“Well, I was only going to say, that as we cannot go to church such a lovely morning, we might sit here and thank God for all these fields,” explained Ruth.
Aunt Selina looked about the land in the light of a new revelation.
“I was thinking,” continued Ruth, “how I should love to have this farm near Oakdale. I could come over so often to tell you what we are doing, and then, too, you could use all of that wonderful woodland for Blue Birds’ Camps in the summer.”
Aunt Selina looked across the fields and woods but said nothing, so Ruth continued.
“When the two Ferris children came out to Mrs. Mason’s farm, they were so happy to see real flowers and grass that they soon got well and strong. That made me wish that I had hundreds of farms just like it where sick children could go and get well. That was one thing that made the Oakdale folks help get the hundred city poor children out to our country for a few weeks in August and the lovely time the children had made everyone wish to do bigger things this next summer. Nothing has really been planned yet, but everyone is trying to think of some way to do something. This morning when I saw this wonderful farm and so few folks to live on it, I just wished it was near Oakdale so a big crowd of poor children could enjoy it next summer.”
As Ruth concluded and looked wistfully over the fertile land, her aunt sat thinking for a time, then answered.
“Fluff, I determined to be a Blue Bird with all of my heart and soul. Now, we can’t move this farm over to Oakdale, but the city children can be moved out to this farm! You can do the planning from Oakdale, and I can look after them when they get here.”
Ruth gasped in amazement at the splendid idea, then jumped up and down with delight while she shouted aloud.
“Oh, oh! Flutey! that is great! Why, just think of all the streets full of poor children who can enjoy these wonderful woods!”
Aunt Selina winced at the word “street children,” but she spoke with determination.