CHAPTER XI
THE WINTER NEST COUNCIL
Before eight o'clock that night the Blue Birds and their mothers wereassembled in the living-room ready for a council. The children had notseen the den for a few days and stared in delight as they filed into theroom. Mrs. Talmage had purposely had all meet together before mentioningthat they might as well spend the evening in the Winter Nest.
"Why, Mother Wings, when _did_ you fix this up?" asked Ruth, as muchsurprised as the others.
Mrs. Talmage smiled, but said nothing.
The guests looked about and admired the unique charm of the Blue Birdquarters for the winter, and Betty ventured the question: "What hasbecome of our other chairs?"
The room had all been renovated. The windows were hung with snow-flakemadras, and the floor covered with heavy knotted white rag carpet thatlooked like snow freshly packed. The walls had been repapered with asparkling white paper which glistened like ice in the electric light.From the wainscoting to the picture rail branches of dark green spruceand pine were fastened and upon these green needles were caught flakesof make-believe snow--made of white cotton-batting with diamond dustpowdered on it. The furniture of the summer Nest had been brought inlate that afternoon and the slip covers, which had been made for it,were slipped over until the thick white covers hid the familiar chairsunder the novelty cloth that looked like snow-drifts. The whole effectwas so beautiful that the children danced about with joy.
"Well, we must get at our work," reminded Aunt Selina, after enoughchairs had been brought in for all.
"I walked over with Mr. Wells and he was quite surprised to find I wascoming to the house," said Mrs. Wells, laughingly.
"I never said a word to Mr. Talmage or his brother," confided Mrs.Talmage, smiling at the secret.
"Mr. Stevens knows I am at this council with Betty, but he hasn't thefaintest idea for what," admitted Mrs. Stevens.
And so it was that not one of the men who had formed the habit ofdropping in to help the Bobolinks could imagine what their wives weredoing with the Blue Birds.
If the inmates of the Winter Nest that night could have seen thequestioning faces of the boys and men when it was known that a meetingof mothers was being held, they would have felt the balm of satisfactionapplied to wounded pride.
Mrs. Talmage showed the sample of paper and, after a discussion of meritand price, a selection was made of an artistic grey paper to be printedin blue--the colors of the Blue Birds.
"We must have envelopes to match, mother," said Ruth.
"I never thought of that, but it is so!" admitted Mrs. Talmage.
"I know the address of a firm where Mr. Wells has all of his'made-to-order' envelopes made--we will get them to do it," suggestedMrs. Wells.
"What a relief to hear that offer!" sighed Mrs. Talmage. "I was justwondering where I could find anyone who would make them for us."
"It also goes to prove that many heads gathered to discuss Blue Birdaffairs are better than one, and I suggest that we meet at least once aweek," suggested Aunt Selina.
So it was then and there agreed that the mothers would come regularly tohold a council in the Winter Nest with the Blue Birds.
"Just as soon as the envelopes come back we can begin to address frommother's big book, can't we?" asked Norma.
"If there's only one book, how can all of this crowd read it at the sametime and then write down the names?" demanded Dot Starr.
"Why, we won't have to do that work," added Mrs. Wells. "There's a firmin the city that addresses envelopes for a dollar a thousand."
"Another fine hint! I'm sure I'd rather pay my share than risk Dot'sruining dozens of envelopes with ink," laughed Mrs. Starr, patting Doton the hand.
"We wouldn't want to write 'em in here, because the snow would freezeour fingers so the ink would spatter all over," said Dot, ludicrously.
"Yes, I suppose these lovely covers would be speckled black by the timethe Blue Birds completed, say, fifty thousand addresses," laughed AuntSelina.
"I would vote against Edith's writing--I fear the person would never getthe letter--it would go straight to the Dead Letter Office," said Mrs.Wilson, pulling Edith's curls.
As everyone knew how Edith hated writing and never could write a legiblehand, a laugh went up, in which Edith joined heartily.
So the Blue Birds were spared the arduous task of copying thousands ofnames.
"I have heard that these large addressing bureaus prefer to employchildren--I wonder why?"
"Because children just finishing grammar school are more careful informing letters and can write much better than adults. Besides, theyhave to pay children but a third that an adult would demand for hislabor," explained Mrs. Wells.
