“They’ll need a desk, some chairs, a table and a few other things,” suggested Mr. Talmage, looking around. “It might be advisable for them to partition off a corner of this room for an office.”
“I have a good roll-top desk in the store-room at home; it has never had any use since Mr. Catlin passed away. The boys shall have that,” offered Mrs. Catlin.
“And I can spare that long table we used to have in the dairy before we installed the patent butter machines,” added Mrs. Talmage.
“In case I find any other pieces of Mr. Catlin’s office furniture I will send them over with the desk,” said Mrs. Catlin.
“About those machines, Ben! How much will they cost the boys?” asked Mr. Talmage.
“I thought of assuming the cost, and any time the publishers give up the work I can easily sell them in the city. The children can pay the freight charges, which will not be very heavy,” replied Uncle Ben.
“Then, there will really be no heavy expense to start with, will there?” asked Mrs. Talmage.
“No, but a tax of application and interest will be necessary,” smiled Uncle Ben.
“We will agree to pay all of that you want,” promised several of the boys.
The Blue Birds did not have much to say about the machines and workshop, but each felt that it was to be their very own magazine, so that their interest and pleasure in every new development were keyed to the top pitch.