Jack and Jill

tend to business," said Frank toGus, as they strolled out of the schoolyard one afternoon inJanuary, apparently

, and what?" asked Gus, w

subject, 'Shall girls

o be on one side orthe other, so we may as well settle it now," answered Frank, forthere was an impression a

s the word and be ther

&c.," added Gus,losing no time, as a third boy came b

ponded Ed Devlin, as he took possessionof the third post, with a glance toward the schoolhouse

said Gus, ironically, not a bitd

test way home, hey,Ed?" and Frank gave him a p

eir own, and Gus added,"No girls coming to

shook his head regretfully o

of peace and quietness. Don'tmind having them a bit myself," said Frank, in such a tone ofcheerful resig

ike that, and sodo I," candidly observed Gus, whose

often called Admiral because he really did possessthree sisters, two cousins, an

er voicesall about the yard took it up, for the "Pinafore

ended, for Ed had notreturned to school in th

nough, but I miss you fellows dreadfully"; and Ed put a hand onthe b

next year," said Frank,who was preparing for

my mind. Have you practised that March?" asked Ed,turning to a gayer subject,

time."And with these artless excuses the three boys leaped off the posts,as if one spring moved them, as a group of girls came chatteringdown the path. The blue

or trooped along in noisy groups. Theprudent mothers had tried to stop this guileless custom, but foundit very difficult, as the fathers usually sympathized with their sons,and dismissed the matter with the comforta

teachers and parents to direct and explain thegreat lesson all are the better for learning soon or late. So theelders had to give in, acknowledging that this sudden readiness togo to school was a comfort, that th

tudying with bright, well-mannered girls, than always knocking

to talk over their children,and help

ll with her, and they report him ifhe troubles them. I really see no harm in the little friendship,though

brothers so far, but Ishouldn't wonder if

daughter would besought after as soon as she should

settledmatters for herself by holding fast to Merry, an

rywhere as naturally as the game parties and croquet whichhave taken the place of the husking frolics and apple-bees of ol

dyto march as soon as the doctor gives the word," said Ralph, comingi

leave. Did you make it yourself, Ral?" asked Jack, handling itwith delight, as

d say so. What a clever fellow you are! Any new inventio

ow-pad, answered Ralph,with a twinkle in

heard of an anti-snorer. Jackbetter hav

d joke, and told me to see what I could do. Ithought it over, and got up the nicest little affair you ever saw. Itwent over the mouth, and had a tube to fit

at the d

ank, returning to the small mo

t it. I made a little pad to fit on,and his crazy-bone was safe.""I planned to have you make me a

you know," answered Ralph, who thought littleof such mechanical trifles, and longed

neral. Grif, Chick, and Brickbat were threeyoung gentlemen whose own respecta

the records with a lavish expenditure of ink, tojudge by the blots. The members took their seats, and nearly alltilted back their chairs and put their hands in their pockets, to keepthem out of mischief; for, as ev

e question, 'Shall girls go to our colleges?' TheSecretary will now read the report of

r I 8th, at the hous

ubj

ned five cents for disrespect to the Chair. Acollection of forty cents taken up to p

Chairman.""That's all.""Is there any other business before the meeting?" asked Frank

name of a new member. Bob Walker wants to join, and 1 thinkwe ought to let him. He is trying to behave well, and I am sure wecould help hi

m; so he gets into scrapes,as we should, if we were in his place, I'd are say. He wants tocome here, and would be so proud if he was let in, I

not break it.""You needn't. I can't he here half the time, so I will resign and letBob have my place," began Ed, but he was silenced by shouts of"No, no, you shan't!" "We

ho did object to small boys,though

oband Tom Grant," said Ralph, whereat Grif grinned and Joescowl

o vote," said Gus, too kind-hea

club as well as in, for it won't do much good to be kind tohim here and cut h

his beloved friend led,and the others nodded,

him, so he loafs round the tavern, and goeswith fellows we don't care to know. But he isn't bad yet, and wecan keep him up, I'm sure, if we just try. I hope

p hismind at once, for he had joined the Temperance Lodge f

adsto worse. You can help him there, Admiral, if you only will,"add

what he promised,for he had given up smoking to

g him with old scrapes, and I'll do anything I can for you allto pay for

avein; so Bob and Tom were duly elected, and proved their gratitu

d showed the others how to lend a helping hand to acomrade in danger, and wi

it seems, leaves a sweet and strengtheninginfluence behind--the members settled down

and Chick against,I suppose?" said Frank, surveyi

ied Chick, a mild youth,who loyally escorte

old declaration, and Chi

ose who pet him most to death," said Joe, who, not beinga favorite with the

, since you are u

re, but I do notbelieve in having girls at college. They'd on't belong there, nobodywants 'em, and they'd better be

ad a room to themselves. We should get onbetter.""You would if Mabel wasn't in your class and a

sit down forhalf an hour," said Joe, well knowing that e

d Joe prosed on, using all the arguments he had everheard, and paying off se

g 'isn't fair.' No, sir; girls ain't meant to know much, andthey can't. Wise folks say so and I believe 'em. Haven't got anysisters myself, and I don't want any, for they'd on't seem to amountto much, according to those who do have 'em."Groans from Gus and Ed greeted th

mselves, as we do. They are all well enough athome, and I like them at parties, but for real fun and go I wouldn'tgive a cent for them," began Grif, whose

the club, for at that moment half-a-dozenfire-crackers exploded under the chair Grif had left, and flewwildly about the room. Order was with difficulty restored, themischievous party summarily chastised and commanded

the troubled waters,and his bright face was full of the becoming bashfulness whichafflicts youths of sevente

s he thought of hisown, who loved him dearly, as well they might, for a better brothernever lived. "Home wouldn't be worth having without them to lookafter a fellow, to keep him out of scrapes, help him with hislessons, and make things jolly for his friends. I tell you we can't dowithout girls, and I'm not ashamed to say that I think the more wesee of them, a

or in his cheeks, Ed sat down amid theapplause of his side, especially of Jack, who pounded

, nowupon his legs, and rather at a loss what to say till Mr

d so on. Of course, she can't play ball--nogirl can; their arms are not made right to throw--but she can catchremarkably well. I'll say that for her. Now, if she and Mabel--and--and--some others I could name, are so clever and strong at thebeginning, I don't see why they shouldn't keep up

ior member if he willhonor us with a few

in his bosom, and fixing his eye sternly on Crif, who wasdoing something suspicious with a pin, gave them a touch ofSergeant

jury,"he suddenly paused, smoothed his hair down upon his fore

, delivered over poor Jo, an

kirts over his arm, and, assuming aparliamentary attitude, burst into a comical medley, composed ofextracts from Jefferson Brick's and Lafayette Ket

h we are jined, and in the name of thestar-spangled banner, I thank you for your eloq

though it be the British Lion himself, I defy him. Let mehave him here!"--smiting the table, and causing the inkstand toskip--"here, upon this sacred altar! Here, upon the ancestral ashescemented with the glorious blood poured out like water on theplains of Chickabiddy Lick. Alone I'd are that Lion, and tell himthat Freedom's hand once twisted in his mane, he rolls a corsebefore me, and the Eagles of the

club was released from its sternerduties and permitted to unbend its mighty mind for a