"Why, isn't that just as bad as working children in a factory?"questioned Miss Selina.
"The rooms that I visited are just as bad. The girls are crowded closetogether in a wretchedly lighted room without ventilation, and they sitwriting all day with their poor backs bent double and fingers growncrooked from habit," said Mrs. Wells.
"Goodness! Can't we do something to stop it?" cried Mrs. Starr.
"They have to have the money for home needs, and it isn't quite as bad,you know, as working all day in cold water to your knees, openingoysters at a cent a hundred."
"Oh, dear, dear! don't tell me any more," half wept Aunt Selina. "I feellike a criminal to think I lost all of these years with money piling upin the bank that could have helped hundreds of these little workers.Let's get busy this minute!"
"It would be nice to take all these little workers to the country,wouldn't it?" queried Mrs. Talmage.
"Yes, yes! But, Mary, don't delay me longer in this work--I have so manyyears to make up, and so little time to do it in," mourned Aunt Selina.
"All right! Now that is settled--we hire a firm to do the addressing,and Mrs. Wells will see to the envelopes. What next?" said Mrs. Talmage.
"Oh, Mother Wings, don't forget about that book--you know?" remindedRuth.
"Oh, of course! One of our great secrets! Here is a volume loaned us byMr. White, of the Oakdale Paper Mills, and it has the addresses of allthe stationers in the country," explained Mrs. Talmage. "He suggestedthat we send a sample magazine to each, with a letter stating agents'commissions and price of subscription."
"And that reminds me--the book you wrote for was given me to bring into-night, and I left it out in the hall," said Mrs. Wells, turning toFrances and asking her to get it.
The institution book was brought in, and its pages eagerly scanned.
"My! what a lot of poor children there are!" said Dot sympathetically.
"It doesn't seem possible, does it?" said Mrs. Starr, turning to theothers.
"We never realize what needs there are for help until we face somethingof this sort," said Mrs. Talmage, turning page after page. Suddenly shestopped.
"Has anyone here an idea of how many dependent little ones there are inthe United States alone?"
Heads were silently shaken, and Mrs. Talmage continued:
"There are 87,000 children's institutions--homes, hospitals, asylums,and homes for cripples that are mostly supported by gifts, philanthropy,or legacies. About one-fourth of these are partially controlled by thestate. The number of inmates in these institutions amounts to 1,740,520children. Think of it! Practically a million and three-quarters! Howterrible!" And Mrs. Talmage had to find her handkerchief to dry her eyesat the picture of so many, many dear little ones bereft of home andmother-love.
"Mary, Mary, I shall have to run away from here if you keep on!" criedAunt Selina.
"But, Aunty, it is not your fault, and you must not feel this way,especially as you are doing so much to improve the conditions," saidMrs. Talmage.
"Well, mother, I should say that if there are 87,000 addresses to sendletters to, we'd better begin that letter now, and not spoil Flutey'spleasure by thinking of all the things she never did," advised Ruth,very sensibly.
"Yes, that letter is very important--let us compo
se it," said AuntSelina.
After an hour of writing and rewriting, Mrs. Talmage read aloud theresult of their labor:
"Dear Friend:
"The Blue Birds of Oakdale have started a philanthropic work which mustappeal to everyone who is willing to help our poor children. A magazineis being published, a sample of which is being sent you, that willcontain instructive, helpful, interesting articles.
"Perhaps you know that there are 87,000 benevolent institutions in thiscountry filled with over a million and a half poor children, to whomthis magazine will prove a welcome visitor. The cost of producing thismagazine is partially paid for by donations, and the profit of the workis all devoted to a settlement in the country where the city childrencan spend the summer.
"Inclosed find a subscription blank. Make all checks payable to 'BlueBirds of Happy Times Nest.'"
"Wish we had time to run over to the Bobolinks and order fifty thousandof these letters," suggested Dot.
"Oh, wouldn't it be fun to see their faces!" laughed Norma.
"Maybe we will have time--it is only five minutes to nine," announcedMrs. Talmage, looking at her watch.
"We can try it--we will walk down the path, and if we find they areleaving we can keep our own council until another night," said Mrs.Talmage, as everyone rose hurriedly to go.
The children hurried on before, while the ladies followed more sedately.
The heavy doors were closed, but an opening about a foot wide left spaceenough for Ruth to squeeze through and pull one of the sliding doorsalong the groove to admit the other visitors.
