d was prepared--in his own
opinion--for any emergency. "What is up? Down-townies round?"

"We want to have a temperance meeting. Come down to teacher's."

"All right. Temperance meeting? The club get it up?"

"I don't just know, but we can talk it over."

"If they want a meeting, we can give 'em one," said Sid, confidently.

Thus re-enforced, Aunt Stanshy and Charlie presented themselves at Miss
Barry's door.

"Come in, come," said the teacher. "I have just got home myself."

"We--we have come," exclaimed Aunt Stanshy, "to see if we couldn't have a
temperance meeting! You know we need it."

"O, I see; and the boys?"

"The boys," said Sid, proudly, "think you could rely on them to--to--pull
an oar."

He felt it might be prudent not to propose to do the whole of the rowing,
and offer the town a meeting managed wholly by the "Up-the-Ladder Club,"
but modestly--to--pull an oar.

"Splendid!" said the teacher, her enthusiasm charming the boys. "Among us
all, I guess we can manage it."

"I don't know as I can do any thing except to get people out," said Aunt
Stanshy, fearful that she might be called upon to speak in the meeting.

"Let us go and see Mr. Walton," suggested Miss Barry.

"It would be the very thing," declared Aunt Stanshy.

Very soon Aunt Stanshy, Miss Barry, Sid, and Charlie started for the
minister's. On the way, Juggie and Tony were secured as new members of the
column, and thus augmented, this eager temperance band appeared at Mr.
Walton's door. Ushered into the study, Miss Barry told her errand.

"We need a temperance meeting very much, and we will have it at St.
John's, and I want you boys--the club, Miss Barry--to do the most of the
singing," said Mr. Walton.

"We will," said Sid. "I know I can speak for them."

"And Miss Barry will teach them what to sing, perhaps?" asked Mr. Walton.

"Yes sir," replied Miss Barry.

"I'll have my choir to help, but I expect the 'Up-the-Ladder Club' to do
the most."

The boys were eager in their interest. To encourage them, Miss Barry said,
"I'll make a little blue cross to go inside each white shield. A little
blue cross--that is a temperance sign--will look pretty on the white
silk."

"There, there, won't they be proud of it?" said Aunt Stanshy.

"Of course we will," declared Sid. "Knights, we must give three cheers for
teacher when we get to her door."

During this conversation they were passing down the street, and when Miss
Barry's door wa