Blue Birds' Winter Nest

by Lillian Elizabeth Roy

  CHAPTER VII

  BLUE BIRD WISDOM AND BOBOLINK WORK

  "There! my page is all done!" exclaimed Ruth, holding a sheet of paperaway 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 itlook 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 herlips emphatically.

  "I haven't started to ink the pencil lines of my cut-out paperfurniture, but that won't take long," explained Dot. "I started with thekitchen because Mumzie said no good housekeeper would furnish a parlorif she had no kitchen equipment."

  "I did my drawing lesson, but I haven't written the lesson telling thechildren how to make the picture," said Betty, with a worried looktoward Mrs. Talmage.

  "Plenty of time, dear," soothed Mrs. Talmage. "You know Uncle Ben saidwe would have until the tenth of the month."

  The Blue Birds were gathered in the cherry-tree Nest after school, oneday, waiting for the signal from the Publishing House which would tellthem they might run over and inspect the huge pieces of machinery thathad arrived that day from New York. Ike and Simon had to help the threetruckmen as they placed rollers under the press and rolled it from thetruck and into the room. The stitcher, cutter and other pieces were notso unwieldy to move and place. At noon, Ned saw the men struggling withthe press and so refrained from going near the house, but he told theother Bobolinks, and immediately after school was dismissed a crowd ofboys ran to their shop.

  The Blue Birds had been enjoined to keep out of the way while the boyscleared things up and investigated the various pieces of machinery. Itwas a strain on their patience, however, to remain in their Nest andlisten to the laughs, exultant shouts, and sounds of satisfaction comingfrom the carriage house.

  All things have an end, so Uncle Ben soon appeared at the wide doorwayof the Publishing House and gave a shrill whistle for the Blue Birds.Instantly, seven little girls took flight down the steps and across thelawn, leaving Mrs. Talmage to assist Aunt Selina.

  The Blue Birds ran in and looked about. The great, ugly, black machineswith wheels, rollers and arms everywhere, did not impress them veryfavorably.

  "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 papercutter.

  Then the children crowded about the stitcher while Uncle Ben showed thewonderful work the machine did.

  The electric attachments had not yet been completed, so thedemonstration of the machines had to be by gestures. But Uncle Ben wasequal to it, and the children felt that they could almost _see_ themachines running as they listened to his explanations.

  "Well, Uncle Ben, I don't see how we can start this work without yousuperintending us," ventured Meredith.

  "It all seemed simple enough when we were talking about printing amagazine, but this job is more than I can do," admitted Jinks.

  "I am at home with my little press, Uncle Ben, but these big fellowsmake 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 anxiousconcern lest the entire plan should fail.

  "I thought of just such a contingency and provided for it," repliedUncle Ben, with his optimistic manner. "I realize that you all go toschool and afternoons after school do not give you much time toexperiment on these machines, so I found two young men who used to dogood work for us who were pleased to come out here for a few weeks andshow you boys how to do things. They won't come until the galley proofsarrive, but then, they will help you get out the first issue and teachyou everything there is to know about these machines. They will takethem all apart and teach you how to put them together again. A machineis 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, withthe 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 inturning 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 ourown 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 youkeep up to the mark. If you only had a pretend name on your page youmight get careless and say, 'Oh, no one knows who it is, anyway, so Idon'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 ofthe remark.

  "I guess my father will be proud to see my name in a magazine," boastedDot Starr.

  "All depends on what you tack your name to, Dot," laughed Meredith.

  "It'll be fine, all right!" exclaimed Dot, nodding her heademphatically.

  "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 onewill stop to read our names if you have them at the bottom," worriedlittle Betty.

  Everyone laughed, but Uncle Ben assured her that the name would beplaced 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 aboutaffairs in general.

  In concluding he said, "Now don't you worry if the children shouldneglect a page now and then, for I can turn in heaps of good stories andarticles any time we may need them."

  "Oh, these children are so reliable that they would rather do withoutfood or sleep than neglect anything that promises funds for nextsummer's farms," returned Mrs. Talmage.

  "Glad to hear it, and hope they keep it up. Now, what pages have youprovided for each month--and have you any to spare for some prominentwriters who are friends of mine and feel deeply interested in thisventure?" asked Uncle Ben.

