The Blue Birds' Winter Nest Part 12

"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 "Publis.h.i.+ng 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 part.i.tion about six feet high erected. This office had a wide window in front, and a closet on the side wall. The part.i.tion 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 part.i.tion had a door to match, and the boys' work was exceptionally good. Six boys were busy completing the nailing of the part.i.tion 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 gra.s.s, 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 a.s.sist 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 inst.i.tutions 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 advertis.e.m.e.nts 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 'advertis.e.m.e.nts,' 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 Publis.h.i.+ng 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.