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diff --git a/23693.txt b/23693.txt new file mode 100644 index 0000000..710e56c --- /dev/null +++ b/23693.txt @@ -0,0 +1,7465 @@ +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: ASCII + +*** 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 + + + + + +[Illustration: The Blue Birds and Bobolinks were deep in the work of +constructing a magazine. (Page 259) ("The Blue Birds' Winter Nest.")] + +------------------------------------------------------------------------ + +THE BLUE BIRDS' WINTER NEST + +By +LILLIAN ELIZABETH ROY + +Author Of +"The Blue Birds of Happy Times Nest," "The Blue Birds' Uncle Ben," +"The Blue Birds at Happy Hills," "The Five Little Starrs Series," +"The Girl Scouts' Country Life Series," etc. + +A. L. BURT COMPANY +Publishers--New York + +Printed in U. S. A. + +------------------------------------------------------------------------ + +Copyright, 1916, by +THE PLATT & PECK COMPANY + +Printed in U. S. A. + +------------------------------------------------------------------------ + + CONTENTS + + CHAPTER PAGE + + I. How Aunt Selina Flew 7 + II. A Sunday Walk and Its Results 26 + III. The Blue Birds' Inspiration 45 + IV. The Bobolink Boys Founded 62 + V. Uncle Ben's Business Talk 81 + VI. Beginning the Winter Work 96 + VII. Blue Bird Wisdom and Bobolink Work 114 + VIII. Aunt Selina's Civil War Story 135 + IX. How the Yankees Took Possession 160 + X. Beginning To Spell Success 179 + XI. The Winter Nest Council 199 + XII. The Story of an Alaskan Trip 219 + XIII. A Winter in the Frozen North 238 + XIV. The B. B. & B. B. Magazine 259 + XV. How the Magazine Went Out 285 + +------------------------------------------------------------------------ + + + + +THE BLUE BIRDS' WINTER NEST + +CHAPTER I + +HOW AUNT SELINA FLEW + + +"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. + +"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. + +"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. + +"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!" + +"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. + +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 mistress' words, as she bent over a fresh +piece of toast. + +"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. + +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. + +"Want I should leave you alone, or he'p you break the bread?" asked +Sally, soothingly. + +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." + +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. + +"Does you 'member, Miss S'lina, de las' time little Rufie visited us? +Dat's de time she was all full of a plan for havin' some kin' of a +bird's nest at home. I wonder ef she ever did fix it up?" + +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. + +"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." + +"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. + +"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. + +Suddenly, the crunching of wheels on the gravel drive was heard, and +Sally craned her neck to look from the window. + +"There goes Abe now," she said. + +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. + +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. + +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. + +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, in turn, earnestly promised to explain to her +father just why she went away the day he was expected home. + +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. + +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. + +The entire property was enclosed with a high fence, even the woodland +being carefully hemmed 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. + +Sally was a trusted old housekeeper who had her mistress' confidence; +Abe was her husband who had driven the Talmage coupe ever since he came +North at the time of the Civil War. + +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. + +And for this old lady, Ruth had waived the anticipated home coming of +her dear father! + +Breakfast over, Sally propped Miss Selina up on the cushions and left +her for a time. + +After wondering how long it would take Abe to drive back from the +eleven-thirty train, Miss 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. + +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. + +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: + +"Aunt Selina! I'm here! Are you glad to have me?" while a pair of soft +little arms were gently placed about her withered old neck and fresh +little lips pressed her cheek. + +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. + +"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 _Chirp_. Now, +instead of Aunt Selina, I want to call you a bird-name, too. May I?" + +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." + +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 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 _must_ have a new name to say, because there is +so _much_ 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." + +"What could you call me?" questioned her aunt, trying to fall in with +the child's whim. + +"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." + +"'Fluff' suits you beautifully. Who found it?" said the old lady +interestedly. + +"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." + +"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 York, and _her_ 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. + +"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. + +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?" + +"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. + +"No such thing!" retorted Ruth. "I never saw 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." + +Of course, Aunt Selina felt elated to hear such comforting words, but +Ruth gave her no time to meditate. + +"Do you like the name I, as your god-mother, give you?" laughed the +merry little girl. + +"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. + +Aunt Selina, in spite of her age, felt a childish 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." + +"Yes, that's the way," replied Ruth, clapping her hands softly. "Now, +let me tell you all the wonderful things we did this summer." + +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. + +At this moment a loud knock at the door caused Aunt Selina to sit up and +call out, "Come in!" + +"Shall you hab lunch in de dinin' room, or serbed here?" said Sally. + +"Lunch! Why, is it time--is it one o'clock?" gasped Miss Selina. + +"Ya'as'm--pas dat hour, too," replied Sally, smiling broadly at Ruth, +who returned the good-natured feeling. + +"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." + +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. + +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!" + +Then whisking a few tiny crumbs from the couch afghan, Sally gathered up +the doilies and went out, smiling contentedly. + +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. + +She listened attentively to every word, until Ruth concluded with the +words, "Now, we are planning some great work for our winter nest, but +we don't know just what we will choose." + +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. + +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." + +During dinner she marveled at the improvement in her physical condition +and worried lest her ailments return suddenly. But Ruth reassured her. + +"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." + +Aunt Selina looked dumbfounded for a moment. + +"Ruth, do you suppose that's what ails me--nothing to do but think of +myself all of the time?" said she. + +"Flutey, not only with you, but with lots of folks!" replied Ruth, +wisely. "You see, anyone 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. + +"Now what ails you, child?" inquired Aunt Selina, smiling in sympathy +with her guest's merry laugh. + +"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 about leaving home to-day, and now, +laughing over it. Don't you see?" + +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." + +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. + +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. + +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. + +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. + +The last letter took a long time to write and Aunt Selina was fully +awake before Ruth had finished. + +"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. + +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 leisure time and +wealth, she turned her face to the wall and shed bitter tears of regret. + +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." + +Then Aunt Selina fell into a restful, health-giving sleep such as she +had not had in years. + + + + +CHAPTER II + +A SUNDAY WALK AND ITS RESULTS + + +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. + +"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. + +"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. + +"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. + +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. + +Sally soon came and told Ruth breakfast was ready and there sat Miss +Selina welcoming her with a cheery smile! + +"Do you feel as happy and free as a Blue Bird, Flutey?" asked Ruth, +giving Aunt Selina a hearty embrace. + +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. + +"Yes, Fluff, I feel unusually well this morning. I slept like a babe all +night," replied her aunt. + +"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 +to join the bigger girls in their Camp Fires. So we begin to practice +good health now," explained Ruth. + +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. + +"While I was waiting on the piazza, this morning, I planned to take you +for a nice long walk," said Ruth. + +"Why, my dear, I simply cannot walk out of doors. I could hardly hobble +about the house this morning." + +"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. + +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. + +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." + +"Oh, no, indeed I'm not. It won't hurt the chair, and even if it did, +your pleasure just now is better than ten chairs!" decided Ruth. + +After several weak attempts to turn Ruth from her purpose, Aunt Selina +surrendered with a sigh. + +As Sally left the room just then she chuckled to herself, "Dat chile +will shorely 'juvenate Miss S'lina!" + +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. + +Aunt Selina felt a bit conscious at being wheeled like a baby, but Ruth +was too merry to permit anything but joy to prevail. + +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. + +"Flutey, don't you ever go to church on Sunday mornings?" asked Ruth. + +"The only church is so far away that I would have to drive for half an +hour to reach it; then, too, it is not a denomination that I approve +of," she replied, coolly. + +But a little thing like a cold reply or a curt tone never daunted Ruth +when she was after any particular information. + +"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." + +"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. + +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: + +"I love Jesus, and I believe he taught everyone the same way, and I +believe he just loved everybody the same way." + +"We will not discuss religion, Ruth. Just keep on thinking and doing as +Mother has taught you." + +"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. + +Aunt Selina looked about the land in the light of a new revelation. + +"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." + +Aunt Selina looked across the fields and woods but said nothing, so Ruth +continued. + +"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 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." + +As Ruth concluded and looked wistfully over the fertile land, her aunt +sat thinking for a time, then answered. + +"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." + +Ruth gasped in amazement at the splendid idea, then jumped up and down +with delight while she shouted aloud. + +"Oh, oh! Flutey! that is great! Why, just think of all the streets full +of poor children who can enjoy these wonderful woods!" + +Aunt Selina winced at the word "street children," but she spoke with +determination. + +"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." + +"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 _you_!" + +"If I had gone to you, you might never have had the idea of using these +woods for the children," ventured her aunt. + +"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?" + +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. + +"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. + +"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?" + +Aunt Selina, who never visited and seldom left her home, looked +horrified for a moment. But Ruth continued innocently, + +"We could get all of mother's advice for the farm plans besides seeing +father and being home with him!" + +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. + +"Dinner! Why, Sally, we just finished breakfast. I'm sure I don't want +anything to eat so soon," replied Miss Selina. + +"It's pas' one o'clock, Miss S'lina, an' you allus likes de meals to be +on time," ventured Sally. + +"I'm sure I feel as if it was dinner time, 'cause I'm so hungry," added +Ruth, who always had a healthy appetite. + +Aunt Selina laughed indulgently as she rose and limped slowly indoors. + +Immediately after dinner Ruth hurried to the 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." + +The greater part of the afternoon was passed in this engrossing work. + +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. + +The mail lay upon a silver tray beside her plate, and she smiled as she +handed two letters to Ruth. + +"May I read them, Flutey?" asked Ruth, as soon as she had peeped at the +post marks. + +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." + +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, and at the second, she giggled outright. Aunt +Selina waited patiently to hear the news. + +"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." + +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, _don't_ you think you could go with me in our automobile, +if we traveled very carefully?" + +Her aunt was so aghast at the proposition that she failed to answer, and +Ruth continued, believing that she was thinking it over. + +"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 is a great thing +when you have been sick and tired of the same things about you." + +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. + +Later, as Ruth stood beside her aunt's rocker on the veranda, she again +broached the subject. + +"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." + +"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. + +"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. + +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. + +"I never did ride in one of those machines, dearie. I have said that I +never would. I always use my victoria, or coupe," she observed. + +"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." + +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. + +"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. + +"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 cooeperation. + +"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. + +"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. + +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. + +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 +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." + +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. + +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. + +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. + +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 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. + +Ike arrived earlier than expected, for he made record time from Oakdale. + +"Ike, do the Blue Birds know I'm coming?" she asked. + +"Sure thing, Miss Ruth," replied Ike. + +"And Ned--did he miss me?" queried the little girl. + +"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. + +"And mother--and Ike, father? Did father wonder why I left without +seeing him," half-whispered Ruth. + +Ike dropped his wrench and stood up. + +"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." + +"Oh, oh, Ike! how could you keep such grand news from me all this time!" +exclaimed Ruth, racing indoors to tell her aunt. + +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. + +Ike honked the siren for the benefit of the servants, then started the +easy-running machine. + +Aunt Selina felt so very comfortable that she admitted the fact to Ruth. + +"I never knew these cars were so easy-riding." + +After passing a stretch of bad road Ike put on more speed and Aunt +Selina leaned forward to admonish him. + +"Don't go fast enough to be dangerous! Are we going about eight miles an +hour?" + +Ike smiled to himself as he heard the question. + +"We're travelin' a bit more than eight, ma'am. I s'pose you are +'customed to that speed from drivin' horses?" + +"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. + +Ike promised to be most careful, but dared not hint at the actual speed +they were traveling, and would have to keep up, to enable them to reach +Oakdale before night. + +With the sun shining brightly, and the beautiful autumn coloring in the +foliage, the journey was most enjoyable. + +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. + +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. + +There, on the lower step, stood the long-looked-for 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. + +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. + +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. + + + + +CHAPTER III + +THE BLUE BIRDS' INSPIRATION + + +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. + +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. + +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. + +Ruth told the Blue Birds all about Happy Hills and Aunt Selina's plan +for the city children. + +"Now, how shall we manage to find the children that will need the +country next summer?" asked Ruth. + +"Did your aunt say who would look after so many children?" asked Norma. + +"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. + +"Indeed, it is a fine offer," said several little girls. + +"I think we will have to get the opinion of the grown-ups about the +whole plan," ventured Betty. + +"Mrs. Talmage and Miss Selina are on the porch now--let's run over and +ask them what they have thought of," suggested Edith. + +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. + +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. + +Meredith Starr and his chum, Jinks, were under an old apple-tree in the +garden orchard, and Ned joined them. + +"Aunt Selina's at the house, and what do you think?" + +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." + +"She has! My goodness, but they will have more than they can look after +if they ever accepted such a place," cried Jinks. + +"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. + +"If you think that why can't we have some organization of our own?" +asked Meredith. + +"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. + +"Oh, it takes a grown-up to help along such things?" objected Ned. "Why, +where do you suppose these girls would have been if it hadn't been for +mother's ideas and help?" + +"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. + +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." + +"What could we do, or where would we start?" asked Ned. + +"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. + +"We need a name that will sound so respectable that every mother will +consent to having her boy join us," said Ned. + +"We might call it 'Junior Boy Scouts,'" suggested Jinks. + +"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 purpose of having a nice time, and helping them with their work or +suggesting plans for outdoor sports," said Ned. + +"If we could think of some name that would appeal to the mothers who are +so interested in the Blue Birds!" said Jinks. + +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." + +"Oh, but they will think we had to steal their name for want of finding +one for ourselves," scorned Ned. + +"Well, if you can find anything better, tell it!" exclaimed Meredith, +vexed at his friend's laughter. + +Just then, Jim, the handy man about Oakwood, joined the boys. He saw +some signs of trouble and asked what they were doing. + +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, "Is +there any bird you know that goes by those same initials--'B. B.'