All Aboard | Page 6

to improve stock," answered William. "Boat racing can only be

for amusement."
"The Horticultural Society gives premiums for the prettiest flowers,"
added Frank; "and my father got one of them last summer."
The boys were staggered again.
"Flowers are cultivated for amusement; at any rate, we don't eat them,
or drink them, or sleep on them," continued Frank.
"Your bed shall be roses, besprinkled with dew."
added Fred, who never missed his joke. "Besides, we sleep on poppies.
They are a sleepy plant, you know."
"But the real question," said Frank, "is, whether racing for a prize will
not excite hard and envious feelings in the members of the two clubs. I
hope we shall think well of it before we vote; and for that purpose, Mr.
Chairman, I move a recess of half an hour."
The motion was carried, and the boys talked the matter over till the
meeting was called to order again.
"Question!" called several voices.
The vote was immediately taken, and it stood nine in favor and two
opposed to the proposition. And so, on the part of the Zephyr, the offer
was accepted.
The club then adjourned for an excursion on the lake.

CHAPTER III
.
ALL ABOARD!
The club had taken their seats in the boat, and were waiting the orders
of the coxswain to haul her out of her berth, when Captain Sedley made
his appearance.
"You are short-handed, Frank," said he, as he observed Tony's vacant
seat.
"Yes, sir; but we have elected a member to fill that place," replied
Frank, as he jumped out of the boat, and hastened to inform his father
of what the club had done.
The members all felt a deep interest in the result of this conference; and
though this was the first excursion of the season, they forgot for the
time the pleasure before them in their desire to know whether the
"director" would approve their action in relation to the new member

and the prize.
Frank and his father entered the club-room together.
"Now, my son, what have you done?" asked Captain Sedley.
"We have discussed both questions to the best of our ability," replied
Frank, with some hesitation.
"Well, what was the result?"
"We have elected Tim to fill Tony's place."
"Indeed!"
"We have; and we await your sanction to our doings."
"Did you think I would sanction such a choice as that?"
"I didn't know. We have fairly considered the matter; have faithfully
examined both sides of the question. If we have done wrong, you know,
father, that you have a veto upon our doings."
Captain Sedley smiled at the matter-of-fact, business-like earnestness
of his son. He felt quite as much interest in the action of the boys as
they did to learn his opinion of it.
"Tim is a very bad boy," said he.
"He _was_; but he has solemnly promised to amend, and become a
good boy," answered Frank, warmly.
"Not much dependence can be placed upon the promises of such boys
as Tim."
"But if no one encourages him to become better, he will not be likely to
improve much, especially when everybody despises and shuns him."
"There is danger that he may corrupt the rest of the club."
"He must obey the requirements of the constitution, or he cannot long
continue to be a member."
"You are right, Frank; I approve your action in this matter, but I should
like to know the grounds upon which you admitted him."
Frank gave him a brief synopsis of the debate, and the anxious father
expressed himself well pleased with the liberal views of the club.
"Men might be oftener reformed in the great world, if people would
only give them a chance to be respectable, as you have done with Tim,"
said Captain Sedley. "But what have you done about the prize?"
"We have voted to accept the offer of the gentlemen," answered Frank,
rather doubtfully, as he looked earnestly into the face of his father, to
discover the effect of his intelligence.
"I hope you looked on both sides of this question, as well as the other."

"We did, father."
Frank stated the different opinions that had been expressed by the
members during the debate, and the fact that they had informally given
a unanimous vote against it. Captain Sedley was much amused by the
narration, in spite of the disappointment he felt at the ill success of his
efforts to make the boys reason for themselves.
"I think your view is correct, Frank; though I am aware that many
mature minds would arrive at a different conclusion. As you say, the
envy and ill will which the contest may excite are the evils most to be
dreaded."
"Then you approve our decision?"
"I do."
Frank felt as happy at that