“Cut out the cold chills and you’ll spoil your newspaper,” suggested Arthur.  “People like to read of other folks’ horrors, for it makes them more contented with their own lot in life.”

“False philosophy, sir!” cried Fatsy firmly.  “You can’t educate people by retailing crimes and scandals, and the Millville Tribune is going to be as clean as a prayer book, if I’m to be managing editor.”

“Is that to be your office, dear?” asked Louise.

“I think so.  I’ve a heap of executive ability, and I’m running over with literary—­eh—­eh—­literary discrimination.  In addition to running the thing, I’ll be the general news editor, because I’m better posted on newspaper business than the other girls.”

“How does that happen?” inquired Louise, wonderingly.

“Why, I—­I read the papers more than you or Beth.  And I’ve set myself to master every detail of the business.  No more crocheting or fancy work—­no novel reading—­no gossipy letter writing.  From this day on we must attend strictly to business.  If we’re to become journalist, girls, we must be good ones—­better than the ordinary—­so that Uncle John may point to us with pride, and the columns of the Millville Daily Tribune will be quoted by the New York and Chicago press.  Only in that way can we become famous throughout the world!”

“Pass me the bonbons, dear,” sighed Louise.  “It’s a high ambition, isn’t it?”

“A very laudable ambition,” added Uncle John approvingly.  “I hope my clever nieces will be able to accomplish it.”

“How about pictures?” asked Beth.  “Modern newspapers are illustrated, and have cartoons of the leading events of the day.”

“Can’t we buy those things somewhere?” asked Patsy, appealing to Uncle John again.  “There isn’t an artist among us, of any account; and we shall be too busy to draw pictures.”

“We must hire an artist,” said Mr. Merrick, adding the item to his memoranda.  “I’ll speak to Marvin about it.”

All these details were beginning to bewilder the embryo journalists.  It is quite possible that had not Uncle John placed his order for presses and type so promptly the girls might have withdrawn from the proposition, but the die was now cast and they were too brave—­perhaps too stubborn—­to “back down” at this juncture.

“I realize,” said Patsy, slowly and with a shake of her flaming head, “that we have undertaken an important venture.  Our new enterprise is a most serious one, girls, for there is nothing greater or grander in our advanced age than the daily newspaper; no power so tremendous as the Power of the Press.”

“Yes, the press must be powerful or it wouldn’t print clearly,” remarked Beth.

“We are to become public mentors to the simple natives of Chazy County,” continued Patsy, warming up to her subject and speaking oratorically.  “We shall be the guiding star of the—­er—­er—­the benighted citizens of Millville and Huntingdon.  We must lead them in politics, counsel them in the management of their farms and educate them to the great World Movements that are constantly occurring.”