money?" asked Will.

"Father says that in America people have less respect for public
property than anywhere else in the world," remarked Fred.

"I am afraid it is true," replied Mrs. Howard, "and that is why I want
you boys to think about it. Ikey, haven't you something to say?" This
young gentleman, who had been fidgeting about like some uneasy insect,
now became greatly embarrassed.

"I don't know whether it will count or not, and it is as much Carl's
as mine," he began.

"It isn't at all; you thought of it--go on."

Aunt Zelie nodded encouragingly at him, though she had no idea what
was coming, and after several beginnings Ikey managed to tell the
story of the cat. Louise had found the poor thing, and had come in
great distress to the boys. Ikey remembered seeing his father kill a
pet dog with chloroform, and so volunteered to try it on the cat. Carl
bought the chloroform, and, putting some cotton saturated with it in a
paper bag, they drew this over the animal's head, covering all with a
box made as air-tight as possible.

"But," said Ikey comically, "I don't know whether cats are neighbors."

"Indeed, they are most useful ones, and frequently unappreciated. It
was a kind thing to do, and, now you know how easy it is, I hope you
will all be ready to put any poor animal out of its misery when you
find it hopelessly hurt."

"We had a beautiful funeral, Cousin Zelie, and are going to take up a
collection for a tombstone," said Aleck.

They grew so merry over Ikey's story that it was difficult to come
back to such commonplaces as writing on fences and walls, and
scattering papers around.

"Everybody does such things, so what difference will our not doing
them make?" asked Jim.

"Everything has to begin, and you don't know how contagious a good
example is," replied Mrs. Howard.

"Let's have a penny fine for each time we do a thing of the sort,"
Carl suggested.

Last of all, Will Archer told about the little lame boy, son of the
minister at the church on the corner.

"I think perhaps it would be a pleasure to him if some of us would go
to see him occasionally. He hardly gets out at all in the winter, and
he is a bright little fellow."

"That is a beautiful suggestion," said Mrs. Howard. "I am glad that
you have thought of so many things good neighbors should and should
not do. Taken all together it amounts to this: To be thoughtful for
the rights of others, and ready to help. Now, what of our club? Sh