seen of men." He is sometimes selfish and ambitious; though the
beneficent influence of the organization is working miracles in the
transformation of his character.
The Butterfly was launched in the month of April. The liberality of
George Weston had provided for her a boat-house, similar to that of the
Zephyr, and, like that, furnished with a club room and library, and all
the means for promoting the objects of the organization.
And now, with my old friends refreshed in memory by this review of
the first season, and my new ones put in possession of all that is
necessary to a proper understanding of the situation of the boat club, we
are ready to proceed with our story.
CHAPTER II
.
THE NEW MEMBER.
"Order!" said Frank Sedley, as he seated himself in the arm-chair, at the
head of the table in the club room.
At a meeting the preceding week, Frank had again been chosen
coxswain of the club for the first official term. This had been done, not
only in compliment to the noble boy to whose father the members were
indebted for the privileges they enjoyed, but in anticipation of an
exciting time on the lake, in a proposed race with the Butterfly. Frank
was acknowledged to be the most skilful boatman among them, and
under his direction they expected to accomplish all that they and the
Zephyr could possibly attain. They had already learned that mere
muscle was not all that was required to insure their success. Skill,
forethought, and the ability to take advantage of favoring circumstances,
were discovered to be even more desirable than great power.
"Order!" repeated Frank, rapping smartly on the table.
The members suspended their conversation, and all eyes were fixed
upon the president. The affairs of the club, in connection with the
Butterfly, had been freely discussed for several weeks, and everything
had been arranged for the opening of the "summer campaign," as
Charles Hardy rather facetiously called it.
"There are two questions to be submitted for the action of the club at
this meeting," continued Frank, with more than his usual gravity. "They
are questions of momentous consequence, and I have felt the need of
counsel from our director; but my father declines giving me any advice,
and says he prefers that we should discuss the questions independently;
though, as you all know, if our final action is wrong, he will--he will--"
"Veto it," added Fred Harper.
"Yes, he will not permit us to do a wrong, though he wants us to think
for ourselves, and do the best we can."
"Precisely so; he wants--" Charles Hardy begun.
"Order!" said Frank, with gentle firmness. "The first question is this:
Tim Bunker, who has recently been discharged from the house of
correction, has applied to be admitted as a member of the club, in place
of Tony Weston, resigned. Shall he be admitted?"
"Mr. President, I move that he be not admitted," said Charles.
"Is the motion seconded?"
There was no response. The members all felt that it was a very delicate
matter, and that it required careful deliberation.
"The motion is not seconded, and, of course, cannot be entertained,"
continued the president.
"I move that he be admitted," said Fred Harper.
"Second the motion," added William Bright.
Charles Hardy felt a little nettled, and his first impulse was, to rise and
express his astonishment, as Squire Flutter had done in the "March
meeting," at the motion of his friend on the other side of the table: but
the impulsive youth had learned quite recently that a second thought is
oftentimes much better than a first, and he reserved the expression of
his surprise till a later stage of the debate.
As no one seemed disposed to open the discussion, Frank requested
Fred Harper to take the chair, while he temporarily assumed the
position of one of the disputants.
"Mr. Chairman," said he, "I rise to offer a few remarks in favor of the
motion which is now before the club. Perhaps I cannot better introduce
my own views upon the subject than by relating the substance of the
conversation that occurred when Tim applied to me for admission to
the club. He said that he had had a hard time of it in the house of
correction; but he hoped his long confinement had done him good. He
had firmly resolved to be a good boy. 'But,' said he, 'what can I do? If I
go with the fellows I used to associate with, how can I keep my
resolution? I know I have been a very bad boy, and I want to do what is
right.' I told him that our rules were very strict; that no fellow was
allowed to swear or to use bad language of
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