“But if they bear it well, if they don’t repent what they have done, why, I should not value one or two thousand dollars.  Besides, it might be the means of bringing a large number of boys within the pale of good influences.”

“That is my own view; and by and by we will talk more of the matter.”

Captain Sedley then introduced Mr. Walker to the company, and the benevolent gentleman took a great deal of pains to inform himself in relation to the influence of the boat clubs upon the boys.  He asked a great many questions of their parents, and of Mr. Hyde, the teacher.  They all agreed that the young men were the better for the associations; that the discipline was very useful, and the physical exercise very healthy; but some of them were afraid their sons would acquire such a taste for the water as to create a desire to follow the seas.  But few of them considered boating, under the discipline of the clubs, a dangerous recreation; so that the only real objection was the tendency to produce longings for

  “A life on the ocean wave,
  A home on the rolling deep.”

Mr. Walker tried to make the sceptical ones believe that Wood Lake was so entirely different from the “rolling deep” as scarcely to suggest the idea of a ship, or of the ocean.  But the disadvantages were trivial compared with the benefits which all acknowledged to have derived from the associations, even independently of the libraries, the lectures, and the debating societies at the halls.

Tony and his companions soon returned with the Munroe family, who were cordially received by the guests.  Captain Sedley expressed his sympathy for the poor man, regretting that he had not known his situation before.

“I would have bought your place myself rather than have had you sacrifice your property to the cupidity of such a man,” said he.

“You are very good, sir,” replied Mr. Munroe; “but I had not the courage to state my circumstances to anybody.  ’Squire Chase is a very hard man; even when I paid him the money, which the kindness of the boys enabled me to do, he was so angry that he could scarcely contain himself.  He swore at me, and vowed he would have vengeance.”

“He must be a very disagreeable neighbor.”

“He is, indeed.”

“On with the dance!” shouted Frank, in the most exuberant spirits; and the rich and the poor man dropped the subject.

The boys and girls had formed a line round the May-pole, and the band commenced playing a very lively air.  As the inspiring notes struck their ears, they began to jump and caper about, taking all sorts of fantastic steps, which it would have puzzled a French dancing master to define and classify.  Most of the boys and girls knew nothing of dancing, as an art; but I venture to say they enjoyed themselves quite as much as though they had been perfectly proficient in all the fashionable waltzes, polkas, and redowas.  Their hearts danced with gladness, and their steps were altogether impromptu.