So there came a time when a very few attended the meeting. The many empty seats filled the few present with sadness. Then came a motion to dissolve the society; it was seconded, put and lost by one vote only. Then it was resolved to appoint a committee who should confer with some wise ones and see what could be done and report at the next meeting, or, if they thought best, adjourn the society till better times.
The committee consisted of two boys and one girl, this girl being the very one whose perseverance had brought the society into being and held it together at times when it seemed ready to go to pieces.
She invited her two friends to meet at her father’s house to see what was best to be done. Meanwhile she had done a deal of thinking for herself and had carried the matter to her mother for guidance.
Things looked dark enough for her dear society. Her mother even doubted if anything could be done while there was such an opposition, and the best she could say was to let matters rest for the present, till the dancers and others had had their round of fun.
This brave girl had seen too much good in the society, and hungered for more too deeply to easily give it up.
She had a great Friend to whom all her troubles were carried. She took this one to Him.
The committee came together,—two doubting boys and one true girl,—full of faith and purpose to stand by the society. The boys had settled the matter in their minds to let the society die as things then stood; that further effort would but result in failure, and make them a laughing-stock,—to be laughed at was not for a moment to be thought of,—unless there should be some most favorable turn of affairs.
Thus the conference opened, two to one against the life of the P. S. P. S., as the society was sometimes called.
“I’m glad you’ve come,” began our little heroine to the two, after they were seated and the moment had come for business. “These have been pretty dark days for me; I’ve been on the point of crying nearly all the time.”
“So have we,” came from the boys, “but what’s the use crying for spilt milk! The society’s as good as dead. Every one we’ve met says so, and now all that’s left for us is just to bury it respectably, and try something else. Guess you’ve come to that conclusion, too, haven’t you?”