Athletic sports were in high favour at Plumfield; and the river wherethe old punt used to wabble about with a cargo of small boys, or echoto the shrill screams of little girls trying to get lilies, now wasalive with boats of all kinds, from the slender wherry to the trimpleasure-craft, gay with cushions, awnings, and fluttering pennons.Everyone rowed, and the girls as well as the youths had their races,and developed their muscles in the most scientific manner. The large,level meadow near the old willow was now the college playground, andhere baseball battles raged with fury, varied by football, leaping,and kindred sports fitted to split the fingers, break the ribs, andstrain the backs of the too ambitious participants. The gentlerpastimes of the damsels were at a safe distance from this Champ deMars; croquet mallets clicked under the elms that fringed the field,rackets rose and fell energetically in several tennis-courts, andgates of different heights were handy to practise the graceful boundby which every girl expected to save her life some day when the madbull, which was always coming but never seemed to arrive, should bebellowing at her heels.

One of these tennis grounds was called 'Jo's Court', and here thelittle lady ruled like a queen; for she was fond of the game, andbeing bent on developing her small self to the highest degree ofperfection, she was to be found at every leisure moment with somevictim hard at it. On a certain pleasant Saturday afternoon she hadbeen playing with Bess and beating her; for, though more graceful,the Princess was less active than her cousin, and cultivated herroses by quieter methods.

'Oh dear! you are tired, and every blessed boy is at that stupidbaseball match. 'What shall I do?' sighed Josie, pushing back thegreat red hat she wore, and gazing sadly round her for more worlds toconquer.

'I'll play presently, when I'm a little cooler. But it is dull workfor me, as I never win,' answered Bess, fanning herself with a largeleaf.

Josie was about to sit down beside her on the rustic seat and wait,when her quick eye saw afar off two manly forms arrayed in whiteflannel; their blue legs seemed bearing them towards the battle goingon in the distance; but they never reached the fray; for with a cryof joy, Jo raced away to meet them, bent on securing this heaven-sentreinforcement. Both paused as she came flying up, and both raisedtheir hats; but oh, the difference there was in the salutes! Thestout youth pulled his off lazily and put it on again at once, as ifglad to get the duty over; the slender being, with the crimson tie,lifted his with a graceful bend, and held it aloft while he accostedthe rosy, breathless maid, thus permitting her to see his raven lockssmoothly parted, with one little curl upon the brow. Dolly pridedhimself upon that bow, and practised it before his glass, but did notbestow it upon all alike, regarding it as a work of art, fit only forthe fairest and most favoured of his female admirers; for he was apretty youth, and fancied himself an Adonis.

Eager Josie evidently did not appreciate the honour he did her, forwith a nod she begged them both to 'come along and play tennis, notgo and get all hot and dirty with the boys'. These two adjectives wonthe day; for Stuffy was already warmer than he liked to be, and Dollyhad on a new suit which he desired to keep immaculate as long aspossible, conscious that it was very becoming.

'Charmed to oblige,' answered the polite one, with another bend.

'You play, I'll rest,' added the fat boy, yearning for repose andgentle converse with the Princess in the cooling shade.

'Well, you can comfort Bess, for I've beaten her all to bits and sheneeds amusing. I know you've got something nice in your pocket,George; give her some, and 'Dolphus can have her racket. Now then,fly round'; and driving her prey before her, Josie returned intriumph to the court.

Casting himself ponderously upon the bench, which creaked under hisweight, Stuffy - as we will continue to call him, though no one elsedared to use the old name now - promptly produced the box ofconfectionery, without which he never travelled far, and regaled Besswith candied violets and other dainties, while Dolly worked hard tohold his own against a most accomplished antagonist. He would havebeaten her if an unlucky stumble, which produced an unsightly stainupon the knee of those new shorts, had not distracted his mind andmade him careless. Much elated at her victory, Josie permitted him torest, and offered ironical consolation for the mishap which evidentlyweighed upon his mind.

'Don't be an old Betty; it can be cleaned. You must have been a catin some former state, you are so troubled about dirt; or a tailor,and lived for clothes.'

'Come now, don't hit a fellow when he is down,' responded Dolly fromthe grass where he and Stuffy now lay to make room for both girls onthe seat. One handkerchief was spread under him, and his elbow leanedupon another, while his eyes were sadly fixed upon the green andbrown spot which afflicted him. 'I like to be neat; don't think itcivil to cut about in old shoes and grey flannel shirts beforeladies. Our fellows are gentlemen, and dress as such,' he added,rather nettled at the word 'tailor'; for he owed one of those tooattractive persons an uncomfortably big bill.