?" + +Ned thought rapidly for a few minutes, then said, "Blue Jay, no, not +that--Black Bird!" + +"Bull Finch!" replied Jinks, laughing. + +"Neither! What bird whistles like this?" and Jim imitated so naturally +the notes of the Bobolink that the boys knew. + +"Ho! Bobolink, eh?" shouted Ned, slapping Jim on the back. + +"Where would the 'B. B.' come in on that?" asked Jinks. + +"Would you divide it like 'Bo-Bolink'?" asked Meredith. + +"Sure not! Just plain 'Bobolink Boys' to offset the Blue Bird Girls," +answered Jim, as he rose to go on toward the barns. + +"Hurrah, Jim! I think you're a life-saver," cried Ned. + +"Three cheers for the god-father of the Bobolink Boys!" shouted Jinks, +while the others cheered Jim. + +"There's Don and another little chap--try the name on them and see what +they say," suggested Jim, pointing toward the front driveway where two +boys of about ten years could be seen. + +"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. + +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. + +"Don, how old are you?" was the first question. + +"Nine, goin' on ten. Why?" answered Don. + +"How old is your friend?" was the next question. + +"I'm ten next month," replied the little fellow. + +"What's your name?" asked Ned. + +"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. + +"Never mind, Tuck," laughed Ned, while the other boys rolled over in the +grass to smother their laughter. + +"I don't most of the time, but when someone has to know the real end of +my name, I feel dreadful about it." + +"Well, Tuck, we are planning a club for you boys and you can choose a +new name if you join," consoled Jinks. + +"What's the game, Jinks?" asked Don, eagerly. + +"We hope to form an organization for boys under twelve to be known as +Bobolink Boys," explained Meredith. + +"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. + +The older boys who understood his attitude and its cause, laughed, but +Meredith explained more fully. + +"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 Birds ever +did, besides having our outings and games at a club-room." + +"That sounds fine," ventured Tuck. + +"Fine! Why, there's my hand on it, Mete!" declared Don, as he thrust a +grimy little hand under his brother's nose. + +Ned and Jinks laughed as Meredith looked doubtfully at Don's hand before +accepting it as a pledge. + +"What'll we do first?" asked Don, eager to begin. + +"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. + +"How many can we ask?" questioned Tuck. + +"Oh, about thirty, I guess. I can take charge of one Nest, Jinks of +another, and Mete of another," said Ned. + +"All right, we're in for it," cried Don. + +"We'll report to-morrow afternoon--where?" asked Tuck. + +"Better say at Jim's cottage--up by the barn." + +The two younger boys ran away to seek members and the other boys looked +at each other. + +"Quick work, eh? We're in for it now, so we'd better get some plans +going," laughed Meredith. + +"We'd better go to your room and figure things out on paper," advised +Ned. + +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. + +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. + +"I wonder where Ned went," said Mrs. Talmage as Ruth drew a low stool to +her mother's side. + +"He went over to my house to see Mete," replied Dot Starr. "Shall I go +and bring him back?" + +"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. + +"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 matters easy this winter, for +school does not leave much time for other work. But we have afternoons +and Saturdays." + +"And Wednesdays, too, Mrs. Talmage! We all get out at two o'clock +Wednesdays, you know," added Norma. + +"If I could skip music that day, I could have a long afternoon with +you," said May, hopefully. + +"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. + +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. + +"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. + +"Won't there be any benefits or bazaars?" asked Ruth, who had visions +of fun in the school-house assembly room. + +"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. + +After an hour's discussion, Mrs. Catlin left with the parting +injunction, "Call upon me for anything--I will be on hand." + +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. + +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. + +"Ned will be walking in my footsteps soon, won't he?" said Uncle Ben, as +Ruth concluded. + +Before Ruth could reply her mother came out to welcome the visitor and +tell him of Aunt Selina's presence. + +"Aunt Selina! You don't say so! Why, I haven't seen her since my +graduation from college," remarked Uncle Ben, in pleased surprise. + +"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. + +"Now that Uncle Ben is here, maybe he can help us plan some way to earn +the money for next summer," suggested Ruth. + +"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. + +"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." + +At that moment the dinner bell rang and no further opportunity was given +for discussing ways and means. + +So absorbing was the theme, however, that talk soon drifted around to +the subject of farms, work and plans. + +"You can get a list of names of poor children at the Bureau of Charity," +said Uncle Ben. + +"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. + +"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. + +"Ben, do you believe circulars are a good means of letting people know +what you want?" asked Mrs. Talmage. + +"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." + +"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. 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. + +"Better send someone to visit the women you hear about," advised Mr. +Talmage. + +"But I need to find the women first," returned Mrs. Talmage, +plaintively. + +"What's the matter with the _Chirp_? Can't we print a story in that and +mail it to a list of folks in New York?" asked Ned. + +"That sounds good to me! I should say the _Chirp_ would do the work +better than a letter or circular," said Uncle Ben. + +"Yes, it does seem like a fine suggestion," admitted Mrs. Talmage. "We +will talk it over this evening, Ned." + +"Why, when the _Chirp_ 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." + +"Maybe that is because your nephew edits it--sort of family pride in one +who is following in your footsteps," teased Mr. Talmage. + +"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 _Chirp_," +commended Uncle Ben. + +"We are all certain of that," assented Mrs. Talmage. + +"And we are very grateful to Ned for all he has done to help us along," +added Ruth, smiling at her proud brother. + +"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. + +Everyone laughed, and Mrs. Talmage said, "Why, certainly, Son, if Uncle +Ben is courageous enough to trust himself to your hands." + +"I'm shaking in my boots already," said Uncle Ben, "for I'm sure some +dark plot will be uncovered." + +"Just wait and see!" laughed Ned, as he excused himself and ran to his +den. + +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." + +"I think you are right, Ben," said Mr. Talmage. + +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 _Chirp_ was +printed each week. + +Uncle Ben sat down in the one arm-chair and waited while Ned locked the +door and pulled down every window shade. + +"This is a great secret, you know," explained Ned. + + + + +CHAPTER IV + +THE BOBOLINK BOYS FOUNDED + + +"Now, Uncle Ben, we can make ourselves at home," said Ned, as he sat +upon a box in front of his uncle. + +"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." + +Uncle Ben threw back his head and laughed uproariously. + +"Does that mean that you will sit calmly by and see me ruin my health +with tobacco, and not interfere?" laughed he. + +"Oh, no, you know I didn't mean it that way, although it did sound +funny, didn't it?" replied Ned. + +"Well, Son, I never smoke, either. I believe a man is a better thinker +and cooler business man without it," said Uncle Ben. "But, tell me, +what is the tremendous secret that made you lock the door and pull the +blinds?" + +"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 _Chirp_ 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." + +Uncle Ben nodded comprehendingly. + +"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. + +"You haven't told me enough about it to judge," replied Uncle Ben. "Have +you founded the club for any purpose?" + +"Oh, yes! We will gather all the little chaps under twelve years of age +into one organization, and take them on hikes, teach them work, play +games, and do other things," said Ned. + +"And the name of this?" + +"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. + +Uncle Ben sat thinking very seriously for a long time, then he asked, +"What about the _Chirp_? Drop it?" + +"Oh, no! That's one reason we want something of our own to back us up. +We can all help print the _Chirp_, 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." + +"Then your plan is more for cooeperation than competition?" asked Uncle +Ben. + +"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. + +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. + +"Now what, Uncle? I know it is something good, from your face!" +exclaimed Ned, eagerly. + +"Yes, sir. I believe we can pull it off--we'll try, at any rate!" +declared Uncle Ben, half to himself. + +"Do tell me!" begged Ned. + +"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?" + +"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. + +"Yes, I know, but I wanted to see if you remembered. Now, I think I have +a plan that will 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. + +"I wish you'd tell me your idea!" coaxed Ned, impatiently. + +"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. + +"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. + +"By Thanksgiving time you ought to be in working trim to assume any +large work I might think of, eh?" asked Uncle Ben. + +"Oh, surely! Long before Thanksgiving, I should think." + +"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. + +"Uncle, I surely am grateful for your confidence, and I shall be glad to +know when you can tell us all," said Ned. + +"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." + +"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. + +"What's to hinder your doing it?" asked Uncle Ben. + +"How--until we know what we're going to do?" + +"Oh, just make your plans broad enough to take in any ideas that come +along," responded Uncle Ben, rising to go. + +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. + +"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. + +"Great Scott! Ben; you _must_ be interested; I haven't seen you so +enthusiastic over anything in years," laughed Mr. Talmage. + +"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. + +"I never gave the subject much thought, but I suppose you are right, +Ben," admitted Mr. Talmage. + +"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 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." + +"Guess you're right, Ben," said Mr. Talmage, smiling at his brother's +denunciation of present-day literature for children. + +"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!" + +Uncle Ben so inspired his brother with his enthusiasm that he, too, +declared he would do all he could to help. + +"Here's a few women who accomplished wonders this summer with the little +girls. We have 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. + +"We'll get the men together and propose it--they'll see the value of the +suggestion, just as I have," promised Mr. Talmage. + +"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." + +"My Ned!" exclaimed Mr. Talmage, joyfully. "That makes me very happy!" + +"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. + +"Well, well!" ejaculated Mr. Talmage, smiling to himself. + +"When I heard Ned outline his plan I decided to encourage the movement +if possible by confiding my pet plan to them to experiment on," said +Uncle Ben. + +"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. + +"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." + +"I'll telephone everyone I know the first thing in the morning. Where +shall we meet--in the library?" asked Mr. Talmage. + +"Yes, and if there are too many of us we will have to adjourn to a +larger place," said Uncle Ben. + +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. + +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. + +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. + +Luncheon over, Ned caught Uncle Ben's hand and said, "You haven't +forgotten the date we made, have you?" + +"You wouldn't think so if you had seen me working all morning," +complained Uncle Ben. + +"That's all right then; we boys will meet you in the big empty carriage +house this afternoon at three-thirty," nodded Ned. + +"I'll be there!" laughed Uncle Ben, as Ned ran off. + +The big room in the carriage house had not been used since the garage +had been built. + +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. A large packing case stood +a few feet in front of the benches to be used as the speaker's stand. + +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. + +"Boys, I will go straight to the business under consideration this +afternoon," said Uncle Ben, standing up the better to impress his +audience. + +"I think the first thing to do is to appoint a secretary." + +Ned was selected, so he sat down behind the packing case to jot down his +notes. + +"Have you boys formed any kind of an organization?" asked Uncle Ben, +turning to Ned. + +"No, sir, not yet," replied Ned. + +"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." + +Uncle Ben then told them the proper way to proceed, and the boys were +greatly impressed with the importance of what they were doing. When the +election was completed, Ned had been chosen President, Meredith +Treasurer and Jinks Secretary. + +"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: + +"First: The undersigned have met together to form an organization to be +known as Bobolink Boys. + +"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. + +"Third: Meetings shall be arranged for by vote of members, and all other +important matters shall be discussed and decided upon at these meetings. + +"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 +by filing an acceptable excuse with the treasurer. + +"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. + +"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." + +Uncle Ben looked up from the paper and said, + +"Is that the plan of organization that you boys feel will cover what you +want?" + +"Oh, yes, that's fine!" cried several boys. + +The others still felt too over-awed at the business-like terms just +heard, to make any sign, favorable or otherwise. + +"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. + +"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?" + +All of the twenty-three boys wished to become Bobolinks. + +"Are there any boys present who cannot pay the initial fee and regular +dues?" continued Uncle Ben. + +None thought this impossible. + +"After this you write down the names and addresses of every boy who +applies for membership." + +Ned made a note of it in his book. + +"Now for a catechism: This is very important," said Uncle Ben, looking +about at the boys. "And answer truthfully!" + +"Ever smoke?" + +"Ever drink?" + +"Ever gamble?" + +"Ever swear?" + +"Ever steal?" + +"Ever fight?" + +"Ever play hookey?" + +"Ever strike anyone weaker than yourself?" + +"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 the seed of +being unreliable. A man who is unreliable is a failure in the beginning. +So, boys, beware of 'hookey'!" + +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. + +"Have any of you boys ever been in a printing plant and watched the +process of turning out papers?" asked Uncle Ben. + +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? + +"Fine!" smiled Uncle Ben. "And now how many can set type or do small +jobs on the press?" + +Very few could do this, but the Starr boys and Jinks often helped Ned +with printing the _Chirp_ on his small press, and a few other boys knew +something of the work. + +"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. + +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. + +"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. + +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?" + +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. + +"One item to be written in our by-laws must be: 'Consider the ladies +first,'" announced Ned, standing. + +"The visitors are welcome!" said Uncle Ben, making a ceremonious bow. + +"But please remember, visitors, this is a business meeting, not a social +function, so