Boat Club; or, The Bunkers of Rippleton

by Oliver Optic

  CHAPTER XII

  THE FIRST MEETING IN ZEPHYR HALL

  In another fortnight the boat-house was entirely completed, furnished,and ready for the occupancy of the club. School had closed for theseason, and the summer vacation had begun; but most of the boys, inanticipation of the pleasure which the boat club promised them,preferred to stay at home rather than go to the seashore or themountains, or visit their friends at a distance.

  Mr. Burlap, the tailor, had exerted himself to the utmost; and the newdress of the boat club was soon ready for use. The tarpaulins had beenpurchased and lettered, and the uniforms had been hung up in the littleclosets in the club-room of the boat-house. One was appropriated toeach member, whose number was painted upon the door.

  Uncle Ben had given the boys several extra lessons in rowing in themeantime, and the discipline of the club and the rowing were pronouncedperfect. The first meeting in the new hall was appointed to take placeon Monday morning, and punctually to the hour the members were allassembled.

  The hall had been tastefully furnished and decorated, under thedirection of Captain Sedley. On the floor was a very pretty carpet withbright colors; on the walls hung several large maps and engravings inframes, illustrative of various boat-scenes; and over the door leadingto the boat-house proper was painted in blue letters,--

  ZEPHYR BOAT CLUB.

  On the window-curtains the name of the club was also painted. In themiddle of the room was placed a long table, around which were arrangedthirteen chairs for the members. The library cases were filled withbooks, which had been selected with great care by Mr. and Mrs. Sedley.On the table were placed various pamphlets and periodicals; and whenthe club assembled, Uncle Ben was there, seated in the coxswain'sarmchair, poring over the pages of the _Sailor's Magazine_.

  The boys all came in and took their chairs, each of which was numbered;and Uncle Ben cheerfully resigned his place to the coxswain.

  "Order!" said Frank, rapping on the table.

  Captain Sedley had instructed Frank in some of the forms of conductinga public meeting; and the matter had been made the topic ofconversation among the others, so that they had a tolerable idea ofparliamentary usage. They were all enthusiastic and eager to learn; andsome of them had attended a special town meeting a few days before, forthe purpose, as they expressed it, of "seeing how the thing was done."And when Captain Sedley came in to breakfast on the morning of thateventful day, he found Frank intently perusing the pages of Cushing's"Manual."

  When, therefore, the coxswain called the meeting to order, all noiseand conversation immediately ceased; and the members of the club seemeddetermined to conduct themselves with more propriety than the "legalvoters" of Rippleton had at the town meeting they had attended.

  Frank, in the words of the newspaper reporters, "made a neat andappropriate speech," on the occasion of taking possession of the newhall. After this important matter had been disposed of, the coxswainremarked that the first business of the club would be to select a namefor the hall.

  "Mr. Chairman," said Charles Hardy, rising with the utmost gravity anddecorum.

  Uncle Ben laughed outright; but immediately apologized for his unseemlymirth, and fearful lest he should disturb the dignified body again, hewithdrew from the hall, and busied himself in polishing up the brasswork of the boat.

  "Charles Hardy," said the young chairman, bowing to the member who hadobtained the floor.

  "I move that this hall, hereafter, henceforward, and for all time tocome, be called Sedley Hall," said Charles, who, in the absence of anywork on parliamentary tactics in his father's library, had carefullystudied the "Business Man's Assistant," from which he had stored hismemory with a variety of legal and technical phrases. He had the jingleof them in his head, and did not mind much about the substance.

  Captain Sedley entered the hall just as he made his motion.

  "Second the motion," said Fred Harper.

  "It is moved and seconded that this room be called Sedley Hall,"continued the coxswain, rising from the chair. "The question is openfor discussion."

  "Mr. Chairman," said Captain Sedley, scarcely able to control hisinclination to indulge in a hearty laugh at the dignity and formalityof the proceedings, "though not, strictly speaking, a member of theclub, perhaps you will indulge me in a few remarks on the questionbefore the house. I am very grateful to you for the honor to my nameand family which is contemplated by the excellent member on the otherside of the table; but for reasons of my own, I must beg the gentlemanto withdraw his motion."

  "He cannot withdraw without the consent of the house--of the club, Imean," said Frank, blushing at his blunder.

  "It is customary when no objection is made," replied Captain Sedleygravely, "to permit a motion to be withdrawn."

  "Mr. Chairman," said Charles, rising, "for the obvious reasonsmentioned by the honorable and distinguished gentleman, I withdraw mymotion."

  At the risk of disturbing the dignity of the meeting, Captain Sedleyremarked that he had stated no reasons.

  "I move that the room be called Zephyr Hall," said Tony Weston.

  "Second the motion," said Charles.

  Frank stated the question, and observed that it was open for anyremarks. But the members, not feeling disposed to indulge in anyflights of eloquence before Captain Sedley, maintained an obstinatesilence for full five minutes. The chairman, impressed with the ideathat some speeches must be made, anyhow, did not interrupt thedignified quiet by putting the question.

