The Library of Work and Play: Gardening and Farming. | Page 4

do the hard work, while the other fellows stay by the
warm fire?" No one answered him and he slowly marched off.
Soon the corn was popped, the nuts cracked and the big red apples on
deck. And then it was a quiet room save for the snapping of a shell
from a half-cracked nut, and the munching of the firm apples as the
boys ate. The firelight played softly over the old room bringing out
strongly the big oak table, the group of boys, the silent man, throwing
far back into the shadows the old rush-bottomed chairs, the
short-legged rockers and the pieces of furniture at all distant from the
fire.
The clock struck nine. The boys reluctantly got up from the floor and
struggled into their coats. Jay unbarred the door. The man held the light
high above his head sending a stream of light after them, George astride
his old farm horse ready for his three-mile ride, Jay and Albert trudging
after him, and Jack and Peter hand in hand on a run toward the village.
"Good-night!" they shouted back at the man, "We'll be on time next
Saturday night, seven sharp. Good-night!"

II
THE BOYS' GARDEN DIFFICULTIES
"It's fine to see you back, Myron," began The Chief, looking at a big,
good looking fellow, who had dropped quietly into his place by George.
"Are you here for all the time, now?"
"Yes," replied Myron, "I got tired of the town and am glad enough to
be back again."
"We are just as glad as you are. Is Philip here for Sunday?"
Philip wriggled happily beside Peter and said nothing. For Peter had
impressed Philip with the fact that he must keep quiet for it wasn't very
much his club anyway.
"There is business up for discussion, and two applications," began The
Chief.
"Applications!" broke in Albert. "May we have those first?"

"If you can't keep still," retorted Jay, "you'll get applications all right,
but of quite another sort."
The Chief passed two letters to George. George stood up, swallowed
hard, for he was a bashful lad, and began. "'Will the Junior Garden
Club give suggestions and practical help for the improvement of the
Oldfield Centre School Grounds?' Signed 'The Teacher.'"
"Crickey!" said Albert. "That's white in her! Expert advice! I guess we
will!"
"What shall we do about this?" asked The Chief.
"We just ought to do it, I think," began Jack. "There surely is no other
public-spirited club in this place."
"Just so," murmured Peter.
"We ought now to have a secretary for the club, and a chairman, too. I
believe to-night is the time to vote for these officers," suggested The
Chief. "Suppose Jack and Philip tear up slips of paper and pass them.
Then Myron and George collect, and count the ballots. We should vote
for chairman first."
"What does the chairman have to do?" asked Myron.
"A chairman always calls a meeting to order and presides," answered
the man.
For a few minutes they were all very busy with paper and pencil. The
results were given by Myron.
"Jay has all the votes for chairman. Albert has four for secretary, and so
I suppose we'll have to have him."
Albert, nothing daunted, said, "I guess you will, but I write like a hen."
"That's right, you do," chimed in Jack to Albert's apparent annoyance.
"Now, Jack, call your meeting to order and let's have these matters
voted on."
"Come to order all of you. What shall we do about this school-ground
business?"
"I vote," began Myron.
"Stand on your feet," advised Jay.
"I vote--"
"No, Myron," corrected The Chief, "move--not vote."
"I move, then, that we fix up those grounds."
"Who seconds this?" and Jay looked hard at George.
"I will," he responded.

"I'm not sure, now," appealed Jay to The Chief, "I'm not sure just how
to go on."
"It's this way--it has been moved and seconded that this request be
granted. All in favour say 'aye'; all contrary minded 'no'. It is a vote."
Jay repeated this and the boys voted, Albert, as usual, voting "no," just
for fun.
"Now, if George will read the second letter-----"
"I should think," Jack half questioned, "that the secretary should read
things, now we have a secretary."
"So he should, hand those papers over, George."
George, delighted, gave place to Albert, who stumblingly read. "We
girls wish to garden, too. We'd like to join your club. We can do just as
good work as boys. Will you take us in?"
"Not much!" went on Alfred just as if he were still reading, "Girls in
our club, no siree, girls never!"
"Girls might do something," began Myron.
"But," Jack broke in, "they'd after all spoil a boys' club. Why, it
wouldn't be a boys' club