The men had been lounging about, talking and watching their sons work,but upon the entrance of the ladies everyone arose in surprise.
"Rather a late hour for a call, dear," ventured Mr. Stevens.
"Oh, not at all. We were attending a business meeting, and found itnecessary to leave an order with the Bobolinks."
"An order--what kind of an order?" questioned Ned dubiously.
Mrs. Talmage handed over the copy of the letter she wanted printed, anddirected the company to get out a proof as soon as possible, for theywould need about fifty thousand.
"Fifty thousand!" gasped the boys, while the men looked incredulous.
The Blue Birds could not restrain a giggle at the utter amazement of theBobolinks, and the ladies thoroughly enjoyed their husbands' surprise.
"Oh, well, I suppose it will take you a long time to run off so many, soyou may do ten thousand at a time," said Mrs. Talmage.
The Bobolinks could find no words with which to reply, and the menseemed to have lost their tongues also. While Mrs. Talmage waited for ananswer, Don scowled at his twin sister.
"I am still waiting to hear you accept the order," smiled Mrs. Talmage,feeling that the Blue Birds had scored a point.
"Maybe you are not yet ready to do business," suggested Mrs. Wells, withjust a touch of sarcasm.
"Of course we are ready!" exclaimed several boys, faintly echoed by themen.
"Then tell us how long will it be before you can show us a proof?" askedMrs. Talmage.
"H'm! We will have to consult," replied Ned, as he beckoned some of theBobolinks to the rear of the room.
The Blue Birds were so delighted at catching the Bobolinks napping thatthey danced up and down, finding it very difficult to keep their secret.
Don was the first to come over to the ladies.
"Say, what do you want that letter for? Where will you ever get paperenough to print ten thousand--we can't buy it for you," he growled.
"Don, come back here and mind your business!" shouted Meredith.
"When you return to the boys, please ask them to hurry, as we haveanother letter to ask them about--we may need 100,000 of these," saidMrs. Starr sweetly.
The Blue Birds noticed that their fathers looked sceptical at the lastsentence.
"You never made up a list like that!" grunted Don, looking at the BlueBirds with fire shining in his eyes.
"What do you think we were doing while you spent your evenings having agood time?" retorted Dot.
"Humph!" was the only reply Don granted his sister.
"Folks said this summer that we Blue Birds were little hustlers, but Inever paid much attention to them then; but _now_ I think we arehustlers when I see the way you Bobolinks poke away for two weeks andnothing to show for it," teased May.
Mr. Wells was called over to join the conference of the Bobolinks beforean answer was given the Blue Birds.
"We will set this type and run off a proof by to-morrow evening; willthat do?" said Ned, coming forward with the letter.
The Blue Birds thought it would take the boys about three days to settype and give a proof, so it was their turn to be surprised. Mrs.Talmage seemed to understand, however, and replied in a verycondescending voice:
"Oh, yes, to-morrow will be Saturday, and Uncle Ben will be here atnoon. That will be fine, for, of course, he will show you what to do;and I am sure he knows just what he would like for the purpose."
The looks exchanged between the Bobolinks and Mr. Wells were sufficientproof that Mrs. Talmage was right in her surmise, but the Blue Birdswere too polite to say anything more.
The men said it was long past closing hours, so the lights wereextinguished, and the whole party went out into the cool night air.
Early Saturday morning the Blue Birds met again in their pretty WinterNest, and Mrs. Talmage told them what she had thought over since thenight before.
"Since Uncle Ben will be here all afternoon to supervise the work, Ithink it would be as well for us to form the letter for thephilanthropists, too; then he can help the Bobolinks set the type."
The Blue Birds agreed that this was a wise plan, and so the letter wasdiscussed and composed. This done, they went to the Publishing Housewith the copy, and told the boys what they wanted. The Bobolinks werehunting for the right style of type and fussing about the machines so asto have them in readiness for the afternoon.
Uncle Ben arrived at noon, and the boys placed their work under hissupervision. From the expression on his face when he read the letters,it appeared that he understood the plans the Blue Birds were keeping soquiet.
"What are you smiling at, Uncle Ben?" asked Ned, keen to find out whatthe Blue Birds were planning.
