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.'"