Part 7 (1/2)

”Oh, yes, Miss Page, do!” came quickly to Nathalie's ears; ”we should love to have you one of us.”

”I'll coach you in the tests!” sang out Helen, who was ready to dance with pleasure to think that there was a prospect of her new friend becoming a Pioneer.

”And I'll help!” added Grace. ”And so will I,” ”And I!” chimed several girlish voices.

Nathalie sat in embarra.s.sed silence, hardly knowing what to answer to these many cordial invitations to join, and offers to help her do the tests. ”I would love to be one of you,” she spoke hesitatingly, ”but I am not at all clever at doing things, for I can't sew, or cook, or do anything useful at all!” The girl's voice was almost plaintive.

”Ah, you are just the one we want, then,” was Mrs. Morrow's quick reply; ”we want girls who don't know how, so we can teach and train them in the right way.”

There was loud applause at this remark, and then as the hubbub subsided somewhat, Mrs. Morrow held up her hand for silence. ”Now, girls,” she said, ”give Miss Page time to think. Yes, we should be overjoyed to have you join the group, Miss Page, for later, in the summer, one of our bluebirds is to emigrate South for the winter, and we should love to have you take her place. I agree with Helen that the finding of the bluebird's nest in the old cedar meant that you were to become a true bluebird, or Blue Robin, as we shall have to call you.”

Nathalie looked at d.i.c.k, and then at her mother. Mrs. Page was smiling at her so rea.s.suringly that Nathalie understood that she gave her consent, and joyfully signified her willingness to become a Pioneer.

With a bob of her head at d.i.c.k she declared, that she would become one if only to show her brother that there was such a thing as a Blue Robin.

Mrs. Morrow then explained that they had selected the bluebird as their mascot not only because it was the bird of pioneer days, but because the word blue means true, and Girl Pioneers were to be true in word, and thought, and deed. And then as a bird means swift, they were to be swift to the truth.

”The bluebird is also noted for its cheerfulness,” she continued. ”The Pioneers are to be cheerful. It is a loyal bird; the Pioneers are to be loyal to one another, to their pledges and laws, and to every one and to all things that are right, good, and pure. The bird is also very gentle, and we want the Pioneers to cultivate kindliness and gentleness.

Flower,” she called suddenly, ”sing us that pretty little bluebird song you know.”

In compliance with this request the Flower sang, in her sweet soprano, a funny little song about a bluebird courting his lady love. Each verse ended with the call-note, ”Tru-al-lee,” which the girls caught up as a refrain and sang with sweet, low tones, the Flower's bird-like trill rising high above the others.

CHAPTER V-THE GRAY STONE HOUSE

”Do you know, Helen,” exclaimed Nathalie, looking at her friend with reminiscent eyes, ”that it is only three weeks since I met you, but it seems like three months.”

”That is because you have been on probation for a Pioneer,” retorted Helen smilingly, ”and are beginning to take life more seriously.”

”Not very seriously, I am afraid,” lamented Nathalie, ”judging from the bungle I made in trying to learn that square knot.”

”Oh, you will learn,” encouraged Helen, ”but I must be off, for I have some typing to do for to-morrow.” Yes, Helen's new friend knew that she was learning to be a stenographer. When that little fact had been divulged in the natural course of events, Nathalie had listened with great interest to Helen's declaration of her life purpose-to be independent-not only for the pleasure that independence would bring to her, but because she wanted to earn money so that she could give her mother little comforts and luxuries that Mrs. Dame had been denied because her husband's income was limited.

Instead of scorning her, as the girl had feared, Nathalie had wished her great success, apparently appreciating the unselfish motive that actuated her, while lamenting that she herself was not as clever.

”O dear,” she had impulsively declared, ”I want to earn money, too; oh, if I only had a purpose in life! I do not want to be a drone.” And then on the impulse of the moment she had confided to Helen her many disappointments, and how anxious they all were about her brother d.i.c.k, fearful that he might never recover the use of his leg. To Helen it had seemed that since these mutual confidences a closer friends.h.i.+p had grown up between them, much to that young lady's joy.

She had just finished hearing Nathalie recite the Pioneer Pledge and laws, give the names of the Presidential party, as Nathalie called them, adding the name of the governor of the State in which she lived, describe the United States flag, sew a b.u.t.ton on-as it should be done, she had declared with solemn unction-and then exhibit her skill at tying a square knot.

”After you become a Bluebird at the Pilgrim Rally to-morrow, I shall begin to drill you in the tests necessary to make you a Second-Cla.s.s Pioneer,” Helen had declared when the lesson was over and she began to gather up her sewing materials.

”Oh, will you?” cried Nathalie, ”but when can I become one?”

”In a month,” was the reply, ”if you pa.s.s the tests; but there, I shall never get my work done if I stand here and talk,” and Helen started for the steps.

”Yes, and I am in a hurry to hear what Dr. Morrow says about d.i.c.k's knee,” returned Nathalie as she followed her friend to the edge of the veranda. ”You know he was in this morning to examine it; I am so anxious to hear what he had to say.”

”How did your brother injure his knee?” asked Helen as she paused at the foot of the steps, ”I have often wanted to ask.”

”Why, he slipped on the ice just two days after Father's death,”