The Blue Birds' Uncle Ben

Contents

CHAPTM *AGK

I. The New York Party 7

II. At the Tree of Light 31

Chapter I

“Are we all here?” called Uncle Ben, trying to count the bobbing heads of the children who were on the veranda of Ruth Talmage’s house, awaiting the automobiles that were to take them to the Oakdale station.

“Oh, I say! Uncle Ben — where's Flutey?” cried Ned Talmage, as he craned his neck trying to find his great-aunt, Miss Selina.

“I'm coming — I just went back for a moment to get a few copies of our last magazine. You can never tell when you want one, you know, and I believe in being provided,” came from a whitehaired old lady who hurried out of the front door at Ned's call.

Meantime, the automobiles came up and some of the eager children jumped in.

“Who’s coming in this first car?” called Dot Starr, with an anxious note in her tones.

“Dot’s afraid she’ll miss the train?” laughed Mrs. Starr, as she stood on the bottom step of the piazza.

“No I’m not, Mumzie, but someone’s got to make a beginning. It’s a sure thing that we’ll never keep that appointment in New York unless we get started!” retorted Dot, pulling at Ruth Talmage to drag her into the car with her.

“Dot’s logic sounds right — so here we go, get in any machine handiest, and let’s be off!” advised Mrs. Catlin, one of the Blue Bird Mothers of the Nest at Mossy Glen.

Three cars whirled through the village of Oakdale with so much shouting and laughing from the children that the smiling villagers stood still and watched them pass by.

Of course you readers remember who our little friends are, don’t you? You read of them when they started their Happy Times Nest where they had such fun in building it in a big tree and furnishing it with the articles the fairies left under brushes and trees. Then, the Fourth of July Christmas Tree they had on the lawn when so many scores of children enjoyed the party. Also the Fresh Air Fund they started and the visit to the slums of New York to find some Little Citizens to practise on.

Then, you remember how they made the Winter Nest in the house, and the boys began their Bobolink Band to do all of the printing, and the little magazine that was the outgrowth of Ned’s weekly paper called The Chirp . Wasn’t that a wonderful time — the day the little publishing company issued their first paper? And the wonderful stories of the Civil War and the Klondike?

Well, well! The Blue Birds and Bobolinks have done a lot of things since that day, and now their Uncle Ben, the editor of a New York magazine, is taking them to the city where a number of philanthropists and publishers wish to meet the little workers they have heard so much about recently. Uncle Ben arranged the treat, so that is why he was so busy seeing that everyone was present on time to catch the train which would soon carry them to the terminal at Hoboken.

The merry crowd of children, accompanied by some of their elders, attracted much attention from passengers on the train, and when they reached Hoboken, Uncle Ben had to cover his ears to protect his hearing.

Before they reached the entrance to the tubes that ran under the Hudson River, they had to pass the wide entrance to the fine restaurant that is in the D. L. & W. terminal at Hoboken. This was Don Starr’s opportunity so he quickly sidled up to his friend, Uncle Ben.

“Say, Uncle Ben, don’t you think it is a long time between breakfast and supper?”

Uncle Ben laughed heartily. “Folks, I have just been reminded that I may get to be a teeny weeny bit faint before my supper-party to-night, so I propose that we have luncheon here in this restaurant. Who agrees with me?”

While all of the boys shouted, “Me, me!” the girls looked at the Grownups to see if it would be wise to stop.

“Will we have plenty of time to eat and then go uptown to the theatre?” asked Mrs. Talmage.

“Oh, plenty! It’s just one block west of the tube station you know, and it is not yet one ii o’clock. I figure that we shall have ample time to lunch and still meet our friends on time,” replied Uncle Ben, consulting his watch.

So they all entered the big busy restaurant and enjoyed a treat that was not included in the schedule Uncle Ben had outlined for the day. Of course, everyone ordered ice-cream for dessert, and joy of joys ! Uncle Ben told the waiter to heap up the dishes without regard to the cost.

From here, they went in the tube and were soon being carried under the deep wide Hudson — but you would never dream there was such a volume of water over-head above the tubes. The cars are very similar to those in use in subways, and soon they carry you to the New York side of the river, stopping at the stations on the way uptown.

“Uncle Ben, these are funny cars, but I s’pose they are made this way on purpose, eh?” wondered Ruth, looking about her at the steel fittings and concrete floors.

“Yes, and they say that even if the tubes should leak and let the river flow through them, these cars are so constructed as to resist the pressure of water and keep them safe for a long time. But the engineering on this tunnel is so wonderful that there seems to be no possible way for the water to get in.”