I must ask the ladies to find their own seats and not +disturb the gentlemen," said Mr. Talmage. + +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. + + + + +CHAPTER V + +UNCLE BEN'S BUSINESS TALK + + +"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. + +"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. + +"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 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. + +"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. + +"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.' + +"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 +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. + +"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. + +"After the 'galley proofs' are corrected, the dummy--a blank-page book +just the size the magazine will be--is made. + +"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. + +"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. + +"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. + +"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 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. + +"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." + +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. + +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. + +"This is most instructive, but I can't see where it helps the Bobolink +Boys in their organization," said Mr. Talmage, quizzically. + +At mention of the name "Bobolink Boys" the Blue Birds looked at each +other, and then at their elders for information. + +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. + +Uncle Ben, however, rapped loudly upon the box. + +"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?' + +"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, for children in the city and children in +the country--for every one of them! + +"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." + +Uncle Ben hesitated a second, but not a sound was heard. Then he +continued: + +"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 an announcement of importance. If you want donations of money +or help of other kinds, ask for them through the pages of the magazine. + +"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." + +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?" + +"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 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." + +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. + +Then Miss Selina stood up in the road-wagon, and after silencing the +noisy crowd, made an announcement. + +"I'll pay for the paper that will be needed for the experiment the first +month!" + +"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. + +"I'll pay postage on a sample issue!" called Mrs. Catlin. + +Again the joyous young publishers-to-be burst forth into cheers. + +"What can I pay for?" laughed Mrs. Talmage. + +"You'll soon find that you are paying the heaviest tax of all in +overseeing the publishers," replied Uncle Ben. + +"How soon can we start?" demanded the Bobolinks. + +"What shall we write?" asked the Blue Birds. + +Uncle Ben raised both hands for silence, and as soon as order was +restored again, he spoke. + +"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 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!" + +"Oh, we know that, Uncle Ben," said Ned. "And we'll promise to take all +of the consequences that go with the game." + +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. + +"Oh, I can hardly wait to begin my page," cried Ruth. + +"I'd rather see the magazine--maybe it will be a home-made looking +thing!" exclaimed Dot Starr. + +"It will not! Not with us boys to boss the plant!" bragged Don, her +twin. + +"If it is home-made, you'll have to do it all again," commented Uncle +Ben. + +"That is where Mrs. Talmage's work comes in," laughed Mr. Talmage. + +"It will be a regular magazine, all right!" exclaimed Mrs. Talmage +emphatically. + +"We boys will see to it that no magazine is mailed that will make folks +laugh at us," guaranteed Ned. + +"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. + +"And with a nephew stepping right in his uncle's footprints, why +shouldn't things be done right?" laughed Mr. Talmage. + +"Say, Uncle Ben, how long must we wait before we can begin?" asked Don +Starr. + +"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." + +"They'll need a desk, some chairs, a table and a few other things," +suggested Mr. Talmage, looking around. "It might be advisable for them +to partition off a corner of this room for an office." + +"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. + +"And I can spare that long table we used to have in the dairy before we +installed the patent butter machines," added Mrs. Talmage. + +"In case I find any other pieces of Mr. Catlin's office furniture I will +send them over with the desk," said Mrs. Catlin. + +"About those machines, Ben! How much will they cost the boys?" asked Mr. +Talmage. + +"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. + +"Then, there will really be no heavy expense to start with, will there?" +asked Mrs. Talmage. + +"No, but a tax of application and interest will be necessary," smiled +Uncle Ben. + +"We will agree to pay all of that you want," promised several of the +boys. + +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. + +"Betty, what page do you want to take charge of?" asked Norma, eagerly, +as they left the carriage house. + +"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. + +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. + +"Let's have a sign for the front over the door," suggested Jinks. "I'll +paint it at home." + +"Call it 'Bobolink Boys Publishing Company,'" ventured Meredith. + +"Oh, that wouldn't be fair to the Blue Birds if they are going to help +in the work," said Ned. + +"Name it 'Blue Bird & Bobolink Company,'" said Uncle Ben. + +This last suggestion struck everyone as being just right, but Mr. +Talmage made a good amendment. + +"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.'" + +"That's great, father, but we haven't thought of a name for the +magazine," cried Ned. + +"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.'" + +"What does 'B. B. B. B.' stand for?" asked Mr. Talmage. + +"'Blue Bird Bobolink Bulletin,'" replied Uncle Ben. + +"That's mystery enough, I'm sure," laughed Mr. Talmage. + +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. + + + + +CHAPTER VI + +BEGINNING THE WINTER WORK + + +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. + +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. + +Nails, screws, hammers, saw, and tools of all kinds were provided, so +that each boy could work without delaying or inconveniencing the others. +Ike and Simon were to superintend the construction and show the boys +how to put things together properly. + +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. + +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. + +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. + +"Flutey, I believe you can get up here if I help you!" exclaimed Ruth, +seeing her aunt's expression. + +"Oh, no, dearie! What about the rheumatism in my ankles?" groaned Miss +Selina. + +"Leave it behind!" laughed Ruth, gayly hopping down from the Nest. + +"I wish I could!" declared Aunt Selina, taking a firm hold on the +handrail and trying to lift up her foot. + +"Ouch! that hurt my knee-joint!" cried she. + +"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." + +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: + +"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. _She_ 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!" + +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, + +"Dot, that is just the trouble! I can't forget the habits of seventy +years. I wish I could make-believe I was as young and spry as you are." + +"If you wish, then you can! Remember the story of Sarah Crewe?" cried +Ruth, helping Miss Selina to the next step. + +"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. + +"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. + +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. + +"Why, I'm up and never knew it!" she laughed. + +"That's just the way to forget!" cried Dot, clapping her hands. + +"And you've left your troubles behind as I told you to," added Ruth. + +A chair was placed for Aunt Selina who looked about the Nest with keen +interest. + +"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. + +"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. + +Aunt Selina chuckled, but Mrs. Talmage spoke with some seriousness. + +"Blue Birds, time is flying, and we must talk about our magazine." + +Ruth then explained the presence of the children who wished to join the +Nest. Mrs. Talmage looked sorry. + +"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 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." + +"I know Mrs. Catlin! We live on the same street!" exclaimed one of the +children. + +"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. + +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. + +"I have some ideas which I would like to present to save time," said +Mrs. Talmage. + +"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. + +"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.' + +"To Edith, who always makes such good candy, I gave the 'Candy Kettle.' + +"To Betty, who is clever with her pencils, I gave the 'Drawing Lesson.' + +"To Ruth, who loves housekeeping, I gave 'Household Hints.' + +"To Norma, who likes to sew, I gave the 'Doll's Wardrobe.' + +"To May, who takes such good kodak pictures, I gave the 'Camera Corner.' + +"To Frances, who is an adept at puzzles and games, I gave 'Puzzledom.' + +"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. + +"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.' + +"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 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." + +"Oh, Mrs. Talmage, do you really believe the magazine will be so good +that folks will subscribe for it?" questioned Norma. + +"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. + +"Just think! My name on a magazine page with my cut-out furniture on +it!" cried Dot, hugging her sides. + +"How many folks will get one, do you suppose?" asked Betty. + +"The more the merrier," laughed Mrs. Talmage. + +"Mother Wings, how do people get a list of names where children want a +magazine?" asked Ruth. + +"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 +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." + +"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. + +"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." + +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. + +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. + +Aunt Selina found she could get down from the Nest quite nimbly, and +all started toward the building which was to be known in the future as +the "Publishing House." + +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. + +"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. + +"I will, if you will stop wriggling the old thing!" replied Jinks, who +had pinched his finger several times and had become wary of the +unsteady door. + +Ike saw the difficulty the boys were having and, while the Blue Birds +stood watching the struggle, came over and offered to help them. + +"This scene is as good as a vaudeville, Mary," laughed Uncle Ben. +"That's why I wanted you to see it." + +"Oh, I think they have done wonderfully well," replied Mrs. Talmage, +with interest. + +"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. + +The other boys had made a strong bench to sit upon, and a rude table +with a board top. + +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." + +"Too dark to see what you are doing," he explained. + +"Turn on the electric lights, Ike," said Ned. + +"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. + +As the boys dropped tools and stretched tired arms, or bent backs, they +realized that the unusual work had made muscles ache. + +"Get on your caps and coats, Bobolinks, and come out on the lawn to hear +of my trip to the city," said Uncle Ben. + +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. + +"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." + +"Now, Uncle Ben, stop your fooling and tell us about the trip," rebuked +Ruth. + +"I am, Fluff, but I want to begin at the right end of the story," +teased Uncle Ben. + +"Oh, begin anywhere, only get somewhere!" cried Mr. Talmage, laughing. + +With a sigh that indicated that he was misunderstood, Uncle Ben +continued his story. + +"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." + +"What did Daddum say?" cried Dot, eagerly. + +"Don't interrupt, Dot!" admonished Meredith, sternly. + +"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." + +"Why, Uncle Ben, that is exactly what we need to find our sick children +for the farms, isn't it?" said Ruth, happily. + +Uncle Ben nodded his head and continued. + +"Then, Mr. Stevens offered to have his solicitors 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." + +At the idea of having advertisements appear in the magazine, the Blue +Birds and Bobolinks looked at each other in surprise. + +"We never thought of _that_!" ventured Ned. + +"Sounds like real work, when you hear the words 'solicitors' and +'advertisements,' doesn't it?" commented Jinks. + +"I've been trying to make you understand from the first that this will +mean work as well as pleasure," insisted Uncle Ben. + +"They'll all wake up to that fact soon enough, Ben--go on with your +story," laughed Mr. Talmage. + +"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 +Agency about taking subscriptions for you and giving the magazine a +good position in their next catalogue." + +"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." + +"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. + +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. + +"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. + +"'Where are you taking that?' I asked him. + +"'Boss said to send it off to be melted down,' replied the man. + +"'Just leave it on top of this packing case--I'll see that it is taken +care of,' I told him, and he did as I said. + +"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. + +"And now, I'll tell you of all the things Uncle Ben forgot to mention," +laughed Mr. Talmage. + +"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." + +Uncle Ben chuckled to himself as his brother told about the telephone +experiences. + +"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 will tell you," and Mr. Talmage nodded his head warningly at his +brother. + +"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." + +All eyes were turned toward Uncle Ben for confirmation of the great +offer, and he nodded his head smilingly. + +"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. + +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. + +"When will the machinery be here, Uncle Ben?" asked Ned. + +"It is coming by freight and will take a few days, but you will be kept +busy until then in finishing the shop-work," returned Uncle Ben. + +"Yes, indeed, we will have to build some stands for type, too, with the +boxful you got for us," answered Ned. + +"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. + +"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. + +"Oh, we will have everything ready long before the tenth," laughed Mrs. +Talmage. + +"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. + +"In that case, we will have to have each page add a notice at the +bottom: 'To be continued in our Nest.'" + + + + +CHAPTER VII + +BLUE BIRD WISDOM AND BOBOLINK WORK + + +"There! my page is all done!" exclaimed Ruth, holding a sheet of paper +away to admire the neatly written notes for "Household Hints." + +"Mine's done, too, but I'm going to copy it over to-night to make it +look neat as a pin," said Norma. + +"Did you get any new candy recipes?" asked Dot eagerly. + +The little Blue Bird who took charge of the "Candy Kettle" smacked her +lips emphatically. + +"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." + +"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. + +"Plenty of time, dear," soothed Mrs. Talmage. "You know Uncle Ben said +we would have until the tenth of the month." + +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. + +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. + +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. + +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. + +"Can't make head or tail of the thing!" scorned Dot. + +"No one expects a girl to understand," replied her brother Don. + +"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. + +Then the children crowded about the stitcher while Uncle Ben showed the +wonderful work the machine did. + +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 _see_ the +machines running as they listened to his explanations. + +"Well, Uncle Ben, I don't see how we can start this work without you +superintending us," ventured Meredith. + +"It all seemed simple enough when we were talking about printing a +magazine, but this job is more than I can do," admitted Jinks. + +"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. + +The Blue Birds and younger Bobolinks heard the older boys with anxious +concern lest the entire plan should fail. + +"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 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." + +"We'll look after our machinery all right, Uncle Ben," agreed Ned, with +the look of the workman who truly loves his tools. + +"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. + +"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. + +"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.'" + +Mrs. Talmage and Aunt Selina smiled, for they could see the wisdom of +the remark. + +"I guess my father will be proud to see my name in a magazine," boasted +Dot Starr. + +"All depends on what you tack your name to, Dot," laughed Meredith. + +"It'll be fine, all right!" exclaimed Dot, nodding her head +emphatically. + +"Shall we have our names at the top or at the bottom of the pages, Ben?" +asked Mrs. Talmage. + +"Oh, please, Uncle Ben, do put them at the _top_! I am afraid no one +will stop to read our names if you have them at the bottom," worried +little Betty. + +Everyone laughed, but Uncle Ben assured her that the name would be +placed directly under the name of the article. + +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. + +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." + +"Oh, these children are so reliable that they would rather do without +food or sleep than neglect anything that promises funds for next +summer's farms," returned