The Blue Birds' Winter Nest   By: Lillian Elizabeth Roy (1868-1932)

THE BLUE BIRDS' WINTER NEST

By LILLIAN ELIZABETH ROY

Author Of "The Blue Birds of Happy Times Nest," "The Blue Birds' Uncle Ben," "The Blue Birds at Happy Hills," "The Five Little Starrs Series," "The Girl Scouts' Country Life Series," etc.

A. L. BURT COMPANY Publishers New York

Printed in U. S. A.

Copyright, 1916, by THE PLATT & PECK COMPANY

Printed in U. S. A.

CONTENTS

CHAPTER PAGE

I. How Aunt Selina Flew 7 II. A Sunday Walk and Its Results 26 III. The Blue Birds' Inspiration 45 IV. The Bobolink Boys Founded 62 V. Uncle Ben's Business Talk 81 VI. Beginning the Winter Work 96 VII. Blue Bird Wisdom and Bobolink Work 114 VIII. Aunt Selina's Civil War Story 135 IX. How the Yankees Took Possession 160 X. Beginning To Spell Success 179 XI. The Winter Nest Council 199 XII. The Story of an Alaskan Trip 219 XIII. A Winter in the Frozen North 238 XIV. The B. B. & B. B. Magazine 259 XV. How the Magazine Went Out 285

THE BLUE BIRDS' WINTER NEST

CHAPTER I

HOW AUNT SELINA FLEW

"Sally! I say, Sally! Come here!" cried a peevish voice, belonging to a querulous old lady who was huddled up on a couch in the bright morning room of her fine old mansion.

"I'se here, Miss S'lina comin' straight an' fas' as mah laigs kin brings me!" replied a cheerful colored woman, bustling around, and moving some toast so it would not scorch.

"Are you quite sure you told Abe to meet the eleven thirty train at Greenfields station? Just fancy how dreadful it would be to have Miss Ruth get off the train and not find anyone there to meet her!" complained Miss Selina, her face twitching with pain as she raised her hands to emphasize her remark.

"Laws'ee, Miss S'lina! Don' you be 'fraid dat I han't tended to eberyt'ing for little Miss Rufie's welcome! Leave it to ole Sally, what likes dat chile like her own kin!"

"Well, then, Sally, hurry with my toast and tea and for goodness' sake, don't you bring scorched toast again! There, I can smell it burning this very minute! How many times must I tell you that I will not trust those electric toasters? The old fashioned coal fire is good enough for me and it would be for you, too, if it were not for your ridiculous ideas of being progressive and having all these electric fol de rols put up in the house. My house, too! Think of it! A servant to order these contraptions and use them in my very own home and make me pay for them, when I prefer the ways of my forefathers." Then utterly wearied with her long complaint, Miss Selina collapsed, and closed her eyes.