After leaving the tubes Uncle Ben led his party to the Grand Opera House where the Blue Bird play was to be given.

Not quite so much talking and laughing came from the children as they neared the place appointed to meet Uncle Ben’s friends, for the little ones had never met any of them although their names and fame were familiar to most people.

In the lobby of the theatre, Ruth pulled Uncle Ben’s sleeve and whispered, “You let us get behind the Grownups and introduce them first, so we can see how they do it.”

Uncle Ben smiled but had not the opportunity to obey his little niece’s wishes, for his friends were already there, and standing just where they could catch the first peep of the Blue Birds and Bobolinks as they came to the doors.

One man quickly called the attention of his party by saying, “Here they are — our little philanthropists from Oakdale!”

The kindly welcome immediately put the chili3

dren at ease, and they were all soon laughing and talking with each other.

While passing an open doorway which had a sign “Private” on the panel, Meredith Starr and Ned Talmage happened to glance into the room. Ned caught at Mete's sleeve wonderingly when they saw many tiers of magazines piled upon the floor of the office.

“This is where those hundreds of copies came when Uncle Ben said he would give shipping directions at the express office. I thought maybe he was planning to give them away in the slums,” whispered Mete.

“He must have had permission from the manager here to distribute them. I wonder when they expect to do it?” said Ned.

“Let's get him off on one side and ask him what the plot is. When he knows that we know about the magazines he will tell us,” suggested Mete.

Uncle Ben was seen walking over towards the office while talking to a tall man who seemed to order everyone belonging to the theatre. As soon as Uncle Ben saw the two boys eager to speak to him, he placed a hand on his companion’s arm for a moment and said, “Well, boys?”

“We saw the magazines Uncle Ben, and we are very anxious to know what they are here for,” said Ned.

The boys were introduced to the manager and Uncle Ben added, “We are permitted to give out a copy to everyone leaving the theatre this afternoon. Thus, only people who are really interested in high-class literature and true philanthropy will get a copy to take home and examine at their leisure. The type of patrons who come to see this play are the kind you want to interest in your plans.”

As Uncle Ben explained, the two boys saw the good to be done and thanked him for his thoughtfulness.

“Come on, boys, we’re all going in now,” called Don Starr at this moment.

“Yes, do hurry or we’ll be late for the beginning!” added Dot Starr, dragging at Mete’s coat.

Soon the entire party was comfortably seated in adjoining boxes on the first balcony from which they could see everything on the stage and i5

in the whole auditorium as well. To the great surprise of the Oakdale party, the boxes occupied by them were decorated with American flags and Blue Birds flying all about the flags. The birds were suspended from the ceiling above by fine wire and as the currents of air circulated past the boxes the birds were swayed or revolved about to make them appear as if they were flying.

But the children were soon completely absorbed in the play and they delighted thoroughly in the acting of the two little children who left home to seek for the Blue Bird of Happiness. When the great Sea Pilot came in his boat to the region where lived the unborn, the Oakdale children were highly amused to watch the tiny little tots act with perfect self-composure. The tiniest of them all, who called himself “An Honest Man,” was so cute that Ruth said she just felt like hugging him.

As the curtain rolled down at the last scene, the sighs heard from every direction attested to the interest in the play.

“Dear me, I wish it was just beginning again!” said Ruth.

“Yes, but you forget how tired the little ones must be after three hours of continuous acting/’ reminded Mrs. Talmage.

Uncle Ben had left the box just before the last curtain, but now he came hurrying back with the manager. To the great delight of the Oakdale party, they were invited to go back of the scenes and meet the real Blue Bird children. Even the Grownups were pleased with this plan and they were soon filing along the narrow entry that led from the stage to the rooms back of the scenes.

Everything here was novel to the visitors and they were curious to know what all the strange things were used for. But Uncle Ben said the baby actors were even now being dressed to go home and they must hurry or miss them.

And now the children from Oakdale saw real actors !

Not one of the boys was as old as the Bobolink Boys, and the girls were not taller or older than the Blue Birds. The baby who played “The Honest Man” was actually only two and a half years of age and so tiny and chubby that Ruth had her wish and hugged him.

i7

Most of the players had their make-up removed before the visitors came in, but some few of them were still having their faces rubbed to remove the grease-paint. Their darkened eyes and highly crimsoned cheeks looked very funny to the Oakdale children, but the manager explained why it was necessary to use paint and powder on the stage.

The names and addresses of each little player was written down by Uncle Ben who said that each would be presented with a year's subscription to the magazine. Then each was given a copy from the tiers in the lobby and the manager led his party back to the auditorium. Here the Blue Birds and Bobolinks from Oakdale thanked him and followed Uncle Ben to the entrance hall.