  "Oh, yes!" replied Mrs. Talmage. "We have seven pages taken by the BlueBirds and four by the Bobolinks. Then there is a story Aunt Selina hasbeen thinking of writing, and a page for music that her friend in NewYork will contribute. Mrs. Catlin promised to give us some tale ofadventure each month and that will take two pages. So, let me see--thattakes up, in all, sixteen pages. How many pages shall we have in themagazine?"

  "About forty-eight is the usual size for such a paper," replied UncleBen, figuring out Mrs. Talmage's number of pages and making a memorandumof the balance remaining for use.

  "Gracious! then we will have to find much more manuscript than Ithought," worried Mrs Talmage.

  "No, I do not think so--that is what I want to find out to-day. A verygood friend of mine who had charge of Field's Museum for four years, soheartily endorsed this plan that he offered to supply a page article onplant life each month. His name alone is valuable to a paper, and itwill certainly give weight to our magazine. Then, besides him, a veryclose friend, who has been connected with a prominent book concern formore than twenty years, called me up to say that this idea was just whathe has been hoping for. Both he and his wife are eager to assist in someway. I suggested that they supply a page on bird life and give us somevaluable hints about our feathered friends. This man has publishednumerous books on the subject of birds and is just the one to speak withauthority. The moment I mentioned it, he accepted my invitation; so wehave two renowned writers for most interesting and instructive pageseach month," said Uncle Ben.

  "Why, how wonderful!" exclaimed Aunt Selina, who had been silent duringthe conversation. "I don't see how you ever accomplish such miracles!"

  Mrs. Talmage looked at Uncle Ben and said, laughingly, "Maybe it'sbecause we never take 'no' for an answer. We keep at an idea until i
t ishammered into everyone's heart and mind."

  "And the moment our friends have it well hammered in they get sointerested in succeeding that others are sought by them and the samestory hammered into another head and heart," added Uncle Ben.

  "Well, I'm hammered and rooted in the work, and am anxious to havefriends 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 offolks are working on the same idea," replied Mrs. Talmage.

  "Mary said something about a story that you wished to contribute, AuntSelina--what is it?" asked Uncle Ben.

  "An experience I had in the Civil War when I was visiting my old schoolchum, Rebecca Crudup. You have never heard any of my tales of thatvisit, but I assure you they are exciting."

  "And you were there! Why, Aunt Selina, your manuscript would be valuableto any magazine! I wish you would let me read it before you turn it overto the Blue Birds," said Uncle Ben eagerly, the business instinct fornew material for his magazine pushing the Blue Birds' magazine into thebackground.

  "You may see it after it is published in the children's paper," quietlyreplied Aunt Selina.

  Uncle Ben took the rebuke in the right spirit, and said, "Is your friendalive 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, orI would have written to her about this."

  "Give me her name and the last address you knew of, and I will locateher 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 theladies with a suggestion.

  "Aunt Selina's story will surely take more than the two pages you spokeof, 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 meafter the war and told me plenty of her wild adventures after I returnedhome from the South. Why, my coachman, Abe, was one of the Crudupslaves. He says they all stuck close to the family, for they loved themand wanted to remain, but Mr. Crudup lost most of his wealth in the warand had no place or means for so many servants," related Miss Selina.

  The children had made a thorough inspection of the machinery and type bythis time and had joined the grown-ups.

  "What was that you were telling mother, Aunt Selina?" asked Ned, whooverheard the word "war" and was interested.

  "Why, we just discovered that Aunt Selina had a very exciting time inthe South during the Civil War and she is going to write it up for yourmagazine," 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 anyonewould be interested. Besides, it turns to a page of my life that Ialways wanted to keep closed," sighed Aunt Selina.

  The others, respecting her reticence, changed the subject. Uncle Bensmiled at her and made a comforting remark.

  "Aunt Selina, when we finish our first year's work I am going to write amost interesting treatise and call it, 'Aunt Selina's Recipes forYouth.'"

  "What do you mean?" she questioned.

  "Just what I said," replied he, laughing. "Since you have taken aninterest in this work you have grown years and years younger in looksand 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 toyou," 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. PublishingCompany's shop," replied Ike with pride.

  Uncle Ben signed for the safe delivery of a large flat box and thechildren crowded about to watch Ned and Jinks open it.