'So are ours; but good clothes alone don't make a gentleman here. Werequire a good deal more,' flashed Josie, in arms at once to defendher college. 'You will hear of some of the men in "old boots and greyflannel" when you and your fine gentlemen are twiddling your ties andscenting your hair in obscurity. I like old boots and wear them, andI hate dandies; don't you, Bess?'

'Not when they are kind to me, and belong to our old set,' answeredBess, with a nod of thanks to Dolly, who was carefully removing aninquisitive caterpillar from one of her little russet shoes.

'I like a lady who is always polite, and doesn't snap a man's headoff if he has a mind of his own; don't you, George?' asked Dolly,with his best smile for Bess and a Harvard stare of disapprobationfor Josie.

A tranquil snore was Stuffy's sole reply, and a general laughrestored peace for the moment. But Josie loved to harass the lords ofcreation who asserted themselves too much, and bided her time foranother attack till she had secured more tennis. She got anothergame; for Dolly was a sworn knight of dames, so he obeyed her call,leaving Bess to sketch George as he lay upon his back, his stout legscrossed, and his round red face partially eclipsed by his hat. Josiegot beaten this time and came back rather cross, so she woke thepeaceful sleeper by tickling his nose with a straw till he sneezedhimself into a sitting posture, and looked wrathfully about for 'thatconfounded fly'.

'Come, sit up and let us have a little elegant conversation; you"howling swells" ought to improve our minds and manners, for we areonly poor "country girls in dowdy gowns and hats",' began thegad-fly, opening the battle with a sly quotation from one of Dolly'sunfortunate speeches about certain studious damsels who cared morefor books than finery.

'I didn't mean you! Your gowns are all right, and those hats thelatest thing out,' began poor 'Dolphus, convicting himself by theincautious exclamation.

'Caught you that time; I thought you fellows were all gentlemen,civil as well as nice. But you are always sneering at girls who don'tdress well and that is a very unmanly thing to do; my mother saidso'; and Josie felt that she had dealt a shrewd blow at the elegantyouth who bowed at many shrines if they were well-decorated ones.

'Got you there, old boy, and she's right. You never hear me talkabout clothes and such twaddle,' said Stuffy, suppressing a yawn, andfeeling for another bon-bon wherewith to refresh himself.

'You talk about eating, and that is even worse for a man. You will marry a cook and keep a restaurant some day,' laughed Josie, down onhim at once.

This fearful prediction kept him silent for several moments; butDolly rallied, and wisely changing the subject, carried war into theenemy's camp.

'As you wanted us to improve your manners, allow me to say that youngladies in good society don't make personal remarks or deliverlectures. Little girls who are not out do it, and think it witty; butI assure you it's not good form.'

Josie paused a moment to recover from the shock of being called 'alittle girl', when all the honours of her fourteenth birthday werefresh upon her; and Bess said, in the lofty tone which was infinitelymore crushing than Jo's impertinence:

'That is true; but we have lived all our lives with superior people,so we have no society talk like your young ladies. We are soaccustomed to sensible conversation, and helping one another bytelling our faults, that we have no gossip to offer you.'

When the Princess reproved, the boys seldom resented it; so Dollyheld his peace, and Josie burst out, following her cousin's lead,which she thought a happy one:

'Our boys like to have us talk with them, and take kindly any hintswe give. They don't think they know everything and are quite perfectat eighteen, as I've observed the Harvard men do, especially the veryyoung ones.'

Josie took immense satisfaction in that return shot; and Dolly showedthat he was hit, by the nettled tone in which he answered, with asupercilious glance at the hot, dusty, and noisy crowd on thebaseball ground: 'The class of fellows you have here need all thepolish and culture you can give them; and I'm glad they get it. Ourmen are largely from the best families all over the country, so wedon't need girls to teach us anything.'

'It's a pity you don't have more of such "fellows" as ours. Theyvalue and use well what college gives them, and aren't satisfied toslip through, getting all the fun they can and shirking the work. Oh,I've heard you "men" talk, and heard your fathers say they wish theyhadn't wasted time and money just that you might say you'd beenthrough college. As for the girls, you'll be much better off in allways when they do get in, and keep you lazy things up to the mark, aswe do here.'