But the surprises were not yet over. When the B. B. & B. B. party passed through the lobby, some uniformed boys handed out copies of a magazine so like their very own that the young publishers gasped. Mete and Ned exchanged glances with Uncle Ben, when the others exclaimed at the surprise.

“Oh ! Dot, see here, our very own magazine !” shouted Don.

“Yes, our very owny own!” cried Dot, reaching out the magazine to attract the attention of Uncle Ben who was talking animatedly to Ned and Mete.

“Why, so it is! How did it ever get down here?” said Uncle Ben, finally.

“Humph ! Guess you know more about it than you’ll say!” declared Don, looking shrewdly at the culprit.

The Grownups laughed and Uncle Ben wisely remarked, “That private dining-room is all ready for us at the hotel !”

“If you’re paying for it by the hour, I guess we’d better hurry up and make the most of it,” said practical Don.

His sally was received with laughter for it was always Don or Dot who made such blunt remarks in such funny ways.

“Shall we walk or ride uptown to the hotel?” asked Uncle Ben.

“Oh, let’s walk and see the lights up on that street!” eagerly replied Ned, nodding at Broadway with its brilliant electric signs flashing everywhere.

“Oh no, Ben! Do you think we ladies are centipedes ? How could we ever race about after two dozen lively children going up that crowded street,” objected Mrs. Talmage.

“Ah, we won't bother you any,” begged Ned and Jinks.

“You may all mean well, children, but I believe in ‘safety first.' Ben, call some taxicabs for us!” said Mrs. Talmage, decidedly.

So the visitors were whisked from the opera house to the hotel in less time than they dreamed possible; once in the hotel lobby, the children stood and gazed around in awe. The flunkies, the palms and green bay trees, the vastness of the place with here and there groups of wonderfully gowned women and men in black, made its impression. Then, the manager saw Uncle Ben and hurried from his desk to welcome the party for whom he had arranged a dinner.

“So these are the young publishers, are they, Mr. Talmage?” remarked the gentleman, after being introduced.

“Yes, and I am glad to have you meet them for some day they are going to ask a favor of you,” laughed Uncle Ben, who had planned an idea to use the hotels for Little Citizens’ purposes.

“I shall be delighted, I’m sure !” responded the manager.

“There now, friends ! You all heard him commit himself, didn’t you? Well, we will take advantage of his promise, never fear. Soon, you will have to render faithful fulfillment of the offer to help us,” chuckled Uncle Ben.

The manager smiled doubtfully for he was not sure whether he had committed himself to something he could not easily perform. He led the way, however, to the room engaged for the party, while talking animatedly with some of the Grownups.

The entire party, following in twos and threes along a thickly carpeted corridor, entered a room through heavy velours portiere.

Once inside the room, everyone stopped to exclaim in admiring voices at the lovely decorations. Trellises of roses and climbing vines stood in each wall-space between the windows and doors, and among these green leaves, and upon tendrils of vines, sat or swung Blue Birds as if alive and just ready to sing or take wing.

The ceiling was festooned with ropes of green vines from which Blue Birds were suspended by invisible wire similar to that in the theatre box. The long table had a miniature woodland scene in the center, and here birds and flowers vied with each other in color and beauty.

Upon the polished plate glass covering the dining-table, the sparkling bluebird dishes and bluebird glassware reflected beautifully; while the bluebird doilies under each plate and drinking glass, and the blue and earth-brown satin ribbons that streamed from the back of each chair, made a festive appearance calculated to make everyone sigh with pleasure.

“Oh, isn’t it bee-autiful !” exclaimed Ruth, clasping her hands.

“I never saw anything half as lovely!” added Betty.

“I just guess Uncle Ben told that green-house man to go ahead and never mind the cost!” suggested Dot.

“Yes, just like he told the waiter-man about the ice-cream this noon,” added Don, upon whom that unlimited order had left an impression.

The others walked about and admired until Don felt impatient, so he said, “Fine dishes and trimmings are all right, but they’re not very filling!”

“See here, Don! Don’t you go and spoil this bee-autiful party by talking of eating!” chided his sister Lavinia, who was old enough to feel the responsibility of the twins.

“But, Vene, isn’t that what we came to the hotel for? Uncle Ben didn’t hire this room just for us to look at stuffed birds and artificial vines, did he?” persisted Don.

Of course everyone laughed and Uncle Ben marshalled each one to a chair and sat down at the head of the table.

It was a wonderful party! The climax was reached when the ice-cream appeared made in the form of little nests, each nest holding a dear little bluebird.