"At the remarkable progress the Blue Birds have made since I lastvisited you," returned Uncle Ben.
"Why, they haven't done anything--much," grumbled Don.
"Only fixed up these two letters for us to print," added Meredith.
"They haven't done their usual sewing and playing in the cherry-treenest, either," said Jinks.
"Is that so? Well, how do you know _what_ they have been doing withoutyour knowledge?" asked Uncle Ben laughingly.
The boys looked at him, and their eyes asked the question, "What?"
"As an old magazine man, I can see signs in these two letters that tellme of two tremendous pieces of work being started--and being very nicelyhandled, too. Why, I would not be surprised to have the Blue Birds flydown upon this Publishing House some day and settle here long enough tosay that they had a paid-up subscription list of ten thousand! At anyrate, you boys had better prepare to print about fifty thousand samplecopies of the first magazine."
The faces of the Bobolinks looked as if their owners must sit down orcollapse. Uncle Ben laughed heartily at them.
"Ah, you're only fooling us, as usual," ventured Ned.
"No, siree! I am not. Wait and see," returned Uncle Ben.
Without further discussion, Uncle Ben showed the boys the proper styleof type to use for a letter, then helped them run off a proof of bothletters.
"This will show the Blue Birds that we are not so slow but that we canturn out samples in up-to-date style," said Ned, as he admired theprinting.
"Now, run off a few letters on this paper," ordered Uncle Ben, producingsome beautiful bond paper.
"My, but it's pretty! Where'd you get it, Uncle Ben?" asked Ned.
"I brought it out for the Blue Bir
ds' inspection, but I shouldn't doubtbut that they have already attended to that detail, so we will presentour proof all finished on my paper."
"Now, tell us, Uncle Ben, why you think the Blue Birds have a big planof their own," entreated Ned.
Uncle Ben smiled and reminded the boys to keep his words from becomingpublic property.
"I should say that the fact that the Blue Birds have not been near theirold Nest all week, when the weather is so glorious, proves that theyhave a deeper interest elsewhere. Now, what can that be? Here you have ahint of part of the interest," and Uncle Ben waved the letters at theboys. "How do I know?
"Take these two letters--either one of them would startle a slowcirculation manager in the city if he thought a competitor suddenlyproduced it! Why, in some way the Blue Birds have found a way to reachbook stores, stationers, and similar business places. Then, too, themention of needing thousands shows me they have found a mine ofaddresses that is worth a large price to a publisher."
"Ah, Uncle Ben, you're wrong there! The Blue Birds haven't goneanywhere, and no one has been here to tell them how to get such names,"said Ned.
Without replying to Ned's words, Uncle Ben continued:
"Then, too, they must have the institution work well under considerationor they would not have ordered the form letter--and hinted at the sizeof the order."
The boys shook their heads, unwilling to admit that Uncle Ben's surmisessounded practical.
"Lastly, they have their paper selected, because they told you the sizethis sheet of printing is to be; and therefore they must know how deep amargin they will need. To get the size of their printing correct, theywould have to know how many sheets will cut out of a large sheet ofpaper, and order it cut accordingly."
"If they have done all those things that you say they have, they are'way ahead of us Bobolinks," grumbled Don.
Uncle Ben laughed and advised:
"Boys, work _with_ these Blue Birds, not against them or ahead of them.Do not think that just because they are girls, and you are boys, thatthey are going to remain in the shade and let you boys come out andshine in the light. If you boys ever do business in the city, you willfind that a woman will contest your right at every step, for to-day'swomen are equal in every way to the men--I rather think a number of themare 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 aredue them." And Uncle Ben chuckled at the idea.
"Well, Uncle Ben, you'll help us in every way until we are even with thegirls, won't you?" asked Ned.
"And you won't help the Blue Birds any more, will you?" asked Don.
"I am absolutely neutral," replied Uncle Ben, holding both hands up overhis head. "I won't take sides, but I will help the work along in everyway, for I want it to succeed. I'll help you when you need it, and I'llhelp these little Blue Birds. But do as I said: Work together, not in aspirit of rivalry, for that will only sow seeds of strife anddiscontent."
"Come on, boys, let's take Uncle Ben to the house and show our letterproofs to the Blue Birds," said Ned.
So the Bobolinks were taught their lesson in trying to win a race byrunning for a time and then resting.