'If you have such a poor opinion of us, why do you wear our colour?'asked Dolly, painfully conscious that he was not improving theadvantages his Alma Mater offered him, but bound to defend her.

'I don't; my hat is scarlet, not crimson. Much you know about acolour,' scoffed Josie.

'I know that a cross cow would soon set you scampering, if youflaunted that red tile under her nose,' retorted Dolly.

'I'm ready for her. Can your fine young ladies do this? or youeither?' and burning to display her latest accomplishment, Josie ranto the nearest gate, put one hand on the top rail, and vaulted overas lightly as a bird.

Bess shook her head, and Stuffy languidly applauded; but Dollyscorning to be braved by a girl, took a flying leap and landed on hisfeet beside Josie, saying calmly: 'Can you do that?'

'Not yet; but I will by and by.'

As his foe looked a little crestfallen, Dolly relented, and affablyadded sundry feats of a like nature, quite unconscious that he hadfallen into a dreadful snare; for the dull red paint on the gate, notbeing used to such vigorous handling, came off in streaks upon hisshoulders when he turned a backward swing and came up smiling, to berewarded with the aggravating remark:

'If you want to know what crimson is, look at your back; it's nicelystamped on and won't wash out, I think.'

'The deuce it won't!' cried Dolly, trying to get an impossible view,and giving it up in great disgust.

'I guess we'd better be going, Dolf,' said peaceable Stuffy, feelingthat it would be wise to retreat before another skirmish took place,as his side seemed to be getting the worst of it.

'Don't hurry, I beg; stay and rest; you must need it after thetremendous amount of brain work you've done this week. It is time forour Greek. Come, Bess. Good afternoon, gentlemen.' And, with asweeping courtesy, Josie led the way, with her hat belligerentlycocked up, and her racket borne like a triumphal banner over oneshoulder; for having had the last word, she felt that she couldretire with the honours of war.

Dolly gave Bess his best bow, with the chill on; and Stuffy subsidedluxuriously, with his legs in the air, murmuring in a dreamy tone:

'Little Jo is as cross as two sticks today. I'm going in for anothernap: too hot to play anything.'

'So it is. Wonder if Spitfire was right about these beastly spots?'And Dolly sat down to try dry cleansing with one of hishandkerchiefs. 'Asleep?' he asked, after a few moments of thischeerful occupation, fearing that his chum might be too comfortablewhen he was in a fume himself.

'No. I was thinking that Jo wasn't far wrong about shirking. 'Tis ashame to get so little done, when we ought to be grinding like Mortonand Torry and that lot. I never wanted to go to college; but mygovernor made me. Much good it will do either of us!' answeredStuffy, with a groan; for he hated work, and saw two more long yearsof it before him.

'Gives a man prestige, you know. No need to dig. I mean to have a gayold time, and be a "howling swell", if I choose. Between you and methough, it would be no end jolly to have the girls along. Study behanged! But if we've got to turn the grindstone, it would be mightynice to have some of the little dears to lend a hand. Wouldn't itnow?'

'I'd like three this minute - one to fan me, one to kiss me, and oneto give me some iced lemonade!' sighed Stuffy, with a yearning glancetowards the house, whence no succour appeared.

'How would root-beer do?' asked a voice behind them, which made Dollyspring to his feet and Stuffy roll over like a startled porpoise.

Sitting on the stile that crossed the wall near by was Mrs Jo, withtwo jugs slung over her shoulder by a strap, several tin mugs in herhand, and an old-fashioned sun-bonnet on her head.

'I knew the boys would be killing themselves with ice-water; so Istrolled down with some of my good, wholesome beer. They drank likefishes. But Silas was with me; so my cruse still holds out. Havesome?'

'Yes, thanks, very much. Let us pour it.' And Dolly held the cupwhile Stuffy joyfully filled it; both very grateful, but ratherafraid she had heard what went before the wish she fulfilled.

She proved that she had by saying, as they stood drinking her health,while she sat between them, looking like a middle-aged vivandiere,with her jugs and mugs:

'I was glad to hear you say you would like to have girls at yourcollege; but I hope you will learn to speak more respectfully of thembefore they come; for that will be the first lesson they will teachyou.'

'Really, ma'am, I was only joking,' began Stuffy, gulping down hisbeer in a hurry.

'So was I. I'm sure I - I'm devoted to 'em,' stuttered Dolly,panic-stricken; for he saw that he was in for a lecture of some sort.

