ly with a bottle of ginger-pop,
which Leo has stowed away somewhere in that basket. It is the part of
common-sense to unite true poetry and prose, just as we now propose to
combine a picturesque custom with temperance principles. So, boys,
hurrah for ginger-pop, say I!"

The lads entered into the spirit of his mood with great gusto, and
cheered hilariously. The basket was produced, and at this moment Mrs.
Gordon was seen coming across the meadow. "Just in time, mother!"
cried Jack, starting off to meet her.

"You must christen the boat!" vociferated all.

"And is that the reason why Uncle Gerald sent for me, and brought me
away from my morning's mending?" she exclaimed, in a tone which was
intended to be slightly reproachful, though she looked prepared for
anything that might be required of her; for Mrs. Gordon, somehow,
managed never to be so busy as to be unable to enter into the pleasures
of her boys.

"Yes," acknowledged Uncle Gerald; "and I have been doing my utmost to
delay the proceedings, so that you would not miss them. You see, Leo
and I have prepared a little surprise for the company."

After a comprehensive glance at the basket, which certainly appeared
well packed, she asked:

"And what is to be the name of the boat?"

"We have not quite decided yet, Mrs. Gordon," began Rob.

"No," interposed Jack. "We think _this_ ought to be the _Jolly
Pioneer_. We let Jim and Leo have the other boat, but we didn't mean
to give them the name too. We chose it, and we can't think of any we
like so well."

"Oh, keep it, then!" answered Jim, with a wave of the hand like that of
a stage hero resigning a fortune. (It was evident that the subject had
been broached before.) "We are quite able to choose a name ourselves;
we could think of half a dozen others if we wanted to, so you are
welcome to call your boat whatever you please."

The permission might, indeed, have been more graciously expressed; but
as Jim's words were accompanied by a good-natured smile. Jack wondered
if he might not accept it.

Mrs. Gordon stood, with the bottle in her hand, waiting for the
decision, but wisely refraining from comment; the boys always settled
their little disputes for themselves.

"Well, what shall it be? Speak!" she said.

"The _Jolly Pioneer_!" cried both.

The next moment there was a crash of broken glass and a dash of
ginger-pop on what was called by courtesy the bow.

"Bravo! The Jolly Pioneer is a new r