All the next week Johnnie Jones worked very hard, learning to guide his hoop in a straight line, and to turn corners.  He went to the park to practise now, so that he might have more room.

Mother watched him every day, and after a while she told him that he had become quite skilful enough to join the club.  Then he was very happy, and began to decorate his hoop with the bright pink ribbon and shining brass bells which Mother had bought for him.

The next Saturday morning, Johnnie Jones took his hoop with him when he went to the park with the other children, all of whom were glad to hear that he had learned to roll it.

“But you had better be last in the procession,” they told him, “because, most likely, you can’t manage it very well yet.”

They did not know how hard he had worked.

When the procession started off, Johnnie Jones kept up with the other children.  Not once did he let his hoop fall, and he made it go so straight, and turned such square corners, that, presently, the children noticed how well he was doing.

“Well, look at little Johnnie Jones!” they said.  “He can roll his hoop better than anyone here, even better than Ned!”

After they had watched him for a while, they decided he must be their captain, until Ned, or one of the other children had learned to do better than he.

Then Johnnie Jones was the proudest, happiest little boy in the whole world, as he led the procession through the park.

[Illustration:  Then Johnnie Jones was the proudest, happiest little boy—­]

* * * * *

The Fire at Johnnie Jones’s House

One night, while Father was away from home on a business trip, Mother and Johnnie Jones and Little Brother were fast asleep in their beds.  Jack had been asleep too, down-stairs in the front hall, but now he was wide awake.  He stood up, put back his ears, and sniffed the air.  Then he ran quickly up the stairs to Johnnie Jones’s room, stood outside his door, and whined, That did not waken anyone, so he barked.

Johnnie Jones woke up and heard him.  So did mother, who was in the next room.  “Please lie still, Mother,” said Johnnie Jones.  “I’ll see what is the matter.”  He was trying to help Mother all he could while Father was away.

He opened the door, and cried out:  “Oh, Mother, the hall is full of smoke!”

Mother came to the door.  She saw that smoke was pouring out from the hall below.  “I am afraid the house is on fire,” she said.  “You must be very brave and help me.  Put on your wrapper and slippers and run up to Maggie’s room, and tell her and Kathie to come down here.”

Johnnie Jones was a bit frightened, but without another word he ran up those long, dark steps, and aroused the two girls.  It was brave of the little boy.

Meanwhile Mother had given the fire alarm through the telephone, slipped on her wrapper, and bundled the baby in a blanket.  When the others had come down to her room, she closed the door into the hall.