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as we should； if we were in his place； I'd are say。 He wants to
come here； and would be so proud if he was let in； I know he'd
behave。 Come now； let's give him a chance；〃 and Ed looked at Gus
and Frank； sure that if they stood by him he should carry his point。
But Gus shook his head； as if doubtful of the wisdom of the plan；
and Frank said gravely： 〃You know we made the rule that the
number should never be over eight； and we cannot break it。〃
〃You needn't。 I can't he here half the time； so I will resign and let
Bob have my place；〃 began Ed； but he was silenced by shouts of
〃No； no； you shan't！〃 〃We won't let you off！〃 〃Club would go to
smash； if you back out！〃
〃Let him have my place； I'm the youngest； and you won't miss me；〃
cried Jack； bound to stand by Ed at all costs。
〃We might do that；〃 said Frank； who did object to small boys；
though willing to admit this particular one。
〃Better make a new rule to have ten members； and admit both Bob
and Tom Grant；〃 said Ralph； whereat Grif grinned and Joe
scowled； for one lad liked Merry's big brother and the other did
not。
〃That's a good idea！ Put it to vote；〃 said Gus； too kind…hearted to
shut the door on anyone。
〃First I want to ask if all you fellows are ready to stand by Bob； out
of the club as well as in； for it won't do much good to be kind to
him here and cut him at school and in the street；〃 said Ed； heartily
in earnest about the matter。
〃I will！〃 cried Jack； ready to follow where his beloved friend led；
and the others nodded； unwilling to be outdone by the youngest
member。
〃Good！ With all of us to lend a hand； we can do a great deal； and I
tell you； boys； it is time； if we want to keep poor Bob straight。 We
all turn our backs on him； so he loafs round the tavern； and goes
with fellows we don't care to know。 But he isn't bad yet； and we
can keep him up； I'm sure； if we just try。 I hope to get him into the
Lodge； and that will be half the battle； won't it； Frank？〃 added Ed；
sure that this suggestion would have weight with the honorable
Chairman。
〃Bring him along； I'm with you！〃 answered Frank； making up his
mind at once； for he had joined the Temperance Lodge four years
ago； and already six boys had followed his example。
〃He is learning to smoke； but we'll make him drop it before it leads
to worse。 You can help him there； Admiral； if you only will；〃
added Ed； giving a grateful look at one friend； and turning to the
other。
〃I'm your man〃； and Gus looked as if he knew what he promised；
for he had given up smoking to oblige his father； and kept his word
like a hero。
〃You other fellows can do a good deal by just being kind and not
twitting him with old scrapes； and I'll do anything I can for you all
to pay for this〃； and Ed sat down with a beaming smile； feeling
that his cause was won。
The vote was taken； and all hands went up； for even surly Joe gave
in； so Bob and Tom were duly elected； and proved their gratitude
for the honor done them by becoming worthy members of the club。
It was only boys' play now； but the kind heart and pure instincts of
one lad showed the others how to lend a helping hand to a
comrade in danger； and win him away from temptation to the
safer pastimes of their more guarded lives。
Well pleased with themselvesfor every genuine act or word； no
matter how trifling it seems； leaves a sweet and strengthening
influence behindthe members settled down to the debate； which
was never very long； and often only an excuse for fun of all sorts。
〃Ralph； Gus； and Ed are for； and Brickbat； Grif； and Chick against；
I suppose？〃 said Frank； surveying his company like a general
preparing for battle。
〃No； sir！ I believe in co…everything！〃 cried Chick； a mild youth；
who loyally escorted a chosen damsel home from school every
day。
A laugh greeted this bold declaration； and Chick sat down； red but
firm。
〃I'll speak for two since the Chairman can't； and Jack won't go
against those who pet him most to death；〃 said Joe； who； not being
a favorite with the girls； considered them a nuisance and lost no
opportunity of telling them so。
Fire away； then； since you are up； commanded Frank。
〃Well；〃 began Joe； feeling too late how much he had undertaken；
〃I don't know a great deal about it； and I don't care； but I do not
believe in having girls at college。 They'd on't belong there； nobody
wants 'em； and they'd better be at home darning their stockings。〃
〃Yours； too；〃 put in Ralph； who had heard that argument so often
he was tired of it。
〃Of course； that's what girls are for。 I don't mind 'em at school； but
I'd just as soon they had a room to themselves。 We should get on
better。〃
〃You would if Mabel wasn't in your class and always ahead of
you；〃 observed Ed； whose friend was a fine scholar； and he very
proud of the fact。
〃Look here； if you fellows keep interrupting； I won't sit down for
half an hour；〃 said Joe； well knowing that eloquence was not his
gift； but bound to have his say out。
Deep silence reigned； for that threat quelled the most impatient
member； and Joe prosed on； using all the arguments he had ever
heard； and paying off several old scores by siy hits of a personal
nature； as older orators often do。
〃It is clear to my mind that boys would get on better without any
girls fooling round。 As for their being as smart as we are； it is all
nonsense； for some of 'em cry over their lessons every day； or go
home with headaches； or get mad and scold all recess； because
something 'isn't fair。' No； sir； girls ain't meant to know much； and
they can't。 Wise folks say so and I believe 'em。 Haven't got any
sisters myself； and I don't want any； for they'd on't seem to amount
to much； according to those who do have 'em。〃
Groans from Gus and Ed greeted the closing remarks of the
ungallant Joe； who sat down； feeling that he had made somebody
squirm。 Up jumped Grif； the delight of whose life was practical
jokes； which amiable weakness made him the terror of the girls；
though they had no other fault to find with the merry lad。
〃Mr。 Chairman； the ground I take is this： girls have not the strength
to go to college with us。 They couldn't row a race； go on a lark； or
take care of themselves； as we do。 They are all well enough at
home； and I like them at parties； but for real fun and go I wouldn't
give a cent for them；〃 began Grif； whose views of a collegiate life
were confined to the enjoyments rather than the studies of that
festive period。 〃I have tried them； and they can't stand anything。
They scream if you tell them there is a mouse in the room； and run
if they see a big dog。 I just put a cockroach in Molly's desk one
day； and when she opened it she jumped as if she was shot。〃
So did the gentlemen of the club； for at that moment half…a…dozen
fire…crackers exploded under the chair Grif had left； and flew
wildly about the room。 Order was with diffi