ring exploits would be possible, and when some of his old
companions came for him this evening he joined them as a matter of
course.

"Let's give old Grandfather Clark a dose first, he is always as mad as
fury," said one of the boys.

At this moment the motto of the club popped into Jim's head.

"They helped every one his neighbor." This was not helping. There came
to him a sudden determination not to have anything to do with it. Not
that he saw any special reason why they should not have fun at old Mr.
Clark's expense, but rather because he wanted to go to the club at
least once more; and, mingled with this, there was a feeling that the
nicest fellows did not do things of this kind.

There could be no doubt as to the interest in the G.N.C. as the boys
had begun to call it. On Friday night six eager faces greeted Mrs.
Howard when she entered the star chamber, and there was an amiable
scramble for the honor of giving her a chair.

"First we'll have reports and then begin work; that is, if you have
decided that you like the plan." As she spoke she looked at Jim, who
was nearest.

He had entirely recovered from his bashfulness, and was feeling rather
well pleased with himself, so he answered promptly:

"I am not sure I understand it, Mrs. Howard, but I have thought of one
thing. I suppose you would not call it being a good neighbor to go
about on Hallowe'en as lots of boys do, carrying off gates and doing
other mischief. I have done it myself, and I never thought there was
much harm in it, but I suppose there is." He was astonished himself at
this honest conclusion.

Mrs. Howard smiled. "Stopping to think makes such a difference," she
said. "I should be sorry indeed to believe that any of you boys could
take part in some of the wild pranks that are often played on
Hallowe'en. My brother had a valuable young tree destroyed last night.
Boys do such things for fun, they say, but it doesn't seem honest to
make other people pay so dearly for their fun."

"I never thought of it in that way," said Fred.

"But how are you ever to have any fun if you must stop and think about
things?" Jim asked, feeling ashamed in spite of himself as he
remembered how near he had come to making one of such a crowd.

"Its being fun isn't any excuse. Suppose you thought it fun to steal
somebody's pocketbook?" said Carl.

"That is a different thing."

"What is the real difference between stealing money and ruining
something that cost