"Great Scott! Ben; you _must_ be interested; I haven't seen you so enthusiastic over anything in years," laughed Mr. Talmage.
"You know how interested I have always been in the publishing work--even as a boy, like Ned is now. Well, one thing you, and no one else, ever did know, was the hope of being able some day to circulate a model magazine for children. I have known for years that the little souls craved something more than the wishy-washy stuff that is given them in the name of 'juvenile reading'--Heaven forgive the criminals! Why, our little ones of to-day are as wide awake as grown-ups, and they demand--unconsciously, perhaps--the same strong quality of bread and meat reading as adults have been digesting of late years. Educational, adventurous, interesting, work-a-day reading! But the books and magazines in the main have not advanced to meet the demand for better children's literature. I have long dreamed of just what I would like to give the children of to-day." And Uncle Ben lapsed into silence.
"I never gave the subject much thought, but I suppose you are right, Ben," admitted Mr. Talmage.
"That's just it!" cried Uncle Ben, excitedly. "No one ever stops to think about it, but keeps right on filling the minds of their children with stuff that never benefits them a particle. How many boys of to-day want to read 'Mother's Brave Little Man,' or 'Jerry the Newsboy'? Bosh! Boys of to-day want 'True Tales of an Indian Trapper,' or 'Boy Scout Adventures,' or good clean stories--school life, or outdoor sports. It's LIFE and HEALTH they want."
"Guess you're right, Ben," said Mr. Talmage, smiling at his brother's denunciation of present-day literature for children.
"All right, then! Help me bring about a reform in this line. I have studied this problem from every point of view and I really believe that the growing youth of to-day would not acquire bad habits so readily if they were given some occupation that would thoroughly interest them. It's worth trying, at any rate. Let's fill them with some great plan or ambition and see how many children will fall into the snares and pitfalls of the past!"
Uncle Ben so inspired his brother with his enthusiasm that he, too, declared he would do all he could to help.