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10 THE YOUNG SOUTHERNER All communications ami contributions intended for this department should he addressed to Mrs. Louise T. Hodges. S 3 East Avenue. Atlanta, Ga. “Patriotism and Punctuality.” The “American Boy’’ tells of an organization recently effected among some boys of New York City, and gives an interesting little history of the causes leading to the organization. The motto of the association is “Patriotism and Punctuality”— an unusual combination of words, but an excellent motto. It seems that a number of business men of New York, who employ boys about their stores and offices, were complaining that most of these boys were greatly lacking in punctuality, and that their failure to be prompt often caused great inconven ience and annoyance, and sometimes considerable money-losses, to these business men. When the boys of a certain school heard of the complaints of the business men. they deprecated the fact that American boys were lacking in such an essential quality. Their pride was aroused and they determined that they would do what they could to bring about a different state of affairs. So they organized themselves into an association and pledg ed themselves to—punctuality and patriotism, two qualities, they said, that ought to go together. In eloquent speeches, some of the boys told of the “Minute-men” of Revolutionary times, and cited them as excellent examples of patriotism and punctuality. “Had it not been for these men,” they said, “this grand and glorious land might yet be under the yoke of a monarchy.” (By the way, how many of our young readers know about the “Minute-men,” and why they were so called?) The example of these New York school boys is worthy of imitation, and similar associations might be organized with profit among boys of other sec tions. Punctuality is a virtue which needs to be assid uously cultivated, as it is essential to the attain ment of th_e highest success in any career. A boy or girl who is habitually late at school, or who is always behind time in keeping appointments, is usually unreliable in other matters, and soon comes to be so regarded. I hope that the young readers of the Golden Age will resolve that so far as possible they will always be punctual to the minute in keeping appointments and performing the duties that devolve upon them. The ability to road aloud well is a great accom plishment—one that gives pleasure both to the read er and the hearers. An instance where good reading proved of great benefit to a boy is found in the life of Daniel Web ster, the great statesman and orator. AA hen Daniel was fourteen years of age he was taken by his father to Exeter Acedemy, and appli cation was made for his admission to that institu tion. “Let the young gentleman be brought forward for examination,” said the dignified president of the school; and when the lad came forward, he ad ded, “I will examine you first in reading.” He then, directed Daniel to. take the Bible and read the twenty-second chapter of Luke. The boy took the hook, says a writer, describing the incident, and began to read in clear, sonorous tones with such exact enunciation, perfect empha sis and reverent feeling, that, while but a few verses were generally required as a test, the principal was so absorbed in listening that he allowed the boy to finish the chapter. Then, without any further examination, he added: “My lad, you are quali fied to enter this institution,” The Golden Age for September 20. 1906. Conducted by Louise Threete Hodges. * With Correspondents. Most of our boys and girls are home again after their summer outing, and I am glad to have letters from so many of them. They seem happy to be in school again, and I have no doubt they will study hard ami make good advancement this year. I hope they will write to me often. I am always glad to have the letters. • •*- Dear Mrs. Hodges: I thought it might be interesting to you and to those who read the Young Southerner, to hear about my delightful visit to the moijitains this summer. I went to Tallulah Falls and stayed two weeks. The scenery there is grand. I had heard much about it, but I never thought anything could be so pretty. I went to the falls every day except when it rain ed. One time I was at the of Hurricane, the largest of the falls, sitting on the rocks, when sud denly it grew very dark, and before my aunt and I could get back to the house it started to rain, and just poured. AVe started for the picture gallery, which -was the nearest place of shelter. There we found a number of other persons as wet as our selves. I do not think I shall ever forget the delightful trip I had this summer, and I hope others have had as nice a vacation as I have had. Your friend, Helen