es you feel lazy, or a toothache keeps you awake all night.
Publishing work is very interesting, most instructive, and profitable,
but it is work, work, work, and not all play!"

"Oh, we know that, Uncle Ben," said Ned. "And we'll promise to take all
of the consequences that go with the game."

The other boys seconded Ned's statement, and the Blue Birds eagerly
agreed to the plan, so Uncle Ben really had no further objections to
make.

"Oh, I can hardly wait to begin my page," cried Ruth.

"I'd rather see the magazine--maybe it will be a home-made looking
thing!" exclaimed Dot Starr.

"It will not! Not with us boys to boss the plant!" bragged Don, her
twin.

"If it is home-made, you'll have to do it all again," commented Uncle
Ben.

"That is where Mrs. Talmage's work comes in," laughed Mr. Talmage.

"It will be a regular magazine, all right!" exclaimed Mrs. Talmage
emphatically.

"We boys will see to it that no magazine is mailed that will make folks
laugh at us," guaranteed Ned.

"I'm sure I placed my hobby in the right hands, for you children seem to
take a pride in doing things well," commended Uncle Ben.

"And with a nephew stepping right in his uncle's footprints, why
shouldn't things be done right?" laughed Mr. Talmage.

"Say, Uncle Ben, how long must we wait before we can begin?" asked Don
Starr.

"Get as busy as you like to-morrow after school," replied Uncle Ben.
"I'll run into town and attend to having the things shipped here as long
as you have agreed to my plans; you boys may start making benches,
tables, or whatever will be needed in the plant."

"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, wh