The Blue Birds' Winter Nest Part 37

"Oh, Uncle Ben! what a dreadful thing to say!" cried Ruth.

"As if we ever would sell out such a wonderful plan," murmured several of the children.

"If every one of you feel the same about this matter, why not pa.s.s a resolution that we will never sell out this business for mere commercial reasons?" suggested Uncle Ben.

It was instantly agreed upon and the resolution made a part of the by-laws of the company.

"Now, for a social proposition," said Uncle Ben, smiling in his possession of a pleasant secret.

"I was thinking that we ought to get out an extra fine Christmas number, and send out as many samples as could be turned off the press. To do this you would have to have several men working during your school hours, so I thought it best to ask the men already here to wait for further orders. With all of this money on hand you can easily pay their salary and that of another good man that I should like to send out here to boss the work. Ike says he can fix up some rooms in the loft overhead and the men can take their meals with him. The two men who are working here like it very much and will remain if you want them to."

"But we would be crowded out of our work if the men did all of it,"

complained Don.

"Not a bit of it! I said: 'During school hours,' so an extra large number of magazines can be printed for Christmas. You boys worked every moment of your time but could only finish ten thousand this month,"

explained Uncle Ben.

So it was cheerfully agreed to have the men help them with the next month's magazine.

"You said 'social,' but I don't see anything social in having the men help with the work," grumbled Don.

"Now that you will have the men to help with the work you will have time to think of the social side of the plan I am going to suggest," replied Uncle Ben, winking at Don to cheer him up. "So many of my friends in New York have heard of this B. B. & B. B. Company that I am constantly answering questions as to your ages, looks, and other personal matters.

I think it will be a splendid plan to have all of you meet them soon and spare me so many extra words and time, to say nothing of wear and tear on my vocal cords."

"I know you've got a lovely surprise to tell us--I can tell it in your voice!" cried Ruth, jumping up and hugging her uncle about the neck.

"I don't know whether it is or not--how can I say until the others tell me whether it is," said Uncle Ben, trying to look troubled over the doubt.

"Out with it, Uncle Ben!" laughed Ned.

"Well, if I must, I must!" groaned Uncle Ben. "I have discovered a very amusing play that has Sat.u.r.day matinees. Of course, I suppose Birds could get into a theatre, couldn't they? Well, if we went to see the show in the afternoon and then went to a hotel where we could have a dining-room all to ourselves and give a little party to all of my friends, it would save me so much trouble for the future."

Mere words failed to express the excitement and delight of the children as they fully realized what Uncle Ben meant.

"Oh," said Betty, "I've never been to a theatre in my life--and to think of going to one in New York, oh!"

"Neither have I, Betty," replied May. "Can you go?"

"Will mother go with us, Uncle Ben?" asked Ruth.

"Most a.s.suredly, for you Blue Birds will have to have a Mother Wing to cover you--and Aunt Selina, too, if she will come," said Uncle Ben.

"When can we go?" asked Don, eagerly.

"Have you decided to come?" teased Uncle Ben.

The storm of acceptance made him laugh.

"Well, then, let's say a week from next Sat.u.r.day, if everyone can arrange it for that time. I will invite my friends to be at our party at six o'clock sharp, for afterward we will have to come home on the nine o'clock train."

"And will some of those real publishers be there, Uncle Ben?" asked Ned, sceptically.

"Some of the greatest in America, my boy," said Uncle Ben, seriously, as he understood Ned's ambition to meet them and his doubt of having the desire fulfilled.

"What must we wear?" asked Norma.

"The prettiest that you have, for I want to show off my publis.h.i.+ng company to the very best advantage," replied Uncle Ben.

Just then Mr. Talmage appeared at the doorway and said,

"Do you know that dinner is almost ready and no one there to sit down to table?"

Then everyone began to tell of the party to be given in New York, and Mr. Talmage seemed very much surprised.

"If that is the case, you will all have to do your very best to have a fine Christmas magazine so that the friends you meet in New York will want to come to another party at some other time. Perhaps if the magazine was very, very attractive they would feel so proud of being acquainted with you that they would take the trouble to come all the way out to Oakdale to have a party this winter," ventured Mr. Talmage.

"Wouldn't it be fun to invite them all here at the Christmas Holidays and give them a real country Christmas tree with Uncle Ben for Santa Claus!" cried Betty, expectantly.

"And sleigh-rides from the train, and bob-sledding down Oakdale Hill, then over to our Publis.h.i.+ng House for the Tree," added Dot.

"And have a present for everyone like we had on our Fourth-of-July tree," cried Ruth.

"And after all the fun is over, a great big feast with plum-pudding,"

sighed Don, making them all laugh.

"Yes, I think that will be fine, and I don't believe one of those New Yorkers will stay away if you tell them all the fun you propose giving them," laughed Uncle Ben.

"But, first, let us have our party with you, Uncle Ben, then we can talk about the Christmas one," advised Ned.

Families in Oakdale were entertained that Sat.u.r.day night by hearing the children tell of the plans made by Uncle Ben for the social side of the B. B. & B. B.'s life. Many were the dreams of all the fun to be had when that New York party came off.

While the children were home talking over the antic.i.p.ated dinner-party, the grown-ups at Mossy Glen were engaged in perfecting plans for the party. Invitations on grey paper, printed in blue ink, with a flight of birds shadowed across the sheet was the suggestion of Aunt Selina. The favors for the table and the tokens presented for speech-making were suggested by Mrs. Talmage, while the dinner and decorations were planned by Mr. Talmage and Uncle Ben.

Much fun was the result of the party in New York. The guests accepted the B. B. & B. B.'s invitation to have a Christmas Tree at the Publis.h.i.+ng House with great eagerness. But it will take another book to tell about everything that happened.

THE CAMP FIRE GIRLS SERIES BY HILDEGARD G. FREY

A Series of Outdoor Stories for Girls 12 to 16 Years.

THE CAMP FIRE GIRLS IN THE MAINE WOODS; or, The Winnebagos go Camping.

THE CAMP FIRE GIRLS AT SCHOOL; or, The Wohelo Weavers.

THE CAMP FIRE GIRLS AT ONOWAY HOUSE; or, The Magic Garden.