Uncle Ben hesitated a second, but not a sound was heard. Then he continued:
“Mother Talmage asked me last night about how much it would cost to send circulars to people who might be interested in the farms next summer. I propose that we start a children’s magazine and use its pages whenever there is an announcement of importance. If you want donations of money or help of other kinds, ask for them through the pages of the magazine.
“With the Blue Birds to write articles each month telling other children what they are doing, or how to make the things they are being taught to make, and the Bobolink Boys to write the experiences of their daily work and play, and some of the grown-ups to contribute poems and stories, of course it would be necessary to have contributions also from some of our best writers, and I know I can get them for you.”
The idea of such a stupendous undertaking made the children gasp, but Mr. Talmage said, “All you have said is fine, Uncle Ben, but who will set type, buy paper, print, bind and circulate such a magazine?”
“That’s just the thing! Don’t you see? My very great interest in this plan will compel me to help in every way and all the time, and the boys will be kept busy at profitable and interesting work. When all the manuscript is in, and turned over to me I will see that it is set, and the proofs sent back to the children. The Blue Birds will enjoy making the dummies, pasting in the pictures, and arranging the pages; and the Bobolinks can proceed to print the magazines. If you don’t expect to use this carriage house for anything it may as well be turned into a print-shop. With all these boys to work, the printing ought to be great sport and not much trouble to get out a magazine.”
The Blue Birds were clapping their hands in excitement while the Bobolinks jumped up, and in their eagerness, crowded about Uncle Ben, overwhelming him with so many questions that he was quite overcome.
Then Miss Selina stood up in the road-wagon, and after silencing the noisy crowd, made an announcement.
“I’ll pay for the paper that will be needed for the experiment the first month!”
“Hurrah, hurrah! for Aunt Selina!” shouted Uncle Ben, and the rest joined in with such good will that Aunt Selina sat down and held her hands over her ears.
“I’ll pay postage on a sample issue!” called Mrs. Catlin.