Mrs. Talmage. + +"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. + +"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?" + +"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. + +"Gracious! then we will have to find much more manuscript than I +thought," worried Mrs Talmage. + +"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. + +"Why, how wonderful!" exclaimed Aunt Selina, who had been silent during +the conversation. "I don't see how you ever accomplish such miracles!" + +Mrs. Talmage looked at Uncle Ben and said, 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." + +"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. + +"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. + +"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. + +"Mary said something about a story that you wished to contribute, Aunt +Selina--what is it?" asked Uncle Ben. + +"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." + +"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 eagerly, the business instinct for +new material for his magazine pushing the Blue Birds' magazine into the +background. + +"You may see it after it is published in the children's paper," quietly +replied Aunt Selina. + +Uncle Ben took the rebuke in the right spirit, and said, "Is your friend +alive to-day?" + +"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." + +"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. + +Uncle Ben wrote the name and late address in a book then turned to the +ladies with a suggestion. + +"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?" + +"Splendid! That is just the thing," cried Mrs. Talmage. + +"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 +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. + +The children had made a thorough inspection of the machinery and type by +this time and had joined the grown-ups. + +"What was that you were telling mother, Aunt Selina?" asked Ned, who +overheard the word "war" and was interested. + +"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. + +"Oh, goody, goody!" exclaimed a chorus of voices. + +"It's strange that you never told us any of those stories, Aunt Selina," +ventured Mrs. Talmage. + +"Oh, it all happened so long ago, dearie, that I never thought anyone +would be interested. Besides, it turns to a page of my life that I +always wanted to keep closed," sighed Aunt Selina. + +The others, respecting her reticence, changed the subject. Uncle Ben +smiled at her and made a comforting remark. + +"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.'" + +"What do you mean?" she questioned. + +"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." + +"Ben, you're making fun of me!" declared Aunt Selina. + +"No, he's not, Aunt Selina; you really are looking fine," said Mrs. +Talmage. + +"Aunt Selina, isn't that what I prescribed for you at Happy Hills?" +cried Ruth, exultantly. + +"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. + +Just then, an expressman drove up and spoke to Ike. + +"Right to the front door--that is the B. B. & B. B. Publishing +Company's shop," replied Ike with pride. + +Uncle Ben signed for the safe delivery of a large flat box and the +children crowded about to watch Ned and Jinks open it. + +The box was marked "Glass" and "Handle with Care," so Ruth ran over to +her uncle to inquire about it. + +"Do you know what is in it?" asked she. + +"I believe it is the box that failed to arrive with the other things," +he replied, smiling. + +"Do tell what it is," persisted Ruth. + +"Why? You'll soon see, and it would spoil the surprise if I told you," +said Uncle Ben. + +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. + +"Who has a knife?" asked Ned, not finding his own in his pocket. + +"Here, here! hurry up and cut the twine!" shouted Don. + +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. + +A large picture of Benjamin Franklin, in a heavy oak frame, came out +from its wrappings. + +"Oh, isn't that fine!" cried several voices. + +"Just our man, isn't he?" laughed Ned, pleased as could be. + +"If I had a head like that I could invent machines, too," grumbled Don, +feeling of his round little head in disgust. + +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. + +"Ho, that's best yet!" cried the boys who felt a deep admiration for the +man whose picture stood before them. + +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." + +"Yes, indeed, Uncle Ben, and we thank you heaps and heaps!" exclaimed +Ned, carrying his picture into the office. + +Jinks followed and Don started to drag away the box that stood in the +midst of the circle of children. + +"Better see if there are any more!" called Uncle Ben, warningly. + +Don dropped upon his knees and sought in the excelsior. + +"Oh! here's some more and I almost threw them away!" he cried, as he +dragged forth several small packages. + +Upon being opened they proved to be a number of pictures of famous +publishers and inventors of printing machinery. + +"Won't they look just great, though!" came from several pleased boys. + +"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 +with the Vivla Machine Company, you know, and they manufactured presses +and printers' tools. They might look well if added to this collection." + +Everyone agreed that the more the better, and then Dot remembered that +Mrs. Catlin had not seen the office and machinery. + +"Walk right over and see how officey our office looks with your desk and +table," she cried. + +"And Mrs. Talmage sent in the chairs," added Betty. + +"And my mother sent the carpet," added Norma, pointing to the green rug. + +"And father says we may have his typewriting machine and table here when +he's away from home," said Ruth, eagerly. + +Mrs. Catlin praised the arrangement, and then asked to be shown the +wonderful machinery that was to do such great work. + +"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. + +"You don't have to be 'little,' Therese," laughed Mrs. Talmage. "You are +one of this juvenile club as surely as if you were but ten. Why, you +couldn't pass the place without coming in to ask for news." + +"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. + +"I hope I may live a few years longer to see the results of this work," +sighed Aunt Selina. + +"You will, Flutey, you will!" cried Dot, enthusiastically. "What Uncle +Ben told you was really truly true!" + +"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. + +The grown-ups smiled at Betty's idea of a "serial" story, but Mrs. +Catlin looked surprised. + +"Why, I never knew you were from the South?" + +"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. + +Mrs. Catlin looked at the aged lady with interest and said how much she +would like to hear the tale. Suddenly, however, she slapped her gloved +hands together and spoke. + +"Now, what reason is there that I should not have some pages in this +magazine?" she asked. + +"Show us any good reason for taking our space and you may have it," +teased Mrs. Talmage. + +"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. + +"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. + +"That reminds me that we never thought of a charge. We ought to decide +what subscription price we wish to ask," said Uncle Ben. + +"Has anyone thought of that?" asked Mrs. Talmage, looking about at Blue +Birds and Bobolinks. + +Heads were shaken and Ned asked, "How can we tell how much to charge +until we know what the magazine will cost?" + +"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. + +"Figure how much five hundred--or say, a thousand will cost," ventured +Ned. + +"A thousand! Where will you send them?" cried Jinks. + +"I should say, figure on five thousand--or ten," said Uncle Ben, +quietly. + +"What!" gasped several boys. + +"Yes, because ten thousand will not cost much more than three hundred." + +"How's that?" asked the boys. + +"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." + +"Well, Uncle Ben, it sounds _awful_ big to us, particularly as we +haven't one single subscription, yet," said Ruth. + +"Here--here, Fluff, don't let that bother you!" said Mr. Talmage, +throwing a five-dollar bill upon the table. + +"And here's for ten more!" laughed Aunt Selina, taking a twenty-dollar +bill from her purse. + +"Here's for five orphan asylums," added Mrs. Catlin placing a ten-dollar +note on the table. + +"How now, Fluff--where are your blues, eh?" teased Uncle Ben. + +The children saw the crisp notes lying on the table and felt the joy of +a successful start. + +"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. + +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. + +"Guess we've about completed our business for to-day," ventured Uncle +Ben, as he noticed the children growing restless. + +"Yes, let us go to the house and have some nice cool lemonade and +cookies," suggested Mr. Talmage. + +Eager looks turned toward Mrs. Talmage, and she laughed. + +"We're always ready for something good to eat, father, so you show us +the way to the picnic." + +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. + +"A day's work always ought to finish like this," mused Don, munching a +delicious piece of cake. + + + + +CHAPTER VIII + +AUNT SELINA'S CIVIL WAR STORY + + +The children thoroughly enjoyed their refreshments. Aunt Selina did not +care for any, so she sat smiling as she watched them. + +"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. + +"Oh, yes! Please do! Flutey, do tell!" came from various directions. + +"Why, that would be lovely, Aunt Selina, if you will," added Mrs. +Talmage. + +Thus besieged, Aunt Selina decided to yield to the children. + +"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 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. + +"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. + +"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. + +"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. + +"The nearer to Nashville that we came, the deeper the evidence that war +was an awful thing. We saw burned homes, devastated land and +forlorn-looking families as we passed by. + +"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. + +"'We will endeavor to give your friend an enjoyable visit, daughter, but +it doesn't seem promisin'. Evidently you did not receive our telegram?' + +"'Only this letter, father,' replied Becky, showing him the last letter +received by her. + +"'Hum! well, we will live up to our reputation, Miss Selina, and be the +true Southern hosts.' + +"As we came out of the station and walked toward the carriage-posts, +Rebecca looked about for the family equipage. + +"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. + +"'Why, father! Surely we are not going home in _this_!' cried Rebecca +with deep chagrin. + +"'Sorry, daughter, but it must be so,' returned her father in a grieved +voice. 'You will find many changes here since the fightin' began.' + +"'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. + +"'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.' + +"'Well, I'm glad your little friend is so sensible, Rebecca,' commended +Mr. Crudup. + +"We climbed into the back seat after the baggage had been stowed away, +and the horses started off. + +"'Father, why didn't you drive Jerry and Jim?' asked Rebecca, +wonderingly. + +"'Becky, your brothers, I trust, are astride them, showin' the Yankees +how to fight!' + +"'Daddy!' cried Rebecca in dismay. + +"Mr. Crudup looked dreadfully sorry, but said nothing. + +"'Daddy, have Newell and Ed left home?' + +"'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.' + +"Becky and I sat as stiff as sticks as we realized what this meant. + +"'Still, I don't see why _some_ of our carriage horses couldn't have +come for us!' insisted Rebecca. + +"'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. + +"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. + +"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-cochere. The house itself, large, solid and in perfect condition, +was a landmark from every point of view round-about. + +"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. + +"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. + +"My, but that was a delicious dinner! I can almost taste the tender +chicken with corn waffles, hot and crisp, this minute! + +"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 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. + +"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. + +"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. + +"At eight o'clock a hot supper was served, and at nine the neighbors +left for their homes. + +"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. + +"'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 busy sewing for their +sweethearts to bother with parties or sociables,' pouted Rebecca. + +"'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. + +"'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. + +"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. + +"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. + +"'How now, father?' asked sweet Mrs. Crudup. + +"'Reports in Nashville say that the fighting is turned toward this part +of the country,' he said. + +"'Someone has to bear the burden--perhaps the Lord has selected us to +carry a share,' returned Mrs. Crudup, reverently. + +"'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.' + +"'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. + +"'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. + +"'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. + +"Mr. and Mrs. Crudup walked away in private converse, and Becky and I +started for the paddocks which I had not yet visited. + +"'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. + +"I looked at her in surprise, for her tone was shaky. + +"'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 come near him.' Becky almost wept as +she told me the story of the poor mother-mare. + +"'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.' + +"Rebecca walked along in silence after that, until we reached a stile +that divided the house lands from the pastures. + +"'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!' + +"'Becky,' asked I, in alarm, 'will these slaves desert or sell you out +to the Yankees?' + +"'Mercy, no, Selina! They are like children 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. + +"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. + +"'You wouldn't give a fig for a friend that could hope anything but +success for her country, would you?' she asked. + +"I made no reply, and she continued in a low voice. + +"'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 and +he knows the cave and has no fear of the water, now.' + +"I listened in surprise to the words but knew nothing of what she meant. + +"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. + +"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. + +"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, but the spray made a thick curtain between the +cave and the outer world. + +"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. + +"'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.' + +"'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.' + +"'Do you think that one of us would seek another safer home while we +are needed here?' asked Rebecca, sternly. + +"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. + +"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 so completely that no one +would have dreamed there was an entrance there to a secret cave. + +"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. + +"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. + +"I looked and saw a heavy cloud of smoke hanging low over the crests. At +intervals we heard the echo of a 'boom.' + +"'Oh, Selina, there's no time to lose, now! The fighting is so near that +we can hear the cannon over the mountain!' + +"'What shall we do?' I cried helplessly. + +"'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 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!' + +"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. + +"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. + +"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 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. + +"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. + +"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. + +"I wandered about feeling lonesome for Rebecca and wishing I might +assist Tim who seemed 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. + +"'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. + +"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. + +"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. + +"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, 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. + +"'Imp, I want you to be introduced to my best friend,' said Rebecca, +after we had brought in our first basket. + +"I heard a whinny and looked about in the gloom. + +"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. + +"I stood making friendly advances to the beauty and, to Becky's +amazement, he never moved an inch, but wrinkled his nose for sugar. + +"'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.' + +"Imp stood listening to his mistress as if he thoroughly understood the +situation. + +"I turned to tell Rebecca what a beauty he was, and he deliberately +poked his nose out against my face. + +"After all the supplies were stacked away, Rebecca slipped the halter +over Imp's head and led him to a ring cemented in the solid rock. + +"'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. + +"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. + +"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. + +"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. + +"The sewing room was filled with neighbors whose boys were members of +the company, so you can imagine the joy of seeing them again. + +"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! + +"Rebecca took me to her room and locked the door. + +"'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.' + +"I laughed merrily at Becky's match-making. + +"'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?' + +"'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. + +"Rebecca noticed it, too, but said nothing at the time. + +"'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.' + +"That was a great reunion, that dinner! Besides all of the young +soldiers, their families were there, listening to their account of the +struggle. + +"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!' + +"'Tell all the folks, Jeremiah, quick!' shouted Becky, as she sprang +forward to warn her friends. + +"'The horses--quick, Tim! The horses--rush them to the house!' yelled +Newell, as he grabbed his gun and threw on his cap. + +"'Mother, good-by,' cried