“You tell them, please, I want to see them.”
When Sid and Rick arrived, their assent, at first, was readily given to the teacher’s proposition for a fair by the boys in behalf of Tim Tyler.
“Only,” said Rick, “won’t it go to old Tim, his uncle, for rum? I don’t believe in that.”
“O, Tim’s mother wouldn’t allow that.”
“But, you see, Tim had a fuss with Charlie Macomber, and imposed on him,” exclaimed Sid.
“Charlie is willing, for he has said so,” replied Miss Barry. “You are not going to hold on to an old grudge. Your name is ‘Up-the-Ladder Club,’ and not down the ladder. You go down when you hold on to a grudge, boys.”
“We won’t go down!” cried Charlie.
“No, no!” said the boys.
The different members of the club signified their willingness. Will Somers said he would assist.
One other person must be consulted, the older “honorary member” of the club, Aunt Stanshy. Knowing her very just and positive opposition to drinking habits, Miss Barry thought she might refer to old Tim’s, and throw out a sharp opinion that the uncle ought to help the boy, as he lived in the family of the boy’s mother. Charlie, too, thought his aunt might object, but she did not. She only put on that look of sadness Charlie had noticed when old Tim was in the neighborhood that rainy day, and to Will’s remark that old Tim ought to do more, she said, with a sigh,