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his quotations."
"You have my opinion, gentlemen," said Charles, "and I don't know
that I have any thing more to say at present;" and, much disconcerted,
he sat down.
But though cast down, he was not destroyed; and in justice to his
companions, it must be remarked that he had frequently annoyed the
club by his attempts to make speeches more learned and ornate than his
capacity would allow. Frank had reasoned with him on his propensity
to "show off," but without effect, so that he did not feel so much
sympathy for him at the present time as he would have felt under other
circumstances.
"The question is still open for discussion," said the chairman.

No one, however, seemed disposed to speak.
"Question!" called Fred Harper.
"Question!" repeated several others.
"Are you ready for the question?" continued the chairman.
"Question!"
"All those in favor of admitting Tim Bunker as a member of the club
will signify it in the usual way."
Ten hands were raised.
"Contrary minded."
Charles, feeling that he was on the wrong side, did not vote against the
measure, and it was declared to be a unanimous vote.
"The other matter, requiring the action of the club, relates to the
proposed race between the Butterfly and the Zephyr. Several gentlemen
of Rippleton feel a deep interest in the two boat clubs, and have
proposed to put up a prize to be awarded to the successful club. I
understand that fifty dollars have been subscribed for this purpose. The
question is, Shall we pull for this prize?"
"When?" asked Fred.
"The clubs may choose their own time."
"It wouldn't be fair till the Butterfly has had a chance to practise a
while."
"Of course not; the Butterfly may accept the proposition or not, and the
club can select their own time."
"I move you that the offer be accepted," said William Bright.
"Second the motion," added James Vincent.
"I make the motion, Mr. President, for the purpose of bringing the
question properly before the club. I have not thought enough about the
matter yet to decide whether I am in favor of it or not," continued
William Bright.
"It is generally supposed that the one who makes a motion is in favor of
it; but we won't mind that now," said Frank, with a smile.
"Mr. President, I must say, I think the proposition looks a little like
gambling," suggested Charles Hardy.
"So I was thinking," added a little fellow, near the foot of the table.
"Suppose we take an informal vote," proposed Charles, who was
determined to get on the right side this time, if possible.
So an informal vote was taken, and every member voted against the

proposition.
Frank Sedley was surprised at this result. Probably he was the only one
who had given any earnest thought to the subject, though the offer was
known to all the boys.
Captain Sedley, who watched over the welfare of the club with paternal
interest, had endeavored, during the winter that was now past, to render
it effectual in developing the moral and mental capacities of the
members. He had given such a direction to the exercises in Zephyr Hall
as he thought would best attain this end. One of the greatest difficulties
with which he had been obliged to contend was the want of
individuality in the boys. Each was disposed to "pin his faith" upon
others. They would not think for themselves, and exercise an
independent judgment. Like thousands in the great world, they "went
with the crowd;" thought, acted, voted, with the majority.
Frank saw the operation of this motive in the "informal vote" which
had just been taken; and he was tolerably certain that he could bring
them all over to the other side, by indicating his own preference.
Calling Fred Harper to the chair again, he opened the discussion by
offering a simile, which, being a parallel case, certainly gave the
question an entirely new aspect.
"At the Rippleton Academy three gold medals and three silver medals
are awarded, every year, for the best scholarship and deportment. Is
that gambling?"
"No," replied half a dozen voices.
"Well, we are to row, in like manner for a prize. We don't put up
money as a stake; the party that gets beaten does not lose anything."
"That makes a difference," added Charles.
"But the prizes in the Academy are given to make the scholars get their
lessons well--to stimulate them in doing their duty," said William
Bright.
"Very true;" and Frank saw, in the faces of the members, that the
current had again set in another direction. "But we only want to prove
that rowing for the prize is not gambling."
"That's all," said Charles.
"The Agricultural Society offers premiums for the best horses, cows,
oxen."
"That's