Ed, as he caught a kiss from her lips, and +Newell hurriedly did the same. + +"The next minute all was confusion as the soldier boys jumped into the +saddle, while still buckling on knapsacks and ammunition belts. + +"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!" + +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. + +"If you are wearied, Aunt Selina, we will postpone the story for another +day," suggested Mrs. Talmage. + +"Oh, no! please don't!" begged the excited children. + +"Oh, Flutey, I simply couldn't wait until to-morrow to find out what +happened," cried Ruth, beseechingly. + +Aunt Selina smiled at the children, and Uncle Ben added: "They are +right! I don't want to wait either!" + +"Really! is it as good as that?" + +"Good! I should say it is! It's a big 'seller' if it was only in a +book!" returned Uncle Ben. + +"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. + +"Fine idea! We will try it!" said Uncle Ben. + +Aunt Selina moved her chair to keep the rays of the setting sun from her +eyes, and then continued with her story. + + + + +CHAPTER IX + +HOW THE YANKEES TOOK POSSESSION + + +"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. + +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. + +"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. + +"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. + +"Almost at the same time the Yankees fired there came the rattle of +musketry from the woods which the boys had reached. + +"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. + +"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. + +"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. + +"Rebecca's two brothers, cousins and old friends were all in that +handful of men, and naturally those gathered at the house would wait +until the outcome of the skirmish could be known. + +"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. + +"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.' + +"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 turned into a hospital, both +sides receiving the same attention. + +"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. + +"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. + +"When the store-rooms, linen-presses, blanket-trunks, and cellars were +found almost empty, the officer in charged looked surprised and wondered +aloud. + +"'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.' + +"Mr. Crudup overheard the soliloquy and replied courteously. + +"'Sir, do not forget that your company is not the first to stop here +and demand my hospitality. Naturally, we would lavish our all upon our +own men, you know.' + +"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. + +"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. + +"When he found that my home was at Happy Hills he was greatly pleased. + +"'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. + +"From that day he became the sworn ally of 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. + +"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. + +"But a change soon took place. + +"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. + +"One day, while some of the Yankees were out foraging, Ed and his men +came upon them suddenly and a skirmish ensued. + +"Ed was shot down and so was our young officer who was in command of the +foragers that day. The others fought like madmen, hand to hand, until +the men at the house, hearing the shots, ran out to their assistance. + +"The Southerners, outnumbered, took flight, but were pursued and +captured. + +"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. + +"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. + +"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, then had them improvise a +stretcher to carry the body to the house. + +"There was great sorrow in the household, and his death changed the +attitude of the Crudups toward the Yankee officers. + +"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. + +"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. + +"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 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. + +"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. + +"While we were there, Tim and Mr. Crudup crept through the tunnel and +found us talking to the sick man. + +"'Becky, better leave this business to us,' suggested Mr. Crudup. + +"'Father, how could you keep this man in such a place?' cried Rebecca, +unguardedly. + +"'Ssh!' warned Tim, apprehensively. + +"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 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. + +"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. + +"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. + +"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. + +"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. + +"One morning the cook entered the room where the family was gathered +and announced: 'There ain't no aigs fer brekfus.' + +"'Have plain ham or bacon,' suggested Mrs. Crudup. + +"'De ham an' bacon done all et up, too,' said cook. + +"Mrs. Crudup looked deeply concerned, but said: 'Then we'll have just +coffee and muffins.' + +"'Done used all de flour yistiddy--not a smitch lef'.' + +"Here, indeed, was a quandary! Nothing to eat! + +"This was Tim's opportunity. + +"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?' + +"Cook tossed her head and went out, followed by everyone except Mr. and +Mrs. Crudup. + +"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 on de fiel'. I fixed a doh to the cellar +an' heah's de key to de padlock.' + +"'You what!' exclaimed Mr. Crudup, in amazement. + +"'Yas'm, das whad I did!' said Tim. + +"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!' + +"But Mrs. Crudup took Tim's hand and thanked him with tears in her eyes. + +"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. + +"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 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. + +"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. + +"Suddenly Rebecca was inspired with a brilliant plan. + +"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. + +"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. + +"We all felt sorry about losing Vernon, but he promised to visit me at +Happy Hills when the war was over." + +Aunt Selina stopped and the children began plying questions. + +"Aunt Selina, what became of Imp?" asked Dot. + +"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. + +"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. + +"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." + +"Do you know what became of him afterwards?" asked Don, interested in +such a fighter. + +"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." + +"Oh, then, Rebecca married too. Did you know who it was?" asked several +curious voices. + +"Yes," smiled Aunt Selina. "She married the very beau she had selected +for me." + +"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. + +"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." + +"I guess Rebecca liked to remember that, didn't she?" said Ruth. + +"Yes, indeed, Fluff." + +"Aunt Selina, you didn't tell us what became of Imp and Rebecca that +day she rode up to the house," reminded Ned. + +"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. + +"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 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." + +"And now tell us, Aunt Selina, did Vernon come home and ask that favor?" +wondered Norma, interested in a love-story. + +"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." + +"Where is he now, Aunt Selina?" asked Ruth. + +"Gone--his name is carved on the monument at Washington for bravery in +the Battle of Bull Run," whispered Aunt Selina. + +"Oh, oh, Aunt Selina! Is _he_ the same one you told me about last +spring?" gasped Ruth. + +Aunt Selina dabbed her tear-moistened eyes and tried to smile as she +said, "The same, Honey." + +"What's that--tell us, Aunt Selina; we never heard about it," cried +several children. + +"Well, Vernon came back North about a year 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." + +"Oh, Aunt Selina, how lovely of you!" cried several little girls as +they crowded about the old lady and hugged her. + +"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." + + + + +CHAPTER X + +BEGINNING TO SPELL SUCCESS + + +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. + +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. + +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. + +As the various short articles came in to the Publishing House, Mrs. +Talmage took charge 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. + +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. + +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. + +One afternoon the Blue Birds gathered about Mrs. Talmage with a +complaint. + +"Mother Wings, those Bobolinks will be 'way 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. + +"And from something I heard Don tell Mete, those fathers have promised +to help the Bobolinks do the _work_, too!" broke in Dot Starr. + +"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. + +"That will be all right, but it won't boost our work like the boys are +being boosted," fretted Norma. + +"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. + +"Are those Bobolinks and the men actually helping the success of the +magazine?" + +"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. + +"Then they are not getting ahead so fast with 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." + +"But they are so well acquainted with the machines that they say they +can print anything!" said Dot. + +"All right, suppose we take them at their word and ask them to give us +proof of some circulars," laughed Mrs. Talmage. + +"I suppose they would, but where would we use them?" asked Norma. + +"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. + +The Blue Birds gathered closer to Aunt Selina's chair, and she continued +her instruction. + +"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. 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 _we_ are doing without their knowledge +or consent." + +"Shall we mail the letters when they are printed?" asked Betty. + +"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." + +The Blue Birds laughed and thought the plan very good, and Dot Starr +added, "We're surely glad you're here, Aunt Selina." + +"And we will keep all of our papers and work in the den and no one will +see what is being done," added Mrs. Talmage. + +"You must keep the key, Mother Wings," advised Ruth. + +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. + +This letter provoked many suggestions and criticisms, but finally was +concluded and read aloud to the children, who declared it just right. + +"But we haven't a bit of paper for the printing," exclaimed Ruth. + +"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. + +This offer cheered the Blue Birds again, as a few hours' delay would not +matter very much. + +"Now, that's done, what next?" asked Dot. + +"Next thing is to say 'good-afternoon' and go home," laughed Mrs. +Talmage, looking at her watch. + +"Oh, dear, mother, it cannot be dinner-time," said Ruth. + +"It is almost six o'clock, and I have some matters to look after, +dear," returned her mother. + +"Well, we can invite our mothers to join us, anyway, can't we, Mrs. +Talmage?" said May. + +"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. + +"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. + +"May we come to-night?" asked Betty. + +"How about school lessons?" asked Mrs. Talmage. + +"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. + +"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. + +"All right, we'll meet in the den to-morrow afternoon and report how +many mothers will be here," consented Dot. + +"And I'll have Mrs. Catlin here in the evening," added Mrs. Talmage. + +"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. + +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. + +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. + +"Now I wonder what that boy is up to?" she said. + +"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. + +"I know a better way," answered Ruth. "We will ask Ike to let us go up +in the loft from the small room and we can look down through the wide +chinks of the floor." + +"Oh, do let's!" cried the Blue Birds, as they hurried back of the house +to steal noiselessly over to the garage. + +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. + +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. + +"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. + +"Ah, I'd never make a solicitor of any kind," grumbled Tuck Stevens. + +"But you've got to play the game as we all promised," coaxed some of the +boys. + +"I'll be the man you want to see," persuaded Jinks. + +"Come on, Tuck. We'll have to go home pretty soon, so get busy," +commanded Ned. + +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. + +"Here goes, then," ventured Tuck, bravely. + +He strutted across the floor toward the office and met one of the boys +stationed there. + +"Good-morning, sir; do you wish to see anyone?" asked the impromptu +clerk. + +"I have an appointment with Mr. Slamhim," quivered Tuck, as if the visit +was an actual affair. + +The boys tittered with glee as Tuck turned red and white. + +"Your name, please?" asked the polite clerk. + +"Reuben Stevens," replied Tuck, in a whisper. + +"Ha! the name'll queer you, Tuck!" laughed Don, behind his chum's back, +but the older boys hushed Don. + +The clerk rapped upon the office door and a voice said, "Come in." + +"Reuben Stevens to see you, sir. He has an appointment." + +"Show him in," said the voice which Ruth recognized as a disguised bass +of Ned's. + +Tuck walked to the office and then turned about and asked the other +boys: "Now, what shall I say--I've forgotten." + +Immediately there was a loud chorus of laughter, and a scuffle and Tuck +was ousted in the same manner that Don had been. + +"Didn't I say that name would spoil you?" teased Don. + +"Next!" called one of the boys who had a list of names which he marked +down "good, indifferent, bad." + +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. + +"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. + +"I'll practice it at home on Dot, and show you what I can do to-morrow," +eagerly promised Don. + +Dot looked up at her friends when she heard this and shook her head +energetically. + +The Bobolinks carefully covered the machines 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. + +"Where's Ike?" he whispered to Ned. + +"Just outside the door--why?" replied Ned. + +"Don't you hear those footsteps?" + +"What--where? Yes, of course!" exclaimed Ned. + +Simon was seen crossing the lawn and Ike stood outside with the boys, so +who could be upstairs? + +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. + +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. + +Every one of the boys trudged up the steps, but found the loft empty. As +soon as they were 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. + +Ike looked carefully about the loft but hid a smile when his back was +turned. + +"There, I told you no one was here!" he said. + +"Well, I don't care, I _heard_ them!" retorted Ned. + +"Maybe it was rats!" ventured Ike. + +"No, sir, you said that you were never pestered with rats; besides, this +noise was just like walking would sound," insisted Ned. + +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. + +"Well, I'll keep the door locked and the key in my room," promised Ike, +as the boys waited for him to lock up. + +"If it was a tramp, Ned, he couldn't move our machinery, so what's the +use bothering?" said Don. + +"He could steal our type and other things, and sell them," grumbled Ned, +still unassured. + +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. + +"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. + +Not a word was said, and the Bobolinks never found out how the Blue +Birds watched them practice their future business tactics. + +The next morning Mrs. Talmage and Aunt Selina had Ike drive them to the +paper mills. + +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." + +"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. + +"That I will! I like to write, and often, when 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. + +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. + +This done, the manager sat back in his office chair. + +"Have the children planned any campaign for securing circulation?" he +asked. + +"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. + +"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. + +"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 +joke to start a real business, as they are doing," said Mr. White, +seriously. + +"Well, we will need the help of all of our friends," smiled Mrs. +Talmage. + +"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." + +"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. + +Suddenly the manager sat upright and looked toward the book-shelves, +which contained rows of business-like looking reference books. + +"I believe we have the idea!" exclaimed he, jumping up and going over to +the shelves to take down a heavy volume. + +"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 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. + +"Why, Mr. White, do you know that you are a direct answer to my prayer!" +cried Aunt Selina. + +"I am grateful to be favored," laughed Mr. White, "but it must be your +faith that brought the answer." + +"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." + +"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 give the men who are advising a +fine surprise." + +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. + +"Oh, splendid! We expect to hold our first meeting at our house +to-night. Do bring her over!" cried Mrs. Talmage. + +As the three were going out to the automobile, Mr. White ventured a +remark. + +"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." + +The ladies stood amazed at the generous idea. + +"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 wide-awake for the +present. It is a strictly business proposition, you see," explained Mr. +White. + +"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. + +"I'll suggest it, and you find out if the magazine is willing to give us +the mention I hinted at," said Mr. White. + +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. + +"Well! that was the best hour's business yet!" exclaimed Aunt Selina, as +the car sped away. + +"Wonderful, isn't it? I hope everything will glide along as nicely as it +has up to the present," said