THE 3OYS* AMBITION.

day. Two or three of the boys had long been'persons of consideration,
among us because they had been to St. Louis ,once and had a vague
general knowledge of its wonders, but the day of their glory was over
now. They lapsed
into a humble silence,
and learned to dis-
appear when the
ruthless ' cub '-engi-
iieer approached.
This fellow had
money, too, and hair
oil. Also an ignorant
silver watch and a
showy brass watch
chain. He wore a
leather belt and used
no suspenders. If
ever a youth was
cordially admired and
hated by his com-
rades, this one was.
No girl could with-
stand his charms.
He ' cut out' every
boy in the village.
"When his boat blew
np at last, it diffused
a tranquil content-
'A SHINING- HERO,'
ment among us such
as we had not known
for     months.      But
when he came home
the next week, alive,
renowned,   and    ap-
peared in church all battered up and bandaged, a shining hero, stared
at and wondered over by everybody, it seemed to us that the partiality
of Providence for an undeserving reptile had reached a point where it
was open to criticism.