The moment the children had finished their dessert Uncle Ben stood up to speak. The waiters were distributing dishes of fruit and nuts, and each one received an individual souvenir box of bon bons. On top of each box was a twig of* green leaves with a tiny bluebird perched on the twig.

“While the rest of you enjoy your fruit and bon bons I am going to take the opportunity to tell all of you Blue Birds and Bobolinks something besides the names of the friends who are gathered about this table with you.

“This smiling-faced gentleman at my right is the Secretary of the National Audubon Society, and he has some fine ideas for you children to work out and to have published in your magazine. He will talk to you later and explain his plans.

“Next to the Secretary is an old acquaintance of every boy and girl who ever heard of Woodcraft, even though they may never have met the Founder of the Organization. This Big Chief has a message for you children also, and he, with his charming wife who is sitting next to him, will be delighted to have you all join his Woodcraft Boys and Girls. Right next to me on the left, is the lady who is the most enthusiastic Woodcrafter in the League. What the girls would do without her it is hard to say.

“Next to this lady is the renowned singer, daughter of the Rebecca you read about in the Civil War Story told by Miss Selina in the Winter Nest. Now, now, what is all this commotion about?” Uncle Ben smiled at the children as they all exclaimed and half-rose from their chairs with the intention of running over to greet the individual they felt they all knew so well.

The attractive lady smiled winningly at each one and then Uncle Ben continued his speech.

“Next to our own particular Star of Song sits the renowned singer who is going to revolutionize the people by having each one create harmony for themselves in their own hearts. He is in the city just now, teaching a great Community Chorus who will sing the Messiah at Christmas time. We are all invited to join his class and sing with his chorus in Madison Square.

“And right next to this gentleman is one of the leading Welfare Workers in New York. When the singer spoke of having a great Carol sung for the public, the Welfare gentleman said he would have a giant Tree of Light, the finest ever seen in a city park for the public. A few years ago he introduced the plan of having

Christmas Trees in the parks so that everyone could see and enjoy a tree even if they had none at home.

“And little friends, right next to the Welfare Worker is a lady you must make one of your best friends. She is one of .the prime movers in the ‘Fresh Air Movement’ for the sick and needy children, so she will be the one to help you fill the Nests at Happy Hills next summer.”

As Uncle Ben told the children of the work and fame of each individual present at their party, the Blue Birds and Bobolinks felt insignificant indeed, for their charity work was still too young to have caused comment, but they were delighted to meet these people who could be such valuable friends and advisors.

Then Uncle Ben began to tell the Grownups what wonderful work the young publishers did at Oakdale, and what great plans they had made for helping others who needed help and good cheer. The children smiled and looked about to see if the visitors were smiling at Uncle Ben’s teasing, but they found that everyone seemed to take his words seriously, so they wondered if he really meant it all !

A long time was spent in talking and planning for new ideas for the Blue Birds and Bobolinks to carry out, and when the time came for the Oakdale party to start for the last train, several important matters had been decided.

“Well, then, the first thing to do is to have a rousing big number of our Christmas magazine. We shall have most of the manual labor done in New York this month so as to give the young publishers more time to do the hundred and one important things that are to be done before Christmas. We shall print up enough copies so that each child at the Tree of Light at Madison Square may have a book to take home.

“Second: It is agreed that we be present at the Municipal Tree and sing in the chorus and later assist in entertaining the poor Little Citizens who are to be invited to go in the Madison Square Gardens for cake and ice-cream. At that time, we shall mention the winter’s day to be spent in the country, and issue the tickets for that trip to Oakdale. Mr. Richards will take care of the notices to appear in the New York papers when the day is decided upon.

“Third : Our guests here this evening have accepted our invitation to come out to Oakdale some fine cold day and enjoy the coasting and skating we can ofifer them. This will have to be very soon for we intend planning at that time for the visit of the city children who have never seen the country in its white winter garb.

"Now, have I forgotten anything?” asked Uncle Ben, looking about at the eager faces watching him.

" You never said a word about the stories you said you would get from these friends for our Christmas number,” reminded Ned.

"Sure enough ! I told these young publishers that I was sure many of you Grownups would donate a poem or story to the magazine for this month. Now, be sure and send them in immediately for our Christmas issue must be a good one and right on time, too !” declared Uncle Ben.

Thereupon, the Welfare Worker promised to tell a true story of the eastside settlement work; the Secretary of the National Audubon Society agreed to write up and send pictures of some birds. The Big Chief of the Woodcraft Indians ofifered to relate some Indian tales, and so on, until the children found they would have all the material they could use for the next issue of their magazine.

“Don’t forget to print enough copies for our Benevolent Institutions!” said the Welfare Worker as they all left the room.

