must have been sent her, for she was bubbling over with secret
joy and her face looked as young as one of the Blue Bird's. She took a
chair near the children.

"Say, Flutey, you won't be offended if I ask you a very happy question,
will you?" asked Dot, in a half-whisper.

"Why, of course not! Ask it, child," smiled Aunt Selina.

"Well, you look so happy, you know, I thought maybe _that_ soldier-man
came back to marry you--maybe his being shot was all a mistake and he
has been a prisoner all this time and just got away," said Dot with
horror and awe in her tones.

Mrs. Talmage had stepped out just in time to overhear the funny little
girl's remark and she had to run inside and smother her laughter in a
handkerchief, for Dot was most serious in her statement, and it would
never do to make her feel badly by laughing at her sympathy.

"Oh, no, dearie, those prisons were abandoned soon after the war. But
this surprise I have for the Blue Birds is entirely different from
anything personal," replied Aunt Selina.

"Oh, what is it?" asked several voices.

"I have a letter here," said Aunt Selina, taking it from her reticule,
"in reply to one I wrote an old-time friend a short time ago. This
friend started an advertising business in Philadelphia many years ago
and has been very successful. Let us see what advice this friend gives
about securing contracts for advertising."

The Blue Birds hovered about Aunt Selina's chair eager to hear the
letter read.

The letter was short, but to the point. Mr. Sphere said he was delighted
to hear from his old friend and hoped his information would give her
little friends the satisfaction they deserved for their undertaking. He
said that one of his best representatives had been told to call at Mossy
Glen to interview the Blue Birds and to do just as the ladies directed.
This man would tell them how to get advertising.

"Oh, Flutey! is that all he said?" murmured Ruth.

"Why, I don't call that such a piece of 'happy' news to smile over as
you did!" pouted Dot.

"He didn't ask you how you had been all the time since you two knew each
other, and he never said a word about our magazine," grumbled Norma,
feeling a personal offence in the letter.

"Why, children! _I_ think it is a wonderful piece of good news to hear
that he takes enough interest in the work to send one of his best men
down here to talk matters over," said Mrs. Talmage.

"If you knew my friend you would understand t