Lillian Elizabeth Roy

“ 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. ”

“ 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 70stuff 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.” ”

“ 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. ”

“ Sally was a trusted old housekeeper who had her mistress’ confidence; Abe was her husband who had driven the Talmage coupé 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. ”

“ 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. ”

“ 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. ”

“ 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. ”

“ 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. ”

“ 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. ”

“ I always use my victoria, or coupé,” 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. ”

“ 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. ”

“ 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. ”

“ 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. ”

“ 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. ”

“ 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. ”

“ 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. ”

“ 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.” ”

“ 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. ”

“ 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. ”

“ 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. ”

“ We will have a sort of club for boys under twelve for the 49purpose 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.” ”

“ 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.” ”

“ 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.” ”

“ 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 16in 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.” ”

“ 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. ”

“ 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 22who 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!” ”

“ 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. ”

“ 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. ”

“ 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 28to 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. ”