Zigzag Journeys in Europe Part 3

"I thank the boys of the first cla.s.s for their letters and suggestions about the route to be decided upon. I think I have a plan that will be acceptable to you all. We will go first to Glasgow, will journey _en zigzag_ to London; will there take the steamer for Antwerp, and will make a zigzag tour from Ghent to St. Malo, taking a glance at Belgium, a view of the whole of Normandy and the picturesque part of Brittany, including a visit to Paris and a view of its beautiful palaces and parks.

"As a preparation for this tour, I shall require the cla.s.s to give special attention to the French language and to English and French history during the term."

Every thing that Master Lewis said or did was popular with the boys, but no decision ever received more emphatic applause.

Tom Toby was busy at once, forming his secret society. He called a meeting of the boys on the evening of the very first schoolday, in his room. The Wynns entered willingly into his plan, and George Howe and Leander Towle warmly supported it. Frank Gray, however, treated the matter rather indifferently, a circ.u.mstance that Tommy quickly observed.

"The first question to be decided," said Tommy, when the boys had met in his room, "is, Shall we organize a secret society?"

The Wynns asked Frank Gray his opinion.

"I should prefer to hold my opinion in reserve, until I understand what the object of the society is to be."

"It is to have a grip just like _that_," said Tommy, seizing Frank by the hand, "one that takes the conceit all out of you, and makes you remember who are your friends for ever."

"Then I do not think I shall care to join," said Frank, rubbing his crushed hand on his knee. "I shall probably remember you as long as I shall care to, without making any such arrangement."

"I think a school society is a good thing," said Ernest Wynn, mildly.

"It promotes lasting friends.h.i.+ps"--

"Good for you!" said Tommy. "That's just what I wanted to say. 'It promotes lasting friends.h.i.+p,' and, like a salve, it takes the conceit"--

"It stimulates one to do his best, and"--

"That's it exactly," said Tommy. "I hope you all hear."

"Let's quit joking," said George Howe, in a matter-of-fact way. "A society for the purpose of reading and studying about the places we are to visit and for correspondence with each other, when a part of us are abroad, would be an excellent thing. I hope we may have such a society, and shall make our very best boy President of it."

"Who may that be?" said Frank.

"I," said Tommy, teasingly. "I thought you knew."

"I believe it is decided to call the society the Zigzag Travellers,"

said George.

"A promising name," said Frank, who was decidedly out of humor. "I would suggest the Zigzag Club."

"I would nominate for President Wyllys Wynn."

"I agree to the nomination," said Frank.

"And so do I," said Tommy Toby: "at last, Frank and I are agreed."

"Who will prepare the rules for the society?" asked Frank.

"George Howe," said Ernest.

To this all the boys agreed.

"Who shall decide upon a secret?" asked Wyllys.

"I would nominate Tommy Toby," said Frank.

Tom was unanimously elected.

The next evening a second meeting of the society was held, to which all the boys in the school were invited. It was decided to call the society "The Zigzag Club." Charles Wyman, one of the second-cla.s.s boys, was appointed its Secretary, and general rules were adopted for the conduct of its meetings. All of the boys, sixteen in number, became members.

It was decided that the first formal meeting of the club for literary exercises should be held in a fortnight, and that on that occasion each boy of the first cla.s.s should relate some historic story a.s.sociated with one of the places he expected to visit, and it was suggested that the stories of the first meeting be confined to _Normandy_. Wyllys Wynn was asked to sing some French or Norman song on the occasion, and the Secretary was instructed to invite Master Lewis to be present, and to deliver an address.

Tommy Toby had been very reserved since the first meeting of the club.

He had been quite ignored, and his feelings were hurt.

"Are you sure you treated Tommy quite right at the first meeting?"

asked Ernest Wynn of Frank Gray, quietly, as he observed Tom's injured look at the second meeting of the club.

"I fear I was not quite gentlemanly," said Frank. "But I had no wish to join a society gotten up merely for fun."

"Tommy's suggestion was the beginning of the club," said Ernest.

"Let's give him a vote of thanks."

"I will offer the resolution," said Frank.

"Let us close this meeting," said Frank, "by recognizing the debt we owe to one of our members. Thomas Toby is the real founder of this club. I did not feel much interested in it at first. I do now. Let us give Thomas a vote of thanks."

Every boy applauded the motion, which was pa.s.sed enthusiastically.

Tommy's face brightened, and his eyes filled with tears.

"O Frank," he said, "how could you? Ernest Wynn was at the bottom of this, wasn't he?"

"Yes," said Frank.

"Well, Ernest _is_ a better fellow than I."

"Or I."

"We both are all right now!"

"Yes."

"Have you decided upon a secret?" continued Frank.

"I have thought much about it," answered Tom.

"And what is the result?"

Tommy turned to the blackboard, and wrote,--