The Blue Birds' Winter Nest Part 7

"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 cooperation than compet.i.tion?" 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 publis.h.i.+ng, 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 a.s.sume 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 publis.h.i.+ng 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 publis.h.i.+ng 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'? Bos.h.!.+

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!" e.j.a.c.u.l.a.t.ed 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.