w company.

"Is there any further business to come before the meeting?" inquired the
presiding officer.

"The boys at Webbington had a company three or four years ago," said Joe
Barry, "and they used wooden guns."

"Wooden guns!" exclaimed Wilbur Summerfield disdainfully. "You won't
catch me training round town with a wooden gun."

"I would remind the last three gentlemen that their remarks should be
addressed to the Chair," said the presiding officer. "Of course, I don't
care anything about it, but I think you would all prefer to have the
meeting conducted properly."

"That's so!" exclaimed several boys.

"Then," said the chairman, "I shall call to order any boy who addresses
the meeting except through me."

"Mr. Chairman," said Frank, rising, "as to the wooden guns, I quite
agree with the last speaker. It would seem too much like boy's play, and
we are too much in earnest for that. I have thought of an arrangement
which can be made if the Selectmen will give their consent. Ten or
fifteen years ago, longer than most of us can remember, as my father
has told me, there was a militia company in Rossville, whose arms were
supplied and owned by the town. When the company was disbanded the
muskets went back to the town, and I believe they are now kept in the
basement of the Town Hall. I presume that we can have the use of them
on application. I move that a committee be appointed to lay the matter
before the Selectmen and ask their permission."

His motion was agreed to.

"I will appoint John Haynes to serve on that committee," said the
chairman, after a pause.

This was a politic appointment, as Squire Haynes was one of the
Selectmen, and would be gratified at the compliment paid to his son.

"I accept the duty," said John, rising, and speaking in a tone of
importance.

"Is there any other business to come before the meeting?"

"I should like to inquire, Mr. Chairman, when our first meeting will
take place, and where is it to be?" asked Herbert Metcalf.

"I will appoint as a committee to make the necessary arrangements, Frank
Frost, Tom Wheeler, and Robert Ingalls. Due notice will be given in
school of the time and place selected, and a written notice will also be
posted up in the postoffice."

"Would it not be well, Mr. Chairman," suggested Frank, "to circulate
an invitation to other boys not present to-day to join the company? The
larger our number, the more interest will be felt. I can think of quite
a