Mrs. Talmage. + +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. + +"Hurry, girls! Don't you know Mother Wings went to the mills this +morning for samples of paper?" called one to the other as they ran up +to Ruth. + +It was not long thereafter that seven eager little girls crowded about +Mrs. Talmage on the veranda to hear the news. + +"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. + + + + +CHAPTER XI + +THE WINTER NEST COUNCIL + + +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. + +"Why, Mother Wings, when _did_ you fix this up?" asked Ruth, as much +surprised as the others. + +Mrs. Talmage smiled, but said nothing. + +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?" + +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 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. + +"Well, we must get at our work," reminded Aunt Selina, after enough +chairs had been brought in for all. + +"I walked over with Mr. Wells and he was quite surprised to find I was +coming to the house," said Mrs. Wells, laughingly. + +"I never said a word to Mr. Talmage or his brother," confided Mrs. +Talmage, smiling at the secret. + +"Mr. Stevens knows I am at this council with Betty, but he hasn't the +faintest idea for what," admitted Mrs. Stevens. + +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. + +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. + +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. + +"We must have envelopes to match, mother," said Ruth. + +"I never thought of that, but it is so!" admitted Mrs. Talmage. + +"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. + +"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." + +"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. + +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. + +"Just as soon as the envelopes come back we can begin to address from +mother's big book, can't we?" asked Norma. + +"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. + +"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." + +"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. + +"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. + +"Yes, I suppose these lovely covers would be speckled black by the time +the Blue Birds completed, say, fifty thousand addresses," laughed Aunt +Selina. + +"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. + +As everyone knew how Edith hated writing and never could write a legible +hand, a laugh went up, in which Edith joined heartily. + +So the Blue Birds were spared the arduous task of copying thousands of +names. + +"I have heard that these large addressing bureaus prefer to employ +children--I wonder why?" + +"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. + +"Why, isn't that just as bad as working children in a factory?" +questioned Miss Selina. + +"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 and fingers grown +crooked from habit," said Mrs. Wells. + +"Goodness! Can't we do something to stop it?" cried Mrs. Starr. + +"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." + +"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!" + +"It would be nice to take all these little workers to the country, +wouldn't it?" queried Mrs. Talmage. + +"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. + +"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. + +"Oh, Mother Wings, don't forget about that book--you know?" reminded +Ruth. + +"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." + +"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. + +The institution book was brought in, and its pages eagerly scanned. + +"My! what a lot of poor children there are!" said Dot sympathetically. + +"It doesn't seem possible, does it?" said Mrs. Starr, turning to the +others. + +"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. + +"Has anyone here an idea of how many dependent little ones there are in +the United States alone?" + +Heads were silently shaken, and Mrs. Talmage continued: + +"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. + +"Mary, Mary, I shall have to run away from here if you keep on!" cried +Aunt Selina. + +"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. + +"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 by thinking of all the things she never did," advised Ruth, +very sensibly. + +"Yes, that letter is very important--let us compose it," said Aunt +Selina. + +After an hour of writing and rewriting, Mrs. Talmage read aloud the +result of their labor: + +"Dear Friend: + +"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. + +"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. + +"Inclosed find a subscription blank. Make all checks payable to 'Blue +Birds of Happy Times Nest.'" + +"Wish we had time to run over to the Bobolinks and order fifty thousand +of these letters," suggested Dot. + +"Oh, wouldn't it be fun to see their faces!" laughed Norma. + +"Maybe we will have time--it is only five minutes to nine," announced +Mrs. Talmage, looking at her watch. + +"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. + +The children hurried on before, while the ladies followed more sedately. + +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. + +The men had been lounging about, talking and watching their sons work, +but upon the entrance of the ladies everyone arose in surprise. + +"Rather a late hour for a call, dear," ventured Mr. Stevens. + +"Oh, not at all. We were attending a business meeting, and found it +necessary to leave an order with the Bobolinks." + +"An order--what kind of an order?" questioned Ned dubiously. + +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. + +"Fifty thousand!" gasped the boys, while the men looked incredulous. + +The Blue Birds could not restrain a giggle at the utter amazement of the +Bobolinks, and the ladies thoroughly enjoyed their husbands' surprise. + +"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. + +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. + +"I am still waiting to hear you accept the order," smiled Mrs. Talmage, +feeling that the Blue Birds had scored a point. + +"Maybe you are not yet ready to do business," suggested Mrs. Wells, with +just a touch of sarcasm. + +"Of course we are ready!" exclaimed several boys, faintly echoed by the +men. + +"Then tell us how long will it be before you can show us a proof?" asked +Mrs. Talmage. + +"H'm! We will have to consult," replied Ned, as he beckoned some of the +Bobolinks to the rear of the room. + +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. + +Don was the first to come over to the ladies. + +"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. + +"Don, come back here and mind your business!" shouted Meredith. + +"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. + +The Blue Birds noticed that their fathers looked sceptical at the last +sentence. + +"You never made up a list like that!" grunted Don, looking at the Blue +Birds with fire shining in his eyes. + +"What do you think we were doing while you spent your evenings having a +good time?" retorted Dot. + +"Humph!" was the only reply Don granted his sister. + +"Folks said this summer that we Blue Birds were little hustlers, but I +never paid much attention to them then; but _now_ 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. + +Mr. Wells was called over to join the conference of the Bobolinks before +an answer was given the Blue Birds. + +"We will set this type and run off a proof by to-morrow evening; will +that do?" said Ned, coming forward with the letter. + +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: + +"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 I am sure he knows just what he would like for the purpose." + +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. + +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. + +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. + +"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." + +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. + +Uncle Ben arrived at noon, and the boys placed 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. + +"What are you smiling at, Uncle Ben?" asked Ned, keen to find out what +the Blue Birds were planning. + +"At the remarkable progress the Blue Birds have made since I last +visited you," returned Uncle Ben. + +"Why, they haven't done anything--much," grumbled Don. + +"Only fixed up these two letters for us to print," added Meredith. + +"They haven't done their usual sewing and playing in the cherry-tree +nest, either," said Jinks. + +"Is that so? Well, how do you know _what_ they have been doing without +your knowledge?" asked Uncle Ben laughingly. + +The boys looked at him, and their eyes asked the question, "What?" + +"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 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." + +The faces of the Bobolinks looked as if their owners must sit down or +collapse. Uncle Ben laughed heartily at them. + +"Ah, you're only fooling us, as usual," ventured Ned. + +"No, siree! I am not. Wait and see," returned Uncle Ben. + +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. + +"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. + +"Now, run off a few letters on this paper," ordered Uncle Ben, producing +some beautiful bond paper. + +"My, but it's pretty! Where'd you get it, Uncle Ben?" asked Ned. + +"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." + +"Now, tell us, Uncle Ben, why you think the Blue Birds have a big plan +of their own," entreated Ned. + +Uncle Ben smiled and reminded the boys to keep his words from becoming +public property. + +"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? + +"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." + +"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. + +Without replying to Ned's words, Uncle Ben continued: + +"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." + +The boys shook their heads, unwilling to admit that Uncle Ben's surmises +sounded practical. + +"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." + +"If they have done all those things that you say they have, they are +'way ahead of us Bobolinks," grumbled Don. + +Uncle Ben laughed and advised: + +"Boys, work _with_ these Blue Birds, not against them or ahead of them. +Do not think that just 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. + +"Well, Uncle Ben, you'll help us in every way until we are even with the +girls, won't you?" asked Ned. + +"And you won't help the Blue Birds any more, will you?" asked Don. + +"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." + +"Come on, boys, let's take Uncle Ben to the house and show our letter +proofs to the Blue Birds," said Ned. + +So the Bobolinks were taught their lesson in trying to win a race by +running for a time and then resting. + + + + +CHAPTER XII + +THE STORY OF AN ALASKAN TRIP + + +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. + +"Oh, boys, you're just in time!" cried Ruth. + +"Mrs. Catlin's got her story all written for our magazine, and she was +just going to read it," explained Dot. + +"May we hear it?" asked Ned, for the Bobolinks. + +"Why, certainly. Sit right down on the steps," said Mrs. Catlin. + +As soon as the boys were comfortable, she continued: + +"I was about seventeen when I read the exciting tales of gold in +California and the wealth 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. + +"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, 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. + +"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. + +"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 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. + +"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. + +"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. + +"So interested was I in watching them go by that I was startled when one +of the men in the sledge called to me: + +"'Hello, Kid! What are you doing--picking flowers?' + +"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 lies? This +is no place for a boy to travel alone. Beasts on two and four legs are +too powerful about here.' + +"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. + +"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. + +"'How are you comin'?' asked the driver. + +"'Coming!' I cried, so tired I could have wept. 'Why, I've been coming +ever since the man asked me.' + +"'Some run, eh?' asked the old man, smiling. + +"'Didn't they mean it?' I asked, in a tremble lest I be left again. + +"'Guess so. Don't believe they gave you another thought. But, now that +you're here, you kin sit with me,' said the man gruffly, as I thought, +while he rubbed the skinned knee with whale-oil. + +"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. + +"'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. + +"I sat still and pondered what he said. + +"'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. + +"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. + +"I felt unduly elated at hearing the man address me so comradely, and I +decided to be as friendly as I could. + +"'What's the great hulk under this canvas?' I asked, nodding my head +toward the load back of us. + +"'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! _They_ call 'em canoes, but the fust little jolt one of 'em gits +in the end of its nose--down she goes!' + +"'Canoes, eh?' I said wonderingly. + +"'How many did yeh bring in yer outfit?' asked Hal, nudging me in the +ribs. + +"'I may have all of those to take care of if you don't watch the +horses,' I growled. + +"'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. + +"'Guess you don't or you wouldn't joke that way about such a good Book,' +I replied. + +"'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. + +"'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. + +"'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. + +"After some silence, the old man asked: 'Where'er yeh bound fer, +anyway?' + +"'Don't know--just going out to find gold,' I said. + +"He turned square around and stared at me for a few moments, then +gasped: 'Father an' mother dead?' + +"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.' + +"'How fer?' he asked abruptly. + +"'All the way from New York state. I worked my way out and worked part +of my way on the Seattle boat,' I said, with great pride in my +achievement. + +"'Why, yeh little fool!' cried the irate guide. + +"'What's the matter?' + +"'An' I s'pose yeh hev ben payin' fer full board an' keep to yer mother +ever sence yeh wuz borned, eh?' scoffed Hal. + +"I was silent. I was looking at the matter from a new point of view. + +"'S'pose yer pa an' ma was on'y too glad to git yeh out'en the way, eh?' +he continued. + +"Again I had to gulp when I thought of my mother. + +"'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.' + +"I marveled at how close he had come to the truth. + +"'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. + +"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. + +"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. + +"'Hist, kid, stow that away!' whispered Hal, as he began to unhitch the +horses for the night. + +"In a short time the two men from the sledge came up. + +"'Hello, youngster! You did come, after all, didn't you?' said the older +man. + +"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. + +"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?' + +"'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 +yeh send him home, 'cause he'll allus think of the gold he might have +got,' said Hal astutely. + +"'Guess you've hit the nail on the head, Hal,' laughed the younger man, +as he looked at me. + +"So I became a member of the Yukon Gold Expedition, under the management +of John Herrick and Julius Dwight, engineers. + +"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. + +"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. + +"Well, after losing one canoe and two of the Indians, Old Hal hit his +trail and led us up toward the mountains. + +"All of that short summer was passed in the usual work of prospecting: +digging, panning, washing, or testing for gold. Permanent camp 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. + +"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. + +"Toward the end of the short summer we struck a rich vein of gold! + +"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 Hal was no greenhorn in handling Esquimo and half-breed Indians. + +"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. + +"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. + +"We started in good order and made quick 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. + +"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. + +"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. + +"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 my revolver out of my +belt and covered the man who had shot. + +"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!' + +"I immediately followed suit, and cried: 'Go overboard, and swim ashore, +or I'll shoot you!' + +"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. + +"Soon Hal had his canoe alongside, and said: 'Step in here, Kid.' + +"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. + +"We managed to travel pretty well until night, when we again camped on +shore, but Hal seemed worried at the strangeness of the land. + +"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. + +"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. + +"'Well, Kid, this settles our trip to Forty-Mile for some time,' +admitted Hal forlornly. + +"'What do you mean, Hal?' I asked. + +"'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 +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. + +"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. + +"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. + +"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. + +"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 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. + +"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. + +"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. + +"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. + +"A rude fire-bowl was made in the center of the hut and some flint-rock +carefully placed in a chink in the wall. The hut completed, Hal felt +relieved, for the winter seemed to hold off for our benefit. + +"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. + +"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.' + +"'Let her come. We are ready,' I laughed. + +"'All but the beds. I'll have to go out now and bring in those balsam +branches I have been savin' all these days.' + +"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." + + + + +CHAPTER XIII + +A WINTER IN THE FROZEN NORTH + + +"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. + +"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. + +"The dogs enjoyed being out once more and lapped the water greedily +while we filled the buckets. 