The next evening a second meeting of the society was held, to which all the boys in the school were invited. It was decided to call the society “The Zigzag Club.” Charles Wyman, one of the second-class boys, was appointed its Secretary, and general rules were adopted for the conduct of its meetings. All of the boys, sixteen in number, became members.
It was decided that the first formal meeting of the club for literary exercises should be held in a fortnight, and that on that occasion each boy of the first class should relate some historic story associated with one of the places he expected to visit, and it was suggested that the stories of the first meeting be confined to Normandy. Wyllys Wynn was asked to sing some French or Norman song on the occasion, and the Secretary was instructed to invite Master Lewis to be present, and to deliver an address.
Tommy Toby had been very reserved since the first meeting of the club. He had been quite ignored, and his feelings were hurt.
“Are you sure you treated Tommy quite right at the first meeting?” asked Ernest Wynn of Frank Gray, quietly, as he observed Tom’s injured look at the second meeting of the club.
“I fear I was not quite gentlemanly,” said Frank. “But I had no wish to join a society gotten up merely for fun.”
“Tommy’s suggestion was the beginning of the club,” said Ernest. “Let’s give him a vote of thanks.”
“I will offer the resolution,” said Frank.
“Let us close this meeting,” said Frank, “by recognizing the debt we owe to one of our members. Thomas Toby is the real founder of this club. I did not feel much interested in it at first. I do now. Let us give Thomas a vote of thanks.”
Every boy applauded the motion, which was passed enthusiastically.
Tommy’s face brightened, and his eyes filled with tears.