“Well, it will cost us nothing to try out your idea anyway, and no harm will be done if it fails to inspire your performers as you think it will.”
“And I know just what you think, Mr. Talmage! You are secretly laughing at the failure you are sure will follow this endeavor,” retorted Miss Martin.
“I really hope you will not be disappointed in your high appraisal of these city children’s brilliant possibilities,” returned Uncle Ben.
“We’ll see! If you will find some sort of a ‘drop-curtain’ even if it does not drop—we can draw it on rings slipped over a pole; and a raised stage, it will be all I shall ask of you. The stage can be a bare platform raised about two feet above the Refectory floor. It can be built on a rough framework, and take little time or cost to construct.”
“I will get some of the older boys to help me build it, and the Bobolink Boys will revel in sawing and hammering, I know.”
“Well then, you announce the new society to Little Citizens and have all who wish to enter the contests register with me during the next three days, and I will examine each one to find what each one is capable of doing.”
Uncle Ben smiled indulgently at what he believed to be Miss Martin’s mistaken judgment, and agreed to call the Little Citizens together that evening to tell them of the plan for their amusement.
The plan for starting an amusement company met with great approval as was shown in various ways, and the next morning Miss Martin was sought by those who wished to join the new club. In fact some of the children appeared at her Nest before breakfast so as to be listed in parts they hoped to fill.
“Children, suppose you wait until I have had something to eat and then we will go into this work,” laughed Miss Martin.
“Well, don’t you let anyone take our place—remember we came first!” warned several voices.