED AND ELSIE<br /> +MILDRED’S BOYS AND GIRLS<br /> +MILDRED’S NEW DAUGHTER</p> + +<hr class='pct45' /> + +<p class='center'>For sale by all booksellers, or sent postpaid on receipt of price by the +Publishers</p> + +<p style='text-align:center;'>A. L. BURT COMPANY<br /> +114-120 EAST 23rd STREET NEW YORK</p> + +<hr class='dashed' /> + +<div class='figcenter' style='width:110px'> +<a name='illus-007' id='illus-007'></a> +<img src='images/bb09.jpg' alt='' title='' width='110' /><br /> +</div> + +<p style='text-align:center; font-size:large;'>The Radio Boys Series</p> + +<p style='text-align:center'>BY GERALD BRECKENRIDGE</p> + +<p class='center'>A new series of copyright titles for boys of all ages.</p> + +<p class='center'>Cloth Bound, with Attractive Cover Designs</p> + +<p class='center'>PRICE, 65 CENTS EACH</p> + +<hr class='pct45' /> + +<p>THE RADIO BOYS ON THE MEXICAN BORDER<br /> +THE RADIO BOYS ON SECRET SERVICE DUTY<br /> +THE RADIO BOYS WITH THE REVENUE GUARDS<br /> +THE RADIO BOYS’ SEARCH FOR THE INCA’S TREASURE<br /> +THE RADIO BOYS RESCUE THE LOST ALASKA EXPEDITION<br /> +THE RADIO BOYS IN DARKEST AFRICA<br /> +THE RADIO BOYS SEEK THE LOST ATLANTIS</p> + +<hr class='pct45' /> + +<p class='center'>For sale by all booksellers, or sent postpaid on receipt of price by the +Publishers</p> + +<p style='text-align:center;'>A. L. BURT COMPANY<br /> +114-120 EAST 23rd STREET NEW YORK</p> + + + + + + + + +<pre> + + + + + +End of the Project Gutenberg EBook of The Blue Birds' Winter Nest, by +Lillian Elizabeth Roy + +*** END OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK THE BLUE BIRDS' WINTER NEST *** + +***** This file should be named 23693-h.htm or 23693-h.zip ***** +This and all associated files of various formats will be found in: + http://www.gutenberg.org/2/3/6/9/23693/ + +Produced by Roger Frank and the Online Distributed +Proofreading Team at http://www.pgdp.net + + +Updated editions will replace the previous one--the old editions +will be renamed. + +Creating the works from public domain print editions means that no +one owns a United States copyright in these works, so the Foundation +(and you!) can copy and distribute it in the United States without +permission and without paying copyright royalties. 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