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. + +"'Wolves! They scent our meat,' he said laconically. + +"We managed to fasten our door again, and sat down by the fire while the +dogs went over to their corner to sleep. + +"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. + +"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. + +"'Wish we could get some of 'em in the traps,' I said. + +"'They'd be torn to pieces and soon et up by the other wild beasts,' +replied Hal, as he made another notch in a log where he was keeping +record of the days. + +"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. + +"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 debris lay about and filled the pails with some ice +that Hal chopped out of the frozen stream. + +"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. + +"'Those were bear tracks,' he explained, as the dogs obeyed most +unwillingly. 'I wish I had some way to trap them without having the fur +ruined by other animals.' + +"'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. + +"'But it would waste a lot of valuable ammunition,' he replied. + +"He set the trap where I had suggested, however, and said he would wait +and see what happened. + +"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. + +"'I wonder if we can get out to-day?' I asked, but at the same time +howls were heard coming from the pines. + +"'Guess you will do better to stay in to-day,' smiled Hal. + +"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 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. + +"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. + +"'Ha! I thought so! I was sure a bear would come along before long.' + +"'A bear! Oh, I wish we could get him in that trap!' + +"'Will he attack the wolves?' I asked. + +"'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. + +"'Gracious, Hal! S'pose he gets our meat--what will we do?' + +"'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. + +"'How are you going to do it?' + +"'Shoot him while he's busy with the wolves, or try and get him while he +is digging at the pit.' + +"'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. + +"'Kid, you're comin' on fine! Another season in the north and you will +be a regular hunter,' laughed Hal. + +"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. + +"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. + +"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. + +"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, +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. + +"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. + +"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. + +"Then suddenly a dark shadow fell across the light from outside. I stood +rigid while Hal took a good aim. + +"'Why don't you shoot?' I cried, as I saw the largest bear I had ever +seen standing there scenting the air. + +"'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. + +"'If he'd only move a foot this way!' I sighed. + +"As if the brute felt my wish, he turned his head in our direction. +Instantly a deafening report 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. + +"There was not a sound from outside, and Hal smiled to himself. + +"'Bet I got him first try. Didn't hear any objections from him, did +you?' + +"'Gee! I wish we could open this door and drag him in before those +wolves come back,' I said, digging frantically. + +"'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. + +"We finally managed to open the door enough to get out. + +"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 she had slaughtered, and the snow was all trampled and red. + +"The dogs ran out, their hair bristling along their spines as they +sniffed at the carcasses. + +"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. + +"Hardly had the door been closed before the pack of wolves were upon it, +scratching and tearing at the logs. + +"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. + +"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. + +"We sat cross-legged one morning, figuring out 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. + +"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. + +"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. + +"'Shoot through the rifle-hole in the door,' I said, excitedly. + +"'Sure thing!' he cried, raising his gun to his shoulder and shooting +toward the sky. + +"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, the door was opened, and we leaped forth! There +stood an Indian squaw with a boy of about twelve. + +"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. + +"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. + +"Hal explained how we had come to be there--and how grateful we would be +to get away. The 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. + +"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. + +"The squaw had heard of 'Old Hal,' the guide, and was evidently +surprised to find him lost while so near the trail. + +"'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!' + +"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. + +"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. + +"'Trail--him all right,' mumbled the squaw. + +"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. + +"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. + +"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. + +"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. + +"We stayed there for two nights, then made an early start on the third +morning for Forty-Mile. + +"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. + +"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. + +"Hal knew this was an important matter, and wondered if the rascal who +stranded us had found his way to the land-office first. + +"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. + +"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 to recognize me; but I knew +him at once as being the man who had escaped from our canoe. + +"I managed to get out of the room without being seen, and ran to Hal. + +"'What do you think! The murderer is downstairs!' + +"'Who?--Sit down and talk sensible,' said Hal. + +"'One of the Indians who got away from the canoe,' I cried in a hoarse +whisper. + +"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. + +"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. + +"'Now, let me see those papers you forged for our claims,' snarled Hal, +fishing through the man's dirty pockets, but finding nothing. + +"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. + +"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. + +"Hal told the crowd all about the treachery of the Indians, and they +promised to attend to this man after we were gone. + +"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. + +"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. + +"'What you going to do with me?' I asked. + +"'We'll skip right down to Juneau, and see if there are any letters +there. It all depends,' he replied. + +"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. + +"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. + +"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. + +"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: + +"'Be you the one thet jist got some old letters from the East?' + +"'Yes, sir,' I returned, going over to the counter. + +"'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 +mind to do somethin' with it sure, so heah ye aire.' + +"With relief I recognized my father's writing, but the letter was dated +two months previous. + +"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. + +"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. + +"I turned and handed the letter to Hal. He read and comprehended. + +"'Guess it's Alaska for ye, Kid. Want to go back with me?' + +"Did I?--well, I just guess I did, and I fairly jumped at the hand that +was held out to me. + +"'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.' + +"'Hal, will the bosses think it is all right now?' I asked. + +"'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?' + +"'Hal, do you mean you will take me under your wing?' I cried, all +forgetful of the goldmine. + +"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. + +"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. + +"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. + +"Some machinery was purchased by Hal at Dyea, and as soon as it was +delivered at our camp, all hands set to work. + +"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. + +"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. + +"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. + +"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. + +"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. + +"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. + +"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! + +"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." + + + + +CHAPTER XIV + +THE B. B. & B. B. MAGAZINE + + +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. + +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. + +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. + +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. + +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. + +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. + +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. + +"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. + +"And just see how the fathers help!" added Norma. + +"I guess the magazine wouldn't be much of a paper if the Blue Birds +hadn't done their part so well," said May. + +"And the Blue Birds' mothers!" reminded Ruth. + +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. + +"Here comes Flutey, now," said Ruth, hearing the slow steps of her aunt. + +"Well, Blue Birds, how's the song this morning?" cried Aunt Selina, +happily. + +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. + +"Say, Flutey, you won't be offended if I ask you a very happy question, +will you?" asked Dot, in a half-whisper. + +"Why, of course not! Ask it, child," smiled Aunt Selina. + +"Well, you look so happy, you know, I thought maybe _that_ 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. + +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. + +"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. + +"Oh, what is it?" asked several voices. + +"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. Let us see what advice this friend gives +about securing contracts for advertising." + +The Blue Birds hovered about Aunt Selina's chair eager to hear the +letter read. + +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. + +"Oh, Flutey! is that all he said?" murmured Ruth. + +"Why, I don't call that such a piece of 'happy' news to smile over as +you did!" pouted Dot. + +"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. + +"Why, children! _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. + +"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. + +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. + +Mrs. Talmage and Aunt Selina welcomed the visitor. + +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. + +"Mother, mother, see, see!" cried Ruth, dragging Jinks by the sleeve. + +"Oh," gasped little Betty, "see our magazine!" + +"It's perfectly lovely, Mrs. Talmage!" cried Dot. + +The older boys were more subdued when they saw the stranger. + +Mrs. Talmage introduced the gentleman, Mr. Richards, one of the New York +advertising solicitors for the Philadelphia agency. He smiled in a +condescending way when Don asked, "Want to see our magazine?" + +"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. + +Don looked at Dot with a glance that said as plain as day, "Pooh! he's +trying to pat us on the back!" + +And Dot said to the visitor: "Don't think that we like to be fussed over +just because we are working!" + +The rest of the publishing company looked uncomfortable at the very +evident tendency to humor them on account of their work. + +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. + +The two copies of the completed magazine had been given to Aunt Selina +and Mrs. Talmage and they expressed such satisfaction at the appearance +of the work that the man turned his attention to Mrs. Talmage. She +handed him her copy. + +When Mr. Richards saw the magazine, he was surprised out of his usual +self-possession and exclaimed, + +"Why, who did this?" + +"Blue Birds and Bobolinks," replied Ned, with head tilted on one side +the better to see the precious book the man held. + +"But this is first-class work!" exclaimed the visitor. + +"Sure! did you think we were going to turn out anything else?" asked +Jinks, insulted. + +"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. + +"Well, Uncle Ben knew the kind of workers we were when he trusted us +with his pet hobby!" declared Ned, proudly. + +Mr. Richards looked rather helpless, so Mrs. Talmage explained who +"Uncle Ben" was and what part he had taken in the enterprise. + +Light gradually began to break in upon the young man's brain as he heard +the story of the 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. + +"Well, well, well! is this place called 'Mossy Glen'?" he asked. + +"It is," replied Mrs. Talmage, wonderingly. + +"And these youngsters, the same that set folks agog last summer with +their 'Fresh Airs'?" + +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. + +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!" + +"We do not understand exactly what you mean," said Mrs. Talmage, with +dignity. + +"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 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." + +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. + +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. + +"I'm not surprised at the statement that man made at the meeting--he +must have known you children, indeed!" + +"Seems to me that we are getting this young man 'rooted' in this work," +laughed Aunt Selina, who liked the expression ever since Mrs. Talmage +told her how to interest friends in the work. + +"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." + +The children came closer to await his proposition. + +"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. + +"It doesn't seem valuable enough for a paper to print," ventured Mrs. +Talmage. + +"It is the _unusual_ 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!" + +"What would you say in the story?" asked Aunt Selina. + +"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." + +"What would Mr. Sphere say if he saw the story in the papers?" asked +Aunt Selina. + +"He'd say, 'Richie, old boy, I always knew you had a grain of sense in +your head!'" laughed Mr. Richards. + +"I have a fine camera in case you want to use it," said Ned, eagerly. + +"And we have everything in good shape to have a picture taken," added +Meredith. + +"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. + +"Yes, yes, Mother Wings, let's do it!" cried several Blue Birds. So Aunt +Selina and Mrs. Talmage smiled a consent. + +Ned brought his camera and Mr. Richards 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. + +"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. + +"When will the papers come out?" asked Ned. + +"I'll keep you posted day by day. I'm not going to lose sight of such a +promising crowd of young folks, _I tell you!_" laughed the young man as +he placed the film in his pocket and started to say good-by. + +"Say, here, are you going to take that magazine with you?" cried Don, +seeing the magazine rolled up in the visitor's hand. + +"Well, I guess! I'm going to exploit this everywhere I go," said Mr. +Richards, tapping the paper with his hand. + +"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. + +"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. + +"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. + +"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. + +"There'll just be time to jump aboard that train if we get off at once!" + +Mr. Richards jumped in and raised his hat to the ladies, while Ike +started the car at full speed, the children meantime waving their hands +and shouting reminders after the visitor. + +Back to the Publishing House trooped the bevy of workers, more eager +than ever to continue their work. + +"Now, he's what I call an 'all right' man!" declared Don Starr, +emphatically, as he accented his words with punches at the stitcher. + +"What a piece of luck for us," exclaimed Ned, overjoyed at the promised +newspaper story. + +"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?" + +"That's so, Tuck; better have a good time on that money," laughed Jinks. + +"Better 'not count your chickens before they're hatched' or they may +never come out of the shell," teased Ned. + +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. + +After several hours' work the Blue Birds began to feel tired and +decided to carry the finished magazines to the house. + +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. + +"What were you saying about Happy Hills, mother?" asked Ruth. + +"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." + +"Oh, yes, that would be a fine start for the farm," cried Ruth. + +"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. + +"Aunt Selina, how many poor children do you think we can keep at Happy +Hills?" asked Ruth. + +"We could not tell without having expert help to show how many camps can +be built there," said Aunt Selina. + +"Oh, are you going to build camps, Aunt Selina?" asked Norma. + +"I thought the children were going to live in the woods," said Dot. + +"But you didn't expect them to sleep on the ground and dress behind the +bushes, did you?" said May. + +"I never thought what they would do," returned Dot. + +"Will you have nests to live in like ours in the cherry-tree?" asked +Betty. + +"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. + +"Are we going to give the camp a name?" asked Edith. + +"Why, we hadn't thought of that--we can use the name 'Happy Hills,' +couldn't we?" said Mrs. Talmage. + +"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. + +"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 +_that_ so the children will know what place we mean when we talk about +the dining-room," suggested Norma. + +"Just say 'Valley where the long house is,'" said Edith. + +"That doesn't sound nice, a bit! Everything else we have have such nice +names," complained Ruth. + +"But, why do you children want a name for the valley and one for the +children's camps?" asked Aunt Selina. + +"Doesn't everything in the world have a name?" asked