"I don't know whether it is or not--how can I say until the others tell me whether it is," said Uncle Ben, trying to look troubled over the doubt.
"Well, if I must, I must!" groaned Uncle Ben. "I have discovered a very amusing play that has Saturday matinées. Of course, I suppose Birds could get into a theatre, couldn't they? Well, if we went to see the show in the afternoon and then went to a hotel where we could have a dining-room all to ourselves and give a little party to all of my friends, it would save me so much trouble for the future."
Mere words failed to express the excitement and delight of the children as they fully realized what Uncle Ben meant.
"Oh," said Betty, "I've never been to a theatre in my life--and to think of going to one in New York, oh!"
"Neither have I, Betty," replied May. "Can you go?"
"Will mother go with us, Uncle Ben?" asked Ruth.
"Most assuredly, for you Blue Birds will have to have a Mother Wing to cover you--and Aunt Selina, too, if she will come," said Uncle Ben.
"Have you decided to come?" teased Uncle Ben.
"Well, then, let's say a week from next Saturday, if everyone can arrange it for that time. I will invite my friends to be at our party at six o'clock sharp, for afterward we will have to come home on the nine o'clock train."
"And will some of those real publishers be there, Uncle Ben?" asked Ned, sceptically.
"Some of the greatest in America, my boy," said Uncle Ben, seriously, as he understood Ned's ambition to meet them and his doubt of having the desire fulfilled.
"The prettiest that you have, for I want to show off my publishing company to the very best advantage," replied Uncle Ben.
Just then Mr. Talmage appeared at the doorway and said,
"Do you know that dinner is almost ready and no one there to sit down to table?"
Then everyone began to tell of the party to be given in New York, and Mr. Talmage seemed very much surprised.
"If that is the case, you will all have to do your very best to have a fine Christmas magazine so that the friends you meet in New York will want to come to another party at some other time. Perhaps if the magazine was very, very attractive they would feel so proud of being acquainted with you that they would take the trouble to come all the way out to Oakdale to have a party this winter," ventured Mr. Talmage.