  At last the silence was broken by a hearty laugh on the part of CaptainSedley.

  "Why don't you put the question, Frank?" asked he.

  "The debate has not taken place yet."

  "There are some questions which it is not necessary to debate."

  "Question!" said Fred Harper, who had been to town meeting.

  "Those in favor of calling the room Zephyr Hall, please manifest it byraising the right hand."

  "All up!" cried Fred Harper.

  "It is a unanimous vote," added the chairman.

  "Let the clerk record the vote," whispered Captain Sedley to his son.

  "We have no clerk yet."

  "Doing business without a clerk!" laughed his father.

  "The next business will be to choose a clerk," continued Frank,laughing. "Please to bring in your ballots for a clerk."

  There were paper and pens at the other end of the table; and FredHarper, who seemed to have a very good idea of "the manner in which thepublic business is transacted," commenced writing votes. In a fewmoments they were all supplied.

  "I move that a committee of three be appointed by the chair to collect,sort, and count the votes, and report to the meeting," said Fred.

  "Second the motion," added Tom Greene.

  The motion was put and carried.

  "The chair appoints Frederic Harper, Thomas Greene, and Mark Leman."

  The votes were collected and reported.

  "Whole number of votes, thirteen," repeated Frank; "necessary for achoice, seven; Frederic Harper has one; Anthony Weston has twelve, andis elected."

  Captain Sedley clapped his hands at this evidence of good will on thepart of the members, and the club all joined heartily in thedemonstration. Three days before, the grand jury had found a billagainst Tony; but his friends still continued to regard and treat himas an innocent person.

  "I thank you for your kindness," said Tony, rising; "I am sure, I--"but the poor fellow choked up, and could say no more.

  His heart was full, and the great tears rolled down his cheeks.

  "Never mind it, Tony; here is the record-book," said Fred Harper,taking it from the library case.

  Tony wiped away his tears, and seated himself at the foot of the table,where a small desk had been placed for the use of the clerk.

  "Mr. Chairman," said Charles Hardy.

  Frank nodded to him to indicate that he had the floor.

  "I move that a committee of three be appointed to draft and report aconstitution for the club."
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  "Second the motion," added Sam Harper.

  The motion prevailed. Charles Hardy, Tony Weston, and Fred Harper werenominated "at large," and chosen to serve on this committee. Leavingthe hall, they retired to the boat-room for deliberation; but theconstitution had already been prepared by Frank and Charles, with theassistance of Captain Sedley. To make the business look more importantand dignified, Charles insisted on remaining out a few moments, duringwhich time they talked over the matter with Uncle Ben.

  When they returned, the constitution was duly reported, and adoptedarticle by article.

  Perhaps my young readers would not readily appreciate the moral of mystory without reading this important document; therefore I add, infull, the

  CONSTITUTION.

  ARTICLE I.

  This association shall be called the Zephyr Boat Club.

  ARTICLE II.

  The objects of the association shall be the instruction and amusement of the members, and the acquiring of good morals, good manners, and good habits in general.

  ARTICLE III.

  The officers of the club shall consist of a coxswain, as president, and a clerk.

  ARTICLE IV.

  It shall be the duty of the coxswain to command the boat, to preside at the meetings of the club, and to exercise a general supervision over its affairs. He shall hold his office for two weeks.

  ARTICLE V.

  The clerk shall keep a record of the meetings, and of all business pertaining to the club, and shall hold his office for four weeks.

  ARTICLE VI.

  No member of this club shall use profane language at any time. No member shall neglect his school, or his duties at home. No member shall use vulgar or indecent language. No member shall provoke a quarrel with another person, but shall do all he can to prevent fighting and unkindly feelings one towards another. No member shall use tobacco, or ardent spirits as a beverage, in any form. All members shall obey the coxswain while in the boat. Any member offending against either of the requirements of this article shall be liable to suspension, and if incorrigible, to expulsion from the club.

  ARTICLE VII.

  In order the more perfectly to carry out the beneficent and reformatory purposes of the founder of the club, to whose bounty we are indebted for the opportunities of instruction and amusement the association affords us, we appoint him our Director. All violations of Article VI., and all violations of the spirit of our organization set forth in Article II., whether in word or in deed, shall be reported to our Director, and the delinquent shall be subject to such penalty as he shall determine.

  ARTICLE VIII.

  The hall and library shall be open every Wednesday and Saturday afternoon, at such other times as the Director or coxswain may order, and every evening except Sunday till nine o'clock.

  ARTICLE IX.

  This constitution may be altered or amended by a vote of two-thirds of the members.

  This constitution was transferred to the record book, and duly signed.Some other business was transacted, and the meeting adjourned.

  "Put on your uniforms," said Frank, as he rose from his chair, "and wewill make our first appearance."

  "At twelve o'clock there will be a collation ready for you on CentreIsland, to which you are all invited," said Captain Sedley.

  "Hurrah!" shouted Charles Hardy, as he rushed into the boat-room.