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it very difficult； as the fathers usually sympathized with their sons；
and dismissed the matter with the comfortable phrase； 〃Never
mind； boys will be boys。〃 〃Not forever；〃 returned the anxious
mammas； seeing the tall lads daily grow more manly； and the
pretty daughters fast learning to look demure when certain names
were mentioned。
It could not be stopped without great parental sternness and the
danger of deceit； for co…education will go on outside of school
if not inside； and the safest way is to let sentiment and study go
hand in hand； with teachers and parents to direct and explain the
great lesson all are the better for learning soon or late。 So the
elders had to give in； acknowledging that this sudden readiness to
go to school was a comfort； that the new sort of gentle emulation
worked wonders in lazy girls and boys； and that watching these
〃primrose friendships〃 bud； blossom； and die painless deaths； gave
a little touch of romance to their own work…a…day lives。
〃On the whole I'd rather have my sons walking； playing； and
studying with bright； well…mannered girls； than always knocking
about with rough boys；〃 said Mrs。 Minot at one of the Mothers'
Meetings； where the good ladies met to talk over their children；
and help one another to do their duty by them。
〃I find that Gus is more gentle with his sisters since Juliet took him
in hand； for he wants to stand well with her； and they report him if
he troubles them。 I really see no harm in the little friendship；
though I never had any such when I was a girl；〃 said Mrs。 Burton；
who adored her one boy and was his confidante。
〃My Merry seems to be contented with her brothers so far； but I
shouldn't wonder if I had my hands full by and by；〃 added Mrs。
Grant； who already foresaw that her sweet little daughter would be
sought after as soon as she should lengthen her skirts and turn up
her bonny brown hair。
Molly Loo had no mother to say a word for her； but she settled
matters for herself by holding fast to Merry； and declaring that she
would have no escort but faithful Boo。
It is necessary to dwell a moment upon this new amusement；
because it was not peculiar to Harmony Village； but appears
everywhere as naturally as the game parties and croquet which
have taken the place of the husking frolics and apple…bees of olden
times； and it is impossible to dodge the subject if one attempts to
write of boys and girls as they really are nowadays。
〃Here； my hero； see how you like this。 If it suits； you will be ready
to march as soon as the doctor gives the word；〃 said Ralph； coming
into the Bird Room that evening with a neat little crutch under his
arm。
〃Ha； ha； that looks fine！ I'd like to try it right off； but I won't till I
get leave。 Did you make it yourself； Ral？〃 asked Jack； handling it
with delight； as he sat bolt upright； with his leg on a rest； for he
was getting on capitally now。
〃Mostly。 Rather a neat job； I flatter myself。〃
〃I should say so。 What a clever fellow you are！ Any new inventions
lately？〃 asked Frank； coming up to examine and admire。
Only an anti…snoring machine and an elbow…pad； answered Ralph；
with a twinkle in his eye； as if reminded of something funny。
〃Go on； and tell about them。 I never heard of an anti…snorer。 Jack
better have one；〃 said Frank； interested at once。
〃Well； a rich old lady kept her family awake with that lively music；
so she sent to Shirtman and Codleff for something to stop it。 They
thought it was a good joke； and told me to see what I could do。 I
thought it over； and got up the nicest little affair you ever saw。 It
went over the mouth； and had a tube to fit the ear； so when the
lady snored she woke herself up and stopped it。 It suited exactly。 I
think of taking out a patent；〃 concluded Ralph； joining in the boys'
laugh at the droll idea。
〃What was the pad？〃 asked Frank； returning to the small model of
an engine he was making。
〃Oh； that was a mere trifle for a man who had a tender elbow…joint
and wanted something to protect it。 I made a little pad to fit on；
and his crazy…bone was safe。〃
〃I planned to have you make me a new leg if this one was spoilt；〃
said Jack； sure that his friend could invent anything under the sun。
〃I'd do my best for you。 I made a hand for a fellow once； and that
got me my place； you know；〃 answered Ralph； who thought little
of such mechanical trifles； and longed to be painting portraits or
modelling busts； being an artist as well as an inventor。
Here Gus； Ed； and several other boys came in； and the
conversation became general。 Grif； Chick； and Brickbat were three
young gentlemen whose own respectable names were usually
ignored； and they cheerfully answered to these nicknames。
As the clock struck seven； Frank； who ruled the club with a rod of
iron when Chairman； took his place behind the study table。 Seats
stood about it； and a large； shabby book lay before Gus； who was
Secretary； and kept the records with a lavish expenditure of ink； to
judge by the blots。 The members took their seats； and nearly all
tilted back their chairs and put their hands in their pockets； to keep
them out of mischief； for； as everyone knows； it is impossible for
two lads to be near each other and refrain from tickling or
pinching。 Frank gave three raps with an old croquet…mallet set on a
short handle； and with much dignity opened the meeting。
〃Gentlemen； the business of the club will be attended to； and then
we will discuss the question； 'Shall girls go to our colleges？' The
Secretary will now read the report of the last meeting。〃
Clearing his throat； Gus read the following brief and elegant
report：
〃Club met； December I 8th； at the house of G。 Burton； Esq。
Subject：
'Is summer or winter best fun？' A lively pow…wow。 About evenly
divided。 J。 Flint fined five cents for disrespect to the Chair。 A
collection of forty cents taken up to pay for breaking a pane of
glass during a free fight of the members on the door…step。 E。
Devlin was chosen Secretary for the coming year； and a new book
contributed by the Chairman。〃
〃That's all。〃
〃Is there any other business before the meeting？〃 asked Frank； as
the reader closed the old book with a slam and shoved the new
one across the table。
Ed rose； and glancing about him with an appealing look； said； as if
sure his proposition would not be well received； 〃I wish to propose
the name of a new member。 Bob Walker wants to join； and 1 think
we ought to let him。 He is trying to behave well； and I am sure we
could help him。 Can't we？〃
All the boys looked sober； and Joe； otherwise Brickbat； said；
bluntly； 〃I won't。 He's a bad lot； and we don't want any such here。
Let him go with chaps of his own sort。〃
〃That is just what I want to keep him from！ He's a good…hearted
boy enough； oniy no one looks after him； so he gets into scrapes；
as we should； if we were in his place； I'd are say。 He