Dot. + +The others laughed, but Ruth added, "Dot's right; we have a name for our +cherry-tree nest, 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.'" + +"But this is different," argued Mrs. Talmage. + +"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?" + +"Dot, you hit the nail on the head every time," said Aunt Selina, as all +of the others laughed at Dot's explanation. + +"Yes, but that's why we want a name for our children's camp and the +valley," said Ruth. + +"Really, it doesn't matter to us how many names you choose to give +it--just please yourselves about it," said Aunt Selina. + +"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. + +For quite a time, silence reigned, for the Blue Birds were trying to +think of a pretty name for the farm. + +"In 'Pilgrim's Progress' there is a 'Valley of Humility,'" suggested +May. + +"I'll run and get the Bible Concordance--that will have some valley +names in it," said Ruth, running indoors to get the book. + +"Now, listen while I read some for you," continued Ruth, bringing the +book over to the wicker table. + +"Here's one--'Inhabitants of the Valley'--turn that about and call it +'Valley of Inhabitants.'" + +"No, that isn't nice!" objected several voices. + +"Then comes a lot of hard-spelled names of valleys that won't do, +either. Next comes: 'valley of passengers' and 'valley of vision.'" + +"We don't want either one," grumbled Dot. + +"Would you like the name 'Valley of Joy'?" asked Aunt Selina. + +After a few moments' thought the children replied, "Better, but not +right yet." + +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. + +After much thinking and suggesting, Ruth said, "We ought to have a name +that will fit with Happy Hills, you know." + +After "pleasure," "fun," "contentment" and other names had been +suggested, Aunt Selina suddenly mentioned "delight." + +"Valley of Delight," repeated Mrs. Talmage to hear the sound of it, +while the Blue Birds hailed the name as just right. + +"Happy Hills in the Valley of Delight!" said Aunt Selina, as pleased as +the children were. + +"Write it down--that's its name from now on," cried Dot. + +"We want it printed on all of our letter paper that will be used for +farm purposes," said Mrs. Talmage. + +"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. + +"Wish we could find a name for those poor children. I never like to say +that word--'poor,'" complained Ruth. + +"Neither do I," added Norma. + +"I know I wouldn't like a country child to be always calling me 'poor +city child,'" declared Betty. + +"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. + +All heads were bent down again while busy brains tried to find a +suitable name for the proteges coming from the city. + +"Could they be called 'birds' like us?" asked Dot. + +"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. + +"Maybe they would like the name 'Little Soldiers,'" ventured Norma. + +"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. + +Everyone laughed at Dot's viewpoint, but Aunt Selina was given an idea +by Norma's suggestion. + +"How would 'Little Workers' sound?" she asked. + +"Then they will all fear you are going to make them work," laughed Mrs. +Talmage. + +"'Little Lambs'--'Little Folks'--'Little Friends,'" recited Dot, +zealously, then waited for a verdict. + +Heads were shaken in negation of the names, and Ruth started a list of +names. + +"'Little Americans'--how's that?" + +"Better, but not good enough," replied her mother. + +"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. + +"Wish someone could find a name that would mean the same as Americans +and woods folks," came from Betty wistfully. + +"How does 'Little Citizens' sound?" asked Ruth. + +"Wait! say it again!" exclaimed Mrs. Talmage, while the children and +Aunt Selina seemed to like the name. + +"Little Citizens--of Happy Hills in the Valley of Delight," rehearsed +Ruth. + +"Why, just the thing--it's lovely!" cried Aunt Selina. + +"Yes, Fluff, couldn't be better," said several of the Blue Birds. + +"Sounds almost like a book story-name, it's so pretty," commended Mrs. +Talmage. + +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. + +"My, but that was a big load!" exclaimed Don. + +"Big piece of work, that!" said Jinks. + +"More fun than I've ever had," commented Meredith. + +"But it makes a fellow awful hungry to work so hard. I wish it was night +so the men could treat," hinted Don. + +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." + +Don looked surprised, but Ned led him indoors to find what the surprise +could be. + +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. + +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. + +"How many magazines do you suppose you finished to-day?" asked Ruth, of +her brother. + +"Guess." + +"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." + +"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. + +"Then we can begin mailing copies to our philanthropists to-night, can't +we?" asked Norma. + +"Yes, and bring your mothers with you, to help," said Mrs. Talmage. + +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. + + + + +CHAPTER XV + +HOW THE MAGAZINE WENT OUT + + +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. + +"We'll all be here Monday afternoon to help some more, Mrs. Talmage," +promised the Blue Birds as they skipped away beside their mothers. + +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. + +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." + +"Oh, oh! who do you s'pose they are from?" eagerly asked Norma. + +Dot was trying to look right through the envelope and the others laughed +at her expression. + +"Let's open them and see!" said sensible Ruth. + +Mrs. Talmage entered the room just then and the letters were given her +to open and read aloud. + +"Maybe they are subscriptions," suggested Mrs. Talmage, as she slipped a +paper-knife under the flap of an envelope. + +"Goodness! suppose they are?" whispered Betty. + +"What would we do with them?" said Dot. + +As this was an entirely new and unexpected problem, the Blue Birds +looked at each other and then at Mrs. Talmage. + +"I think we will have to invite the Bobolinks to a conference to-day and +talk this matter over," said Mother Wings. + +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. + +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. + +After looking over the papers, Ned said, "We must sign these and send +back a receipt, eh, mother?" + +"Yes, and we must select some bank in which to place our account; shall +we say the Oakdale Trust Company?" said Mrs. Talmage. + +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. + +"What a heap of money the magazines must make," said Dot. "Just look at +all the money we have already with no list." + +"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. + +"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. + +"We ought to get busy on our advertising, then," urged Jinks. + +"If we don't we won't pay costs after all of these free donations of +paper and postage are over," added Meredith. + +"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. + +"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. + +"Ho, didn't you?" insisted Dot. + +"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. + +"A little bird whispered it in our ears," teased Ruth. + +"Say, Jinks! do you remember the time I heard those noises in the loft?" +asked Ned. + +The Bobolinks saw that the girls were laughing at them. + +"I wonder when Mr. Richards will get that story printed in the +papers--that will help so much!" sighed Betty. + +"Don't be impatient, little girl," said Mrs. Talmage. "Remember, we +have only just begun, and I think there have been marvelous steps +taken." + +"And when it once gets started, the subscription list will grow very +rapidly," added Aunt Selina. + +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. + +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. + +"Ned, can you call a meeting of the B. B. & B. B.'s at the Publishing +House for two o'clock?" asked Uncle Ben. + +"The Bobolinks will be there anyway, but I am not so sure about the +Blue Birds," said Ned, looking at Ruth. + +"We had something to talk over in the Winter Nest, but we can postpone +it until afterward," said Ruth. + +So at two o'clock all of the children were gathered about Uncle Ben to +hear the news he had to tell them. + +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. + +"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. + +"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!' + +"Some of my friends laughed hilariously, for they thought it a good joke +on me, but the President of the association was not satisfied. + +"'This is no amateurish work, Mackensie,' he 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.' + +"Then a friend of mine spoke. + +"'This whole affair sounds very much like the pet hobby of a friend--he +told me about it years ago.' + +"The other men laughed at the explanation, but my friend looked at me +and said, 'Talmage, what do _you_ know about it?' + +"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.' + +"'They what?' exclaimed every man present. + +"'Say that again!' commanded the President, so I gladly told them the +story in detail. + +"Well, B. B. & B. B.'s--do you want to know the result of that +meeting?" + +The children shouted and begged to be told at once, so Uncle Ben +continued with evident pleasure in the telling. + +"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. + +"Now, these letters are the results of some of the promises already kept +by these men. I will read them to you." + +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. + +As Uncle Ben read the last letter, he took from his wallet a package of +checks and handed them over to Ned. + +Ned saw the figure written on the face of the first check on top and +held the package as if it were dangerous. + +"Heigh, there, Ned, they aren't loaded, are they?" laughed Jinks. + +"Read it off, Ned," urged the boys and girls. + +"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. + +Uncle Ben laughed at his evident amazement. + +"The second is from the Sarnegie Fund and is made out for a thousand +dollars, subscriptions to be sent to homes and orphanages. + +"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." + +When Ned finished the children were too surprised to say a word, but +Uncle Ben spoke for them. + +"Well, Chicks--I mean Birds--you see that 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." + +"Oh, Uncle Ben! what a dreadful thing to say!" cried Ruth. + +"As if we ever would sell out such a wonderful plan," murmured several +of the children. + +"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. + +It was instantly agreed upon and the resolution made a part of the +by-laws of the company. + +"Now, for a social proposition," said Uncle Ben, smiling in his +possession of a pleasant secret. + +"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 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." + +"But we would be crowded out of our work if the men did all of it," +complained Don. + +"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. + +So it was cheerfully agreed to have the men help them with the next +month's magazine. + +"You said 'social,' but I don't see anything social in having the men +help with the work," grumbled Don. + +"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 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." + +"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. + +"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. + +"Out with it, Uncle Ben!" laughed Ned. + +"Well, if I must, I must!" groaned Uncle Ben. "I have discovered a very +amusing play that has Saturday matinees. 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." + +Mere words failed to express the excitement and delight of the children +as they fully realized what Uncle Ben meant. + +"Oh," said Betty, "I've never been to a theatre in my life--and to +think of going to one in New York, oh!" + +"Neither have I, Betty," replied May. "Can you go?" + +"Will mother go with us, Uncle Ben?" asked Ruth. + +"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. + +"When can we go?" asked Don, eagerly. + +"Have you decided to come?" teased Uncle Ben. + +The storm of acceptance made him laugh. + +"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." + +"And will some of those real publishers be there, Uncle Ben?" asked Ned, +sceptically. + +"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. + +"What must we wear?" asked Norma. + +"The prettiest that you have, for I want to show off my publishing +company to the very best advantage," replied Uncle Ben. + +Just then Mr. Talmage appeared at the doorway and said, + +"Do you know that dinner is almost ready and no one there to sit down to +table?" + +Then everyone began to tell of the party to be given in New York, and +Mr. Talmage seemed very much surprised. + +"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. + +"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. + +"And sleigh-rides from the train, and bob-sledding down Oakdale Hill, +then over to our Publishing House for the Tree," added Dot. + +"And have a present for everyone like we had on our Fourth-of-July +tree," cried Ruth. + +"And after all the fun is over, a great big feast with plum-pudding," +sighed Don, making them all laugh. + +"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. + +"But, first, let us have our party with you, Uncle Ben, then we can talk +about the Christmas one," advised Ned. + +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. + +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 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. + +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. + +This book, called "THE BLUE BIRDS' UNCLE BEN," is the third of the +series. + +------------------------------------------------------------------------ + +THE GIRL SCOUTS SERIES +BY EDITH LAVELL + +A new copyright series of Girl Scouts stories by an author of wide +experience in Scouts' craft, as Director of Girl Scouts of Philadelphia. + +Clothbound, with Attractive Color Designs. + +PRICE, 65 CENTS EACH. + +THE GIRL SCOUTS AT MISS ALLEN'S SCHOOL +THE GIRL SCOUTS AT CAMP +THE GIRL SCOUTS' GOOD TURN +THE GIRL SCOUTS' CANOE TRIP +THE GIRL SCOUTS' RIVALS +THE GIRL SCOUTS ON THE RANCH +THE GIRL SCOUTS' VACATION ADVENTURES +THE GIRL SCOUTS' MOTOR TRIP + +For sale by all booksellers, or sent postpaid on receipt of price by the +Publishers + +A. L. BURT COMPANY +114-120 EAST 23rd STREET NEW YORK + +------------------------------------------------------------------------ + +MARJORIE DEAN HIGH SCHOOL SERIES +BY PAULINE LESTER + +Author of the Famous Marjorie Dean College Series + +These are clean, wholesome stories that will be of great interest to all +girls of high school age. + +All Cloth Bound Copyright Titles + +PRICE, 65 CENTS EACH + +MARJORIE DEAN, HIGH SCHOOL FRESHMAN +MARJORIE DEAN, HIGH SCHOOL SOPHOMORE +MARJORIE DEAN, HIGH SCHOOL JUNIOR +MARJORIE DEAN, HIGH SCHOOL SENIOR + +For sale by all booksellers, or sent postpaid on receipt of price by the +Publishers + +A. L. BURT COMPANY +114-120 EAST 23rd STREET NEW YORK + +------------------------------------------------------------------------ + +MARJORIE DEAN COLLEGE SERIES +BY PAULINE LESTER. + +Author of the Famous Marjorie Dean High School Series. + +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. + +All Clothbound. Copyright Titles. PRICE, 65 CENTS EACH. + +MARJORIE DEAN, COLLEGE FRESHMAN +MARJORIE DEAN, COLLEGE SOPHOMORE +MARJORIE DEAN, COLLEGE JUNIOR +MARJORIE DEAN, COLLEGE SENIOR + +For sale by all booksellers, or sent postpaid on receipt of price by the +Publishers. + +A. L. BURT COMPANY +114-120 East 23rd Street New York + +------------------------------------------------------------------------ + +THE CAMP FIRE GIRLS SERIES +BY HILDEGARD G. FREY + +A Series of Outdoor Stories for Girls 12 to 16 Years. + +All Cloth Bound Copyright Titles PRICE, 65 CENTS EACH + +THE CAMP FIRE GIRLS IN THE MAINE WOODS; + or, The Winnebagos go Camping. + +THE CAMP FIRE GIRLS AT SCHOOL; + or, The Wohelo Weavers. + +THE CAMP FIRE GIRLS AT ONOWAY HOUSE; + or, The Magic Garden. + +THE CAMP FIRE GIRLS GO MOTORING; + or, Along the Road That Leads the Way. + +THE CAMP FIRE GIRLS' LARKS AND PRANKS; + or, The House of the Open Door. + +THE CAMP FIRE GIRLS ON ELLEN'S ISLE; + or, The Trail of the Seven Cedars. + +THE CAMP FIRE GIRLS ON THE OPEN ROAD; + or, Glorify Work. + +THE CAMP FIRE GIRLS DO THEIR BIT; + or, Over the Top with the Winnebagos. + +THE CAMP FIRE GIRLS SOLVE A MYSTERY; + or, The Christmas Adventure at Carver House. + +THE CAMP FIRE GIRLS AT CAMP KEEWAYDIN; + or, Down Paddles. + +For sale by all booksellers, or sent postpaid on receipt of price by the +Publishers + +A. L. BURT COMPANY +114-120 EAST 23rd STREET NEW YORK + +------------------------------------------------------------------------ + +The Blue Grass Seminary Girls Series +BY CAROLYN JUDSON BURNETT + +For Girls 12 to 16 Years All Cloth Bound Copyright Titles + +PRICE, 65 CENTS EACH + +Splendid stories of the Adventures of a Group of Charming Girls. + +THE BLUE GRASS SEMINARY GIRLS' VACATION ADVENTURES; + or, Shirley Willing to the Rescue. + +THE BLUE GRASS SEMINARY GIRLS' CHRISTMAS HOLIDAYS; + or, A Four Weeks' Tour with the Glee Club. + +THE BLUE GRASS SEMINARY GIRLS IN THE MOUNTAINS; + or, Shirley Willing on a Mission of Peace. + +THE BLUE GRASS SEMINARY GIRLS ON THE WATER; or, + Exciting Adventures on a Summer's Cruise Through the Panama Canal. + +------------------------------------------------------------------------ + +THE MILDRED SERIES +BY MARTHA FINLEY + +For Girls 12 to 16 Years. + +All Cloth Bound Copyright Titles + +PRICE, 65 CENTS EACH + +A Companion Series to the famous "Elsie" books by the same author. + +MILDRED KEITH +MILDRED'S MARRIED LIFE +MILDRED AT ROSELAND +MILDRED AT HOME +MILDRED AND ELSIE +MILDRED'S BOYS AND GIRLS +MILDRED'S NEW DAUGHTER + +For sale by all booksellers, or sent postpaid on receipt of price by the +Publishers + +A. L. BURT COMPANY +114-120 EAST 23rd STREET NEW YORK + +------------------------------------------------------------------------ + +THE RADIO BOYS SERIES +BY GERALD BRECKENRIDGE + +A new series of copyright titles for boys of all ages. + +Cloth Bound, with Attractive Cover Designs + +PRICE, 65 CENTS EACH + +THE RADIO BOYS ON THE MEXICAN BORDER +THE RADIO BOYS ON SECRET SERVICE DUTY +THE RADIO BOYS WITH THE REVENUE GUARDS +THE RADIO BOYS' SEARCH FOR THE INCA'S TREASURE +THE RADIO BOYS RESCUE THE LOST ALASKA EXPEDITION +THE RADIO BOYS IN DARKEST AFRICA +THE RADIO BOYS SEEK THE LOST ATLANTIS + +For sale by all booksellers, or sent postpaid on receipt of price by the +Publishers + +A. L. 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