'Not in the right way. Frivolous girls may like to be called "littledears" and things of that sort; but the girls who love study wish tobe treated like reasonable beings, not dolls to flirt with. Yes, I'mgoing to preach; that's my business; so stand up and take it likemen.'

Mrs Jo laughed; but she was in earnest; for by various hints andsigns during the past winter she knew that the boys were beginning to'see life' in the way she especially disapproved. Both were far fromhome, had money enough to waste, and were as inexperienced, curious,and credulous as most lads of their age. Not fond of books, thereforewithout the safeguard which keeps many studious fellows out of harm;one self-indulgent, indolent, and so used to luxury that pampering ofthe senses was an easy thing; the other vain, as all comely boys are,full of conceit, and so eager to find favour in the eyes of hiscomrades that he was ready for anything which would secure it. Thesetraits and foibles made both peculiarly liable to the temptationswhich assail pleasure-loving and weak-willed boys. Mrs Jo knew themwell, and had dropped many a warning word since they went to college;but till lately they seemed not to understand some of her friendlyhints; now she was sure they would, and meant to speak out: for longexperience with boys made her both bold and skilful in handling someof the dangers usually left to silence, till it is too late foranything but pity and reproach.

'I'm going to talk to you like a mother, because yours are far away;and there are things that mothers can manage best, if they do theirduty,' she solemnly began from the depths of the sunbonnet.

'Great Scott! We're in for it now!' thought Dolly, in secret dismay;while Stuffy got the first blow by trying to sustain himself withanother mug of beer.

'That won't hurt you; but I must warn you about drinking otherthings, George. Overeating is an old story; and a few more fits ofillness will teach you to be wise. But drinking is a more seriousthing, and leads to worse harm than any that can afflict your bodyalone. I hear you talk about wines as if you knew them and cared morefor them than a boy should; and several times I've heard jokes thatmeant mischief. For heaven's sake, don't begin to play with thisdangerous taste "for fun", as you say, or because it's the fashion,and the other fellows do. Stop at once, and learn that temperance inall things is the only safe rule.'

'Upon my honour, I only take wine and iron. I need a tonic, mothersays, to repair the waste of brain-tissue while I'm studying,'protested Stuffy, putting down the mug as if it burnt his fingers.

'Good beef and oatmeal will repair your tissues much better than anytonic of that sort. Work and plain fare are what you want; and I wishI had you here for a few months out of harm's way. I'd Banting you,and fit you to run without puffing, and get on without four or fivemeals a day. What an absurd hand that is for a man! You ought to beashamed of it!' And Mrs Jo caught up the plump fist, with deepdimples at each knuckle, which was fumbling distressfully at thebuckle of the belt girt about a waist far too large for a youth ofhis age.

'I can't help it - we all grow fat; it's in the family,' said Stuffyin self-defence.

'All the more reason you should live carefully. Do you want to dieearly, or be an invalid all your life?'

'No, ma'am!'

Stuffy looked so scared that Mrs Jo could not be hard upon hisbudding sins, for they lay at his overindulgent mother's door line ina great measure; so she softened the tone of her voice, and added,with a little slap on the fat hand, as she used to do when it wassmall enough to pilfer lumps of sugar from her bowl:

'Then be careful; for a man writes his character in his face; and youdon't want gluttony and intemperance in yours, I know.'

'I'm sure I don't! Please make out a wholesome bill of fare, and I'llstick to it, if I can. I am getting stout, and I don't like it; andmy liver's torpid, and I have palpitations and headache. Overwork,mother says; but it may be overeating.' And Stuffy gave a sigh ofmingled regret for the good things he renounced, and relief as hefinished loosening his belt as soon as his hand was free.

'I will; follow it, and in a year you'll be a man and not a meal-bag.Now, Dolly'; and Mrs Jo turned to the other culprit, who shook in hisshoes and wished he hadn't come.

'Are you studying French as industriously as you were last winter?'

'No ma'am; I don't care for it - that is, I, I'm busy with G-Greekjust now,' answered Dolly, beginning bravely, quite in the dark as towhat that odd question meant till a sudden memory made him stutterand look at his shoes with deep interest.

'Oh, he doesn't study it; only reads French novels and goes to thetheatre when the opera bouffe is here,' said Stuffy, innocentlyconfirming Mrs Jo's suspicions.

