"The clubs may choose their own time."
"It wouldn"t be fair till the b.u.t.terfly has had a chance to practise a while."
"Of course not; the b.u.t.terfly 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 to improve stock," answered William. "Boat racing can only be for amus.e.m.e.nt."
"The Horticultural Society gives premiums for the prettiest flowers,"
added Frank; "and my father got one of them last summer."
The boys were staggered again.
"Flowers are cultivated for amus.e.m.e.nt; at any rate, we don"t eat them, or drink them, or sleep on them," continued Frank.
"Your bed shall be roses, besprinkled with dew."
added Fred, who never missed his joke. "Besides, we sleep on poppies.
They are a sleepy plant, you know."
"But the real question," said Frank, "is, whether racing for a prize will not excite hard and envious feelings in the members of the two clubs. I hope we shall think well of it before we vote; and for that purpose, Mr. Chairman, I move a recess of half an hour."
The motion was carried, and the boys talked the matter over till the meeting was called to order again.
"Question!" called several voices.
The vote was immediately taken, and it stood nine in favor and two opposed to the proposition. And so, on the part of the Zephyr, the offer was accepted.
The club then adjourned for an excursion on the lake.
CHAPTER III.
ALL ABOARD!
The club had taken their seats in the boat, and were waiting the orders of the c.o.xswain to haul her out of her berth, when Captain Sedley made his appearance.
"You are short-handed, Frank," said he, as he observed Tony"s vacant seat.
"Yes, sir; but we have elected a member to fill that place," replied Frank, as he jumped out of the boat, and hastened to inform his father of what the club had done.
The members all felt a deep interest in the result of this conference; and though this was the first excursion of the season, they forgot for the time the pleasure before them in their desire to know whether the "director" would approve their action in relation to the new member and the prize.
Frank and his father entered the club-room together.
"Now, my son, what have you done?" asked Captain Sedley.
"We have discussed both questions to the best of our ability," replied Frank, with some hesitation.
"Well, what was the result?"
"We have elected Tim to fill Tony"s place."
"Indeed!"