THE HORTICULTURAL CLUB 157 

 You 're out, Buddy ! 



'Eeny, meeny, miny, mo' " 



she began again, when Buddy had withdrawn from 

 the possibility of chairmanship. 



By this method of selection the honor fell to Mar- 

 garet. With an air of importance, she went at once 

 to the seat by the table, and pounded with vigor to 

 call the meeting to order. 



"There are three papers for the club to hear," 

 she announced. "Mr. Randolph Hadley will read 

 his first." 



"It's ladies first," said Randolph Findlayson, gal- 

 lantly. 



"It 's age first," said Eleanor, wriggling in her chair 

 in momentary embarrassment. 



"Then it's Mildred," said Donald Patterson, "be- 

 cause she 's age and ladies both." 



"Be quiet, children!" said the chair, sternly. 

 "The chairman is like the teacher when you play 

 school, and I'm Miss Bronson. Now, Randolph," 

 she said sweetly, "we are ready to hear your paper." 



Finnan Haddie rose at once. 



And the club listened to the following essay : 