  The box was marked "Glass" and "Handle with Care," so Ruth ran over toher 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 takeout the nails very carefully. Soon Jinks and he had the top boards offand then started to lift out the excelsior. This disposed of, a flatpaper parcel was seen. Ned lifted it out, and seeing another oneunderneath, Jinks took it out also. Meredith and Don looked to see ifthere 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 smiledas he hacked away at the twine. After several vigorous efforts thestring parted and several hands hurried to tear off the heavy paper.

  A large picture of Benjamin Franklin, in a heavy oak frame, came outfrom 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 otherparcel which Jinks held on the floor. The twine was soon cut and thepapers taken off to reveal the strong features of Abraham Lincoln.

  "Ho, that's best yet!" cried the boys who felt a deep admiration for theman 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 officeappearance."

  "Yes, indeed, Uncle Ben, and we thank you heaps and heaps!" exclaimedNed, carrying his picture into the office.

  Jinks followed and Don started to drag away the box that stood in themidst 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 hedragged forth several small packages.

  Upon being opened they proved to be a number of pictures of famouspublishers 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 numberof fine plates of machines and things of that kind. He was connectedwith the Vivla Machine Company, you know, and they manufactured pressesand printers' tools. They might look well if added to this collection."

  Everyone agreed that the more the better, and then Dot remembered thatMrs. Catlin had not seen the office and machinery.

  "Walk right over and see how officey our office looks with your desk andtable," 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 whenhe's away from home," said Ruth, eagerly.

  Mrs. Catlin praised the arrangement, and then asked to be shown thewonderful machinery that was to do such great work.

  "Dear me, I heartily regret that I am not a little girl so that I mightglory in this office and work," sighed Mrs. Catlin, coming back to thegrown-ups.

  "You don't have to be 'little,' Therese," laughed Mrs. Talmage. "You areone of this juvenile club as surely as if you were but ten. Why, youcouldn't pass the place without coming in to ask for news."

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sp; "To tell the truth, I was going to the village, but I heard the happyshouts 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 UncleBen told you was really truly true!"

  "And just think, Mrs. Catlin, Flutey is going to write a long seriousstory for our magazine all about the war that she was in!" cried BettyStevens.

  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 Benthinks my experience will make a readable story," replied Aunt Selina.

  Mrs. Catlin looked at the aged lady with interest and said how much shewould like to hear the tale. Suddenly, however, she slapped her glovedhands together and spoke.

  "Now, what reason is there that I should not have some pages in thismagazine?" 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 shortstories that Mr. Catlin wrote of his adventures in Alaska. It does notseem much like an adventure to go to Alaska nowadays, but forty yearsago it was as if one were leaving this hemisphere for the unknown. Someof his tales are intensely interesting," said Mrs. Catlin.

  "Why, friends, we are getting so many notable articles and writerstogether 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 decidewhat subscription price we wish to ask," said Uncle Ben.

  "Has anyone thought of that?" asked Mrs. Talmage, looking about at BlueBirds and Bobolinks.

  Heads were shaken and Ned asked, "How can we tell how much to chargeuntil we know what the magazine will cost?"

  "I can help you figure that out, I think," offered Uncle Ben, sittingdown at the table and taking paper and pencil from the drawer.

  "Figure how much five hundred--or say, a thousand will cost," venturedNed.

  "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 onemagazine as for one thousand. The only extra cost in getting out aquantity is in paper, ink and time. Now, I firmly believe that we willbe able to send out ten thousand by the time you have them ready."

  "Well, Uncle Ben, it sounds _awful_ big to us, particularly as wehaven'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-dollarbill from her purse.

  "Here's for five orphan asylums," added Mrs. Catlin placing a ten-dollarnote 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 ofa successful start.

  "From what Aunt Selina and Mrs. Talmage offered, it looks as if theprice should be two dollars per year. Now, let us figure out how closewe come to that," said Uncle Ben.

  After counting up cost of production plus cost of mailing, it wasdecided that two dollars would be a just price, but there would belittle profit unless more money could be gotten for advertising, or somesaving made.

  "Guess we've about completed our business for to-day," ventured UncleBen, as he noticed the children growing restless.

  "Yes, let us go to the house and have some nice cool lemonade andcookies," 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 usthe way to the picnic."

  It took but a few moments for the children to reach the wide veranda andsettle down comfortably until the maids brought out the refreshments.

  "A day's work always ought to finish like this," mused Don, munching adelicious piece of cake.