'So I understood; and that is what I want to speak about. Ted had asudden desire to learn French in that way, from something you said,Dolly; so I went myself, and was quite satisfied that it was no placefor a decent boy. Your men were out in full force; and I was glad tosee that some of the younger ones looked as ashamed as I felt. Theolder fellows enjoyed it, and when we came out were waiting to takethose painted girls to supper. Did you ever go with them?'

'Once.'

'Did you like it?'

'No 'm; I - I came away early,' stammered Dolly, with a face as red ashis splendid tie.

'I'm glad you have not lost the grace of blushing yet; but you willsoon, if you keep up this sort of study and forget to be ashamed. Thesociety of such women will unfit you for that of good ones, and leadyou into trouble and sin and shame. Oh, why don't the city fathersstop that evil thing, when they know the harm it does? It made myheart ache to see those boys, who ought to be at home and in theirbeds, going off for a night of riot which would help to ruin some ofthem for ever.'

The youths looked scared at Mrs Jo's energetic protest against one ofthe fashionable pleasures of the day, and waited inconscience-stricken silence - Stuffy glad that he never went to thosegay suppers, and Dolly deeply grateful that he 'came away early'.With a hand on either shoulder, and all the terrors smoothed from herbrow, Mrs Jo went on in her most motherly tone, anxious to do forthem what no other woman would, and do it kindly:

'My dear boys, if I didn't love you, I would not say these things. Iknow they are not pleasant; but my conscience won't let me hold mypeace when a word may keep you from two of the great sins that cursethe world and send so many young men to destruction. You are justbeginning to feel the allurement of them, and soon it will be hard toturn away. Stop now, I beg of you, and not only save yourselves buthelp others by a brave example. Come to me if things worry you; don'tbe afraid or ashamed; I have heard many sadder confessions than anyyou are ever likely to bring me, and been able to comfort many poorfellows, gone wrong for want of a word in time. Do this, and you willbe able to kiss your mothers with clean lips, and by and by have theright to ask innocent girls to love you.'

'Yes'm, thank you. I suppose you're right; but it's pretty hard workto toe the mark when ladies give you wine and gentlemen take theirdaughters to see Aimee,' said Dolly, foreseeing tribulations aheadthough he knew it was time to 'pull up'.

'So it is; but all the more honour to those who are brave and wiseenough to resist public opinion, and the easy-going morals of bad orcareless men and women. Think of the persons whom you respect most,and in imitating them you will secure the respect of those who lookup to you. I'd rather my boys should be laughed at andcold-shouldered by a hundred foolish fellows than lose what, oncegone, no power can give them back - innocence and self-respect. Idon't wonder you find it "hard to toe the mark", when books,pictures, ball-rooms, theatres, and streets offer temptations; yetyou can resist, if you try. Last winter Mrs Brooke used to worryabout John's being out so late reporting; but when she spoke to himabout the things he must see and hear on his way to and fro from theoffice at midnight, he said in his sober way, "I know what you mean,mother; but no fellow need to go wrong unless he wants to."

'That's like the Deacon!' exclaimed Stuffy, with an approving smileon his fat face.

'I'm glad you told me that. He's right; and it's because he doesn'twant to go wrong we all respect him so,' added Dolly, looking up nowwith an expression which assured his Mentor that the right string hadbeen touched, and a spirit of emulation roused, more helpful,perhaps, than any words of hers. Seeing this, she was satisfied, andsaid, as she prepared to leave the bar before which her culprits hadbeen tried and found guilty, but recommended to mercy:

'Then be to others what John is to you - a good example. Forgive mefor troubling you, my dear lads, and remember my little preachment. Ithink it will do you good, though I may never know it. Chance wordsspoken in kindness often help amazingly; and that's what old peopleare here for - else their experience is of little use. Now, come andfind the young folk. I hope I shall never have to shut the gates ofPlumfield upon you, as I have on some of your "gentlemen". I mean tokeep my boys and girls safe if I can, and this a wholesome placewhere the good old-fashioned virtues are lived and taught.'

Much impressed by that dire threat, Dolly helped her from her perchwith deep respect; and Stuffy relieved her of her empty jugs,solemnly vowing to abstain from all fermented beverages exceptroot-beer, as long as feeble flesh could hold out. Of course theymade light of 'Mother Bhaer's lecture' when they were alone - that wasto be expected of 'men of our class' but in their secret souls theythanked her for giving their boyish consciences a jog, and more thanonce afterward had cause to remember gratefully that half-hour in thetennis court.