New York he'll come out all right, never fear, I only wish my
Dannie had as much get-up about him as your boy."

"Yes, yes, Archie is very ambitious for his age," said Mrs. Dunn, "but
I sometimes wish he were less so. I know I could keep him at home longer
if he wasn't so anxious to be at work. I don't believe I can let him go,
Mrs. Sullivan, not yet. I want him to stay in school another year, and
then I'll think about it."

"Well, ye're wise, Mrs. Dunn, ye're a wise woman," said the Widow
Sullivan. "Since yer husband died ye've been a good mother to the lad,
and have brought 'im up well. And now, how is yer chickens, Mrs. Dunn?
Have ye got that cochin hen a 'settin'' yit?"

And the two women began to discuss their various fowls, and the
conversation was so interesting that Mrs. Dunn remained late, and found
Archie in bed when she went home. "Ah, well, poor boy, I'll have to tell
him of my decision in the morning. He'll be terribly disappointed, and I
hate to do it I'm afraid it's selfishness that makes me want to keep
him with me. I almost wish he would take things into his own hands, and
start for the city himself. I would be rid then of the responsibility
of sending him, and the question would be settled for me. Boys sometimes
know best how to settle their own difficulties, anyhow."

Mrs. Dunn kneaded the bread before retiring, for to-morrow was Saturday,
and, therefore, baking-day, and then she went into her little room
off the kitchen, and prayed earnestly for her boy before sleeping.
She prayed that she might be helped in advising him, and that he might
always do what was best for himself and for his mother.

The next day was Saturday, and in the morning the Hut Club met, as
usual, and prepared to have an open-air dinner for this day. The
furnace, which had been knocked down during the week by the East Siders,
was rebuilt, and the skillet and other utensils were brought from the
nearest kitchens. Archie went to the grocery around the corner and
bought five cents' worth of cakes, and then the six boys sat down in
a circle and prepared to devour their home-made feast. But before they
began Archie stood up. "I want to say that this will probably be my
farewell dinner with the club," he said, in a low tone, "and I hope that
you will appoint another president in my place."

The boys were horror-struck, but Archie refused to explain where and
when he was going. Finally, they refused to appoint another president,