noon
The Blue Birds were gathered in the cherry-tree Nest after school , one day , waiting for the signal from the Publishing House which would tell them they might run over and inspect the huge pieces of machinery that had arrived that day from New York . Ike and Simon had to help the three truckmen as they placed rollers under the press and rolled it from the truck and into the room . The stitcher , cutter and other pieces were not so unwieldy to move and place . At noon , Ned saw the men struggling with the press and so refrained from going near the house , but he told the other Bobolinks , and immediately after school was dismissed a crowd of boys ran to their shop . The Blue Birds had been enjoined to keep out of the way while the boys cleared things up and investigated the various pieces of machinery . It was a strain on their patience , however , to remain in their Nest and listen to the laughs , exultant shouts , and sounds of satisfaction coming from the carriage house . All things have an end , so Uncle Ben soon appeared at the wide doorway of the Publishing House and gave a shrill whistle for the Blue Birds .