“And be sure to send us enough copies to distribute among my rich clients who make donations for the poor,” added the man who worked faithfully to advance the happiness of the poor.

“Dear me, I’m glad we won’t have to run that press to turn off all of those magazines! Just think of the work in addressing and wrapping all those thousands, too ! I should think the writer who has to do all of that would have cramps,” said Jinks.

“Oh, they are not written by hand any more, you know. The subscription lists are all stencilled and the papers fed in a machine that prints each stencil card in the list. But the extra names or those for sample copies are written by folks who write so fast that you can’t see their pens move,” said Uncle Ben.

“My! I don’t know what we shall do with ourselves when this Christmas fun is over!” sighed Ruth.

“Don’t sigh now , you goose ! Why, we haven’t even started the Christmas fun yet, and here you are sighing as if it was all gone!” cried Dot.

They all laughed at that, and Ruth joined in.

Then Uncle Ben reminded them it was high time they were off if the train was to be caught that night.

As everyone shook hands and said good-night in the hotel lobby, they reminded each other to be sure to remember the Tree of Light on Christmas Night.

All were soon bustled in taxi-cabs and travelling downtown to the Hudson Tubes. Many a glance was given the crowds constantly going up and down Broadway in the bright glare of electric lights and over-head signs, and the children thought that New York at midnight was as light as Oakdale in the morning sunshine !

When in the cars on the way home, the party of Blue Bird and Bobolinks voted that they had had a great day ! Not only in pleasure and pastime but in good work planned and promised for the future of their organization. And the motion put by Dot and seconded by Ned, that they send a vote of thanks to Uncle Ben and his friends, was carried without a dissenting “Nay.”

Chapter II At The Tree O E Eight

The children were permitted to sleep later than usual the morning after the theatre party, but the moment the Blue Birds and Bobolinks met again, the entire talk was about the coming Tree of Light and what they could do to make a happy Christmas party for the Little Citizens of New York.

“I tried to keep awake last night to remember the plan that came to me in bed, but I just couldn’t do it!” complained Ruth.

“Ho! I should say you couldn’t! Why your eyelids were half shut all the way from PIoboken!” cried Don.

“No they weren’t, either, Don Starr! Ruth was wider awake than you were! I saw your head nod down and then jerk up every few minutes, so there!” defended Dot.

Don was so surprised to hear his twin-sister 31 take sides against him that he was silenced for the time being — at least he was silent for two whole minutes which is a long time for the Starr twins.

During the moment of quiet that followed Ned made a suggestion.

“I sat in the den this noon and figured out a plan that I believe is just the right thing.”

“Let’s hear it — maybe we can help you polish up the idea,” added Jinks.

“If you’ll let me speak without interruption again maybe I can tell you,” laughed Ned, while the children drew closer about him as he spoke.

“If we make up some sort of a striking letter and have the engraver make a plate of it so we can print all the copies we need, we might send out this letter to every hotel-keeper and restaurant man in Greater New York, so they can donate stufif or money for the refreshments for Madison Square Garden Christmas Night. Why, if everyone sent one quart of cream and a cake; see how many gallons of cream and how many hundreds of cakes we should have,” concluded Ned.

“That sounds like a first-class idea, Ned!”

cried Don, and the others joined in a chorus of approval.

“I wonder if any of the Little Citizens will want sandwishes?” ventured Betty, who never said “sand wiches”

“I guess those poor starved little things will take anything they can get, but we’ve got to be sensible you know, with such a big crowd,” added Mete Starr.

“How many do you s’pose will be there ?” asked Frances.

“Why, the man who will sing the Christmas Carols said there were at least ten thousand present last year when he sang out by the Tree — and this year, it being more generally known among the poor, he thinks there will be so many that they won’t all be able to get in the Garden, especially, if there is to be cake and ice-cream,” said Ned.

“'Good gracious! Where will all the spoons and dishes come from?” wondered Dot.

“Oh, I forgot to tell you! Mr. Richards told Uncle Ben that he was going after that rich man who owns the ten-cent stores and have him donate the paper plates and little tin spoons because he keeps them in his stores, you know!” added Jinks.

“That will be great !” murmured Don.

“Ned, I wonder if anyone thought of giving out a ticket for refreshment to each child who enters the front door at the Garden? There ought to be some system to it, you know, or some of those street boys will get ten plates of cream while the meek, timid ones will get left!” declared Jinks.

“That’s a wise remark, Jinks, and one we ought to mention to Uncle Ben,” replied Ned.

“When will we see him again, do you think?” asked Mete.

“He promised to come down from the city to-night and talk over different things with us,” returned Ned.