CHAPTER XII.
HARRY JOINS THE CLIONIAN SOCIETY.
A week later Harry Walton received the following note:--
"Centreville, May 16th, 18--, "Dear Sir: At the last meeting of the Clionian Society you were elected a member. The next meeting will be held on Thursday evening, in the Academy building. "Yours truly, "GEORGE SANBORN, "Secretary. "MR. HARRY WALTON."
Our hero read this letter with satisfaction. It would be pleasantfor him to become acquainted with the Academy students, but hethought most of the advantages which his membership would afford himin the way of writing and speaking. He had never attempted todebate, and dreaded attempting it for the first time; but he knewthat nothing desirable would be accomplished without effort, and hewas willing to make that effort.
"What have you there, Walton?" asked Clapp, noticing the letter whichhe held in his hand.
"You can read it if you like," said Harry.
"Humph!" said Clapp; "so you are getting in with the Academy boys?"
"Why shouldn't he?" said Ferguson.
"Oh, they're a stuck-up set."
"I don't find them so--that is, with one exception," said Harry.
"They are mostly the sones of rich men, and look down on those whohave to work for a living."
Clapp was of a jealous and envious disposition, and he was alwaysfancying slights where they were not intended.
"If I thought so," said Harry, "I would not join the Society, but asthey have elected me, I shall become a member, and see how thingsturn out."
"It is a good plan, Harry," said Ferguson. "It will be a greatadvantage to you."
"I wish I had a chance to attend the Academy for a couple of years,"said our hero, thoughtfully.
"I don't," said Clapp. "What's the good of studying Latin and Greek,and all that rigmarole? It won't bring you money, will it?"
"Yes," said Ferguson. "Education will make a man more competent toearn money, at any rate in many cases. I have a cousin, who used togo to school with me, but his father was able to send him to college.He is now a lawyer in Boston, making four or five times my income.But it isn't for the money alone that an education is worth having.There is a pleasure in being educated."
"So I think," said Harry.
"I don't see it," said Clapp. "I wouldn't be a bookworm for anybody.There's Walton learning French. What good is it ever going to dohim?"
"I can tell you better by and by, when I know a little more," saidHarry. "I am only a beginner now."
"Dr. Franklin would never have become distinguished if he had beensatisfied with what he knew as an apprentice," said Ferguson.
"Oh, if you're going to bring up Franklin again, I've got through,"said Clapp with a sneer. "I forgot that Walton was trying to be asecond Franklin."
"I don't see much chance of it," said Harry, good-humoredly. "Ishould like to be if I could."
Clapp seemed to be in an ill-humor, and the conversation was notcontinued. He had been up late the night before with Luke Harrison,and both had drank more than was good for them. In consequence,Clapp had a severe headache, and this did not improve his temper.
"Come round Thursday evening, Harry," said Oscar Vincent, "and go tothe Society with me. I will introduce you to the fellows. It willbe less awkward, you know."
"Thank you, Oscar. I shall be glad to accept your escort."
When Thursday evening came, Oscar and Harry entered the Society hallarm in arm. Oscar led his companion up to the Secretary andintroduced him.
"I am glad to see you, Mr. Walton," said he. "Will you sign yourname to the Constitution? That is all the formality we require."
"Except a slight pecuniary disbursement," added Oscar.
"How much is the entrance fee?" asked Harry.
"One dollar. You win pay that to the Treasurer."
Oscar next introduced our hero to the President, and some of theleading members, all of whom welcomed him cordially.
"Good-evening, Mr. Fletcher," said Harry, observing that younggentleman near him.
"Good-evening, sir," said Fletcher stiffly, and turned on his heelwithout offering his hand.
"Fletcher don't feel well," whispered Oscar. "He had a visit from apoor relation the other day--a tin-pedler--and it gave such a shockto his sensitive system that he hasn't recovered from it yet."
"I didn't imagine Mr. Fletcher had such a plebeian relative," saidHarry.
"Nor did any of us. The interview was rich. It amused us all, butwhat was sport to us was death to poor Fitz. You have only to makethe most distant allusion to a tin-pedler in his hearing, and he willbecome furious."
"Then I will be careful."
"Oh, it won't do any harm. The fact was, the boy was getting toooverbearing, and putting on altogether too many airs. The lessonwill do him good, or ought to."
Here the Society was called to order, and Oscar and Harry took theirseats.
The exercises proceeded in regular order until the Presidentannounced a declamation by Fitzgerald Fletcher.
"Mr. President," said Fletcher, rising, "I must ask to be excused. Ihave not had time to prepare a declamation."
"Mr. President," said Tom Carver, "under the circumstances I hope youwill excuse Mr. Fletcher, as during the last week he has had anaddition to his family."
There was a chorus of laughter, loud and long, at this sally. Allwere amused except Fletcher himself, who looked flushed and provoked.
"Mr. Fletcher is excused," said the President, unable to refrain fromsmiling. "Will any member volunteer to speak in his place? It willbe a pity to have our exercises incomplete."
Fletcher was angry, and wanted to be revenged on somebody. A brightidea came to him. He would place the "printer's devil," whoseadmission to the Society he resented, in an awkward position. Herose with a malicious smile upon his face.
"Mr. President," he said, "doubtless Mr. Walton, the new member whohas done us the _honor_ to join our society, will be willing tosupply my place."
"We shall certainly be glad to hear a declamation from Mr. Walton,though it is hardly fair to call upon him at such short notice."
"Can't you speak something, Harry?" whispered Oscar. "Don't do it,unless you are sure you can get through."
Harry started in surprise when his name was first mentioned, but hequickly resolved to accept his duty. He had a high reputation athome for speaking, and he had recently learned a spirited poem,familiar, no doubt, to many of my young readers, called "ShamusO'Brien." It is the story of an Irish volunteer, who was arrestedfor participating in the Irish rebellion of '98, and is by turnsspirited and pathetic. Harry had rehearsed it to himself only thenight before, and he had confidence in a strong and retentive memory.At the President's invitation he rose to his feet, and said, "Mr.President, I will do as well as I can, but I hope the members of theSociety will make allowance for me, as I have had no time for specialpreparation."
All eyes were fixed with interest upon our hero, as he advanced tothe platform, and, bowing composedly, commenced his declamation. Itwas not long before that interest increased, as Harry proceeded inhis recitation. He lost all diffidence, forgot the audience, andentered thoroughly into the spirit of the piece. Especially when, inthe trial scene, Shamus is called upon to plead guilty or not guilty,Harry surpassed himself, and spoke with a spirit and fire whichbrought down the house. This is the passage:--
"My lord, if you ask me, if in my life-time I thought any treason, or did any crime, That should call to my cheek, as I stand alone here, The hot blush of shame, or the coldness of fear, Though I stood by the grave to receive my death-blow, Before God and the world I would answer you, no! But if you would ask me, as I think it like, If in the rebellion I carried a pike, An' fought for ould Ireland from the first to the close, An' shed the heart's blood of her bitterest foes, I answer you, _yes_; and I tell you again, Though I stand here to perish, it's my glory that then In her cause I was willing my veins should run d
hry, An' that now for her sake I am ready to die."
After the applause had subsided, Harry proceeded, and at theconclusion of the declamation, when he bowed modestly and left theplatform, the hall fairly shook with the stamping, in which alljoined except Fletcher, who sat scowling with dissatisfaction at aresult so different from his hopes. He had expected to bringdiscomfiture to our hero. Instead, he had given him an opportunityto achieve a memorable triumph.
"You did yourself credit, old boy!" said Oscar, seizing and wringingthe hand of Harry, as the latter resumed his seat. "Why, you oughtto go on the stage!"
"Thank you," said Harry; "I am glad I got through well."
"Isn't Fitz mad, though? He thought you'd break down. Look at him!"
Harry looked over to Fletcher, who, with a sour expression, wassitting upright, and looking straight before him.
"He don't look happy, does he?" whispered Oscar, comically.
Harry came near laughing aloud, but luckily for Fletcher's peace ofmind, succeeded in restraining himself.
"He won't call you up again in a hurry; see if he does," continuedOscar.
"I am sure we have all been gratified by Mr. Walton's spiriteddeclamation," said the President, rising. "We congratulate ourselvesupon adding so fine a speaker to our society, and hope often to havethe pleasure of hearing him declaim."
There was a fresh outbreak of applause, after which the otherexercises followed. When the meeting was over the members of theSociety crowded around Harry, and congratulated him on his success.These congratulations he received so modestly, as to confirm thefavorable impression he had made by his declamation.
"By Jove! old fellow," said Oscar, as they were walking home, "I ambeginning to be proud of you. You are doing great credit to yourteacher."
"Thank you, Professor," said Harry. "Don't compliment me too much,or I may become vain, and put on airs."
"If you do, I'll get Fitz to call, and remind you that you are only aprinter's devil, after all."