Stewart. Dear Airs. Hodges: I want to tell you about the happy summer I Spent in South Carolina. Ihe friends I visited had a sugar-cane patch, ana we ate all the sugar-cane we wanted. AVe often went horseback riding', and every afternoon we went in bathing in the creek. It was very shallow ex cept in one place, where there was a deep hole. Besides myself, there were two other little girls, so you see I did not get lonesome, besides I don’t think I could have been lonesome if I had tried. There was a boy up there, too. He was about seventeen years old, and he took us to places and showed us everything on the farm. AVe would go up in the loft of the barn, and the floor was covered with hay. The boy would throw us up in the air and let us fall in the hay. I must close now, as I am afraid the readers will tire of my story, for pen cannot describe my happy summer. Your true friend, Julia Dunning. Dear Editor: I am in school, and have just come in from recess, and I thought I would write to you. I will tell you about my two dogs. One is a white Ereneli poodle, and the other a rat terrier. They play together almost all the time. They are each three years old, and are very cute. .Aly little French poodle drinks coffee for break fast and supper, and will not eat without it. AVe give him a bath every other day. I guess 1 will now close, as I have nothing else to say this time, so, good bye. Your little friend, AValker Pope. Dear Editor: I thought it would be nice to tell you of the trip I took this summer. I went to Warm Springs, Ga. We had a perfectly grand time. There are three very large swimming pools there. The largest is the public pool, and there are two smaller inside pools. The scenery is pretty, The whole place is sur- rounded by beautiful mountains covered with pines. The spring is down at the foot of a mountain under a very large rock. At night we would first go to the hotel, and then to the ball-room where dancing would continue un til eleven o’clock. I will close now, as I do not wish to make my first letter too long. With love from Jeannette Lowndes. Dear Editor: I have been wanting to write to the Young South erner before this, but really haven’t found time, so will try to write a short letter now. I am looking forward anxiously for school to begin, for then I shall be glad. I wish to be a music teacher when I am grown up, and I want to be a good one like the one I had last year. She was so good and kind, and always carried a smile. I guess I had better not make my letter too long, so I will close. Yours truly, Lady Bird Sandlin. Little Bob Stood the Test. The “Blue Line” street car stopped at the cor ner, says a writer in the Youth’s Companion, and an anxious-looking young woman put a small boy inside. “Now, Bob,” she said, as she hurried out to the platform again, “don’t lose that note I gave you, don’t take it out of your pocket at all.” “No’m,” said the little man, looking wistfully after his mother as the conductor pulled the strap, the driver unscrewed the brake and the horses, shaking their bells, trotted off with the car. “AVhat’s your name, Bob?” asked a mischievous young man sitting beside him. “Robert Cullen Deems,” he answered. “ AA'here are you going?” “To my grandma’s.” “Let me see that note in your pocket.” The look of innocent surprise in the round face ought to have shamed the baby’s tormentor, but he only said, “Let me see it.” “I tan’t,” said Robert Cullen Deems. See here, it you don’t I 11 scare the horses and make them run away.” Ihe little boy cast an apprehensive look at the belled horses, but shook his head. “Here, Bob, I’ll give you this peach if you’ll pull that note halt way out of your pocket.” The boy did not reply. “I say, chum, I’ll give you the whole bag of peaches if you will show me the corner of your note, said the tempter. The child turned away, as it he did not wish to hear any more, but the young man opened the bag and held it just where he could see and smell the luscious fruit. A look of distress came into the sweet little lace, I believe Lob was a i raid to trust himself, and when a man left his seat on the other end to get off the car, the little boy slid down, left the temptation behind, and climbed into the vacant place. A pair of pretty gloved hands began almost un consciously to clap, and then everybody clapped and applauded until it might have alarmed Bob, if a young lady sitting by had not slipped her arm around him and said, with a sweet glow on her face: “Tell your mamma that we all congratulate her upon ha\ ing a little man strong’ enough to resist temptation and wise enough to run away from it.” 1 doubt it that long, hard message ever reached Bob’s mother, but no matter, the note got to grand mother without ever coining out of his pocket.—Se lected,