“Well, I’m hammered and rooted in the work, and am anxious to have friends in it, too. Is that the way you do?” asked Aunt Selina.
“That’s just it! and before anyone else knows what’s going on, dozens of folks are working on the same idea,” replied Mrs. Talmage.
“Mary said something about a story that you wished to contribute, Aunt Selina—what is it?” asked Uncle Ben.
“An experience I had in the Civil War when I was visiting my old school chum, Rebecca Crudup. You have never heard any of my tales of that visit, but I assure you they are exciting.”
“And you were there! Why, Aunt Selina, your manuscript would be valuable to any magazine! I wish you would let me read it before you turn it over to the Blue Birds,” said Uncle Ben eagerly, the business instinct for new material for his magazine pushing the Blue Birds’ magazine into the background.
“You may see it after it is published in the children’s paper,” quietly replied Aunt Selina.
Uncle Ben took the rebuke in the right spirit, and said, “Is your friend alive to-day?”
“She was until last year, but her daughter is the musician I wish to get ‘rooted’ in this work for a music page. I haven’t her studio address, or I would have written to her about this.”
“Give me her name and the last address you knew of, and I will locate her as soon as I get back to the city,” offered Uncle Ben.
Uncle Ben wrote the name and late address in a book then turned to the ladies with a suggestion.