, and all
were men in favor of new methods.

Before this, the school had closed and Nelson Haley had gone to Maine
to work in a hotel during the summer. The last half of the school year
had been much different from the young man's fall term. Although he
gave the boys all the instruction in baseball he had promised, and
otherwise had kept up their interest in the school, he had begun to lay
out the work differently for the pupils and really try to increase the
value of his instruction. Whether he was to be fortunate enough to
head the new school in the fall, or not, he began to train the pupils
to more modern methods. Whoever took hold of the new school would find
the scholars somewhat prepared for the graded system.

Poketown was actually shocked! The good old Elder and his mates had so
long governed school matters just as they pleased that many of the
people could not realize that a new day had dawned--in school affairs,
at least.

Elder Concannon was doomed to see more of his influence wane during
this summer. Heretofore he had managed to keep out of the church
anything like a young people's society, in spite of Mr. Middler's
desire to the contrary. But there were now several earnest young
people in the church membership who were anxious to be set to work to
some purpose.

The association was a small one at first. Janice was a member. Soon
the influence of the organization began to be felt in more ways than
one.

"I can see just how things are going, Brother Middler--I can see
plainly," old Elder Concannon declared. "Just as soon as they told me
that Day girl was a member of the society I knew what would happen. A
new carpet for the aisle and the pulpit chairs upholstered! Ha! And
them girls and boys themselves cleaning windows and sweeping and
dusting the whole church once a month. Ridiculous! Myron Jones has
always suited us as sexton before. Oh! we'll have no peace--no peace
at all!"

"But, Elder," timidly suggested the pastor, "such things as the young
people have asked to do have been helpful things. And I'm sure if you
would attend one of their meetings you would find their spiritual
growth commendable--surely commendable."

"Ha!" sniffed the old gentleman, wagging his bristling head. "What do
those boys and girls know about religion, and the work of the spirit,
and----"

"One thing is sure, Elder," interposed Mr. Middler with more courage
than was usual with him, "One thing is sure