Middletown transcript., 1909-12-11

Ah VIE SCGUuu udll Nh4tClE80C AuulHtCu
less, but Neuka began to find herself.
Again and again she sent her right hall
round Pinkham's end. Again and again
little Rodney sifted through the interfer-
ence aud got the man, but his lack Of
weight had its effect, for he could no,
always hold linn; the runner would crawl
fursard two, three, four yards.
Finally. near the close OF the game, he
bruke ioose altogether, the full back miss
ed him c,ean Oh an easy tackle, aud
Neoka scored a touch down. They
missed the goal, however, and the game
ended six to five III favor OF Valieyside.
But little Pinkham was broken-hparted.
I'm no good, he said to the coach. Pm
too light. His eyes were full Of tears.
NoaseuseI said the c1ach. You play
ed good game, Plnkham. Dou't you
fret. wish ou were twenty or thirty
pounds heavier, