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THE next morning, both Frank and May were in their seats.
Frank was paler than usual, and did not join his companions at recess. He sauntered off with May and Annie, though he answered pleasantly when Lionel told him they were getting up a new club for ball.
His sister had a look of meek sadness which cut Lionel to the heart.
Mr. Monks had requested them to attend school; and now he waited with no little anxiety to see how their mates would receive them. He hoped that the example of Lionel would be followed by all.
It was now so many days since the chain was missing that he despaired of ever seeing it again, though he keenly regretted its loss. One of the seals had been the last gift of Arthur, his deeply lamented brother. For Frank's sake, too, he earnestly wished to know where it had so suddenly disappeared. He felt sure nothing else would satisfy the sensitive boy.
Two weeks passed, when one Saturday, Mrs. Jocelyn sent Frank to the store. The merchant owed her quite a sum for root beer; and he called to receive the pay.
While the man made change, he walked listlessly to the counter and took up a paper. The first words on which his eye rested were these:
"FOUND: A valuable gold watch chain with three seals and a medalof membership to the Phi Beta Kappa Society. Any person claimingthe same, can have his property restored to him by proving it to be his.Call at — street, number twenty."
"Is this to-day's paper?" enquired the boy, his face all in a blaze.
"Let me see; no, it's an old one."
"May I have it, sir?"
"Certainly."
Frank folded it carefully, clutched the money without a word, and started for home on the run.
"I wonder what he saw in the paper," said the merchant to his clerk.
When about two thirds of the way home, Frank saw Mr. Monks come out of the front door, and take the opposite direction down the street to the depot.
He redoubled his speed, and was soon within hailing distance of the gentleman.
But when he reached him, he was too much out of breath to speak. He could only hold out the paper pointing to the advertisement.
Mr. Monks gazed a moment into the sparkling eyes before him, then turned to the paper, gave a joyful start, and clasped the boy's hands warmly in his own.
"It's all right, you see," he exclaimed. "May I take the paper? I'll go and get it to-day. I'm going to the city, you know."
"Yes, sir; and I was so afraid I should be too late to find you. Oh, I'm so thankful! May will get better right away."
"You must tell Mrs. Monks all about it.'
"I had rather not, sir, till you come home. I had rather tell nobody but May."
"Well, good-bye, then, take care of Ida till I come back."
Notwithstanding, it was the Sabbath, several of the scholars noticed that outside of Mr. Monks' black vest, a chain and seals were exhibited in a most conspicuous manner.
"He has made Frank Jocelyn give it up," whispered Sophia Lane to her companion, Maggie.
"But Frank doesn't look one bit like a thief," was answered in the same tone. "See him now. I never saw him look half so handsome; and how lovingly May glances in his face. I wish I had such a handsome brother. I believe I should be as proud of him as she is."
"I don't see anything to be proud of in a brother who is a thief," murmured Sophia.
The singing had just ceased, and the minister arose to announce his text. There were others beside Sophia who started when he read:
"And above all things have fervent charity among yourselves;for charity shall cover a multitude of sins."
Mr. Monks' eyes were fixed on the speaker during the whole discourse. He asked God to let his own truth sink deep into the heart; and he prayed that the words might be blessed to those who were so dear to him.
Monday afternoon, when the scholars were out at recess, and the teacher was examining copy books, Annie came timidly toward him. The dear child had regarded him with a kind of awe since the night she saw him weep, and did not speak until he addressed her.
"What is it, Annie? Can I help you?"
"Yes, sir," she answered, clasping her hands, her eyes sparkling. "We're going to do something splendid. May I tell you about it."
"Yes, yes, indeed."
"We're going to have a society; and we'll call it for charity. I mean we're going to try and feel kindly to everybody; and if any boy or girl speaks unkindly of any one, they'll have to be turned right out."
"Capital! I hope they'll admit me."
Annie laughed heartily. "Oh, you're a big man!" she said.
"Not very much taller than Joel Barnes."
"I should like you to belong," she said, "but I'm afraid the girls wouldn't be willing; only they want to know, sir, whether you'll let them meet here once a week."
"Once a day, if they will promise to keep up to their rules."
"And, Mr. Monks," said Annie, lowering her voice and growing very red, "the girls didn't tell me to ask; but if you'd only say where you found this," timidly touching his chain.
"Wait till to-night, my dear."
Once more, just before school closed, the kind teacher requested attention.
"You will see," he said, "that I have recovered my chain and seals. It is now nearly three weeks since a gentleman riding on the main road, near the Academy, saw them lying in his path. He was in haste, and could not stop to inquire for the owner; but he advertised them at once. A copy of the paper was seen, and given me, and I identified them as my property."
Then he dismissed the school, but called out after them to say, "I heartily approve the object of your new society, and will give it all the aid in my power."
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"I AM so glad," exclaimed Lionel, overtaking Joel Barnes. "I knew that Frank didn't take the chain; but he never would have felt right about it, if it hadn't been found. Now I can forgive myself. You know, there wouldn't have been any fuss, if I had had charity toward Frank as I ought."
"That was an awful story," said Joel. "I wonder how Mr. Monks could tell us. 'Tisn't every teacher would do so for his scholars."
"I'm sure I never shall forget it," murmured Lionel. "It makes me ashamed every time I remember that little Annie Ross, the youngest girl in school, was the only one who had charity for Frank, or the courage to treat May kindly."
"Is she the little girl Sophy Lane calls a coward?"
"Yes; and she may be afraid to tread on worms, or caterpillars; or even to kill flies; but she isn't afraid to do what she thinks is right."
"There come Frank and May behind us," said Joel. "Let's stop and see what they have to say."
"Shall you join our Charitable Society, as Annie calls it?" asked May.
"I would like to join where they all would promise to think well of me," answered Lionel, laughing, as he put his arm lovingly in Frank's.
"I should think it would be a good plan to have speaking on the subject," remarked Joel.
"Yes," added May, "that is what we want, to have the boys declaim, and the girls write their thoughts, which some one can be appointed to read."
"Mr. Monks would approve of that," said Frank, "because it might be for our benefit in many ways."
"Once in a while we could have a party or picnic, and celebrate our Charity Circle," suggested May.
"That's a capital name," exclaimed a voice from behind; "and if the rules contained in Corinthians are carried out, I prophesy that you will revolutionize our whole town; and be voted the greatest public benefactors that ever lived in it."
"We'll do it, Mr. Monks!" they all exclaimed. "At least we'll try."
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