John Wesley, Jr. | Page 4

not descriptions. Now, our Saint Sheridan
used to say that an Institute was a combination of college, circus, and
camp meeting. I would venture a different putting of it. An Institute is a
bit of young democracy in action. Its people play together, for play's
sake and for finding their honest human level. They study together, to
become decently intelligent about some of the real business of the
kingdom of God, and how the church proposes to transact that business.
They wait for new vision together, the Institute being a good time and a
good place for seeing life clear and seeing it whole."
"Yes," said Marcia, "that's exactly it, only I never could have found
quite the right words. Do you think J.W. will find it too poky and
preachy?"
"Tell him to try it and see, as you did last year," said Pastor Drury.
"I'll risk that," said John Wesley, Jr., in his newly resolute mood.
He knew when to stop, this preacher. Particularly concerned as he was
about John Wesley, Jr., he saw that this was one of the many times
when that young man would need to work things out for himself.
Marcia would give what help might be called for at the moment. The
boy was turning toward the Institute; so far so good.
To-night was nearly four years from the beginning of his interest in this
young fellow with the Methodist name. He was a special friend of the
family, though no more so than of every family in the town which gave
him the slightest encouragement. To a degree which no one suspected
he shared this family's secret hopes for its son and heir; and he
cherished hopes which even the Farwells could not suspect. Unless he

was much mistaken he had found the subject for his Experiment.
That mention of the Farwells needs to be explained. Of course "John
Wesley, Jr.," was only part of the boy's name. In full he was John
Wesley Farwell, Jr., son of John Wesley Farwell, Sr., of the J.W.
Farwell Hardware Co. As a little fellow he had no chance to escape
"Junior," since he was named for his father. There were many Jacks
and Johns and Johnnies about. His mother, good Methodist that she
was, secretly enjoyed calling him "John Wesley, Jr.," and before long
the neighbors and the neighborhood children followed her example.
A little later he might have been teased out of it, but at the impossible
age when boys discover that queer names and red hair and cross-eyes
make convenient excuses for mutual torture, it happened that he had
attained to the leadership of his gang. For some reason he took pride in
his two Methodist names, and made short work of those who ventured
to take liberties with them. In all other respects he played without
reserve boyhood's immemorial game of give and take; but as to his
name or any part thereof he would tolerate no foolishness and no back
talk. When he reached the high school period, however, most of his
intimates rarely called him by his full name, having, like all high school
people, no time for long names, though possessed of infinite leisure for
long dreams. Straightway they shortened his name to "J.W.," which to
this day is all that his friends find necessary.
Very well, then; this is J.W. at eighteen; a young fellow worth knowing.
Take a look at him; impulsive, generous, not what you would call
handsome, but possessed of a genial eye and a ready tongue, a stubby
nose and a few scattered freckles. A fair student, he is yet far from
bookishness, and he makes friends easily.
Of late he has been paying furtive but detailed attention to his hair and
his neckties and the hang of his clothes, though still in small danger of
being mistaken for a tailor's model.
With such a name you will understand that he's a Methodist by first
intention; born so. He is a pretty sturdy young Christian, showing it in a
boy's modest but direct fashion, which even his teammates of the

high-school football squad found it no trouble to tolerate, because they
knew him for a human, healthy boy, and not a morbid, self-inspecting
religious prig. Pastor Drury, you may be sure, had taken note of all that,
for he and J.W. had been fast friends since the day he had received the
boy into the church.
The morning after the Institute social J.W. announced at breakfast his
sudden change of plan.
"If you don't mind, Dad, I've about decided to go to the Institute instead
of Chicago. There is a bunch of us going, and Mr. Drury will be there.
Uncle Henry's folks might not want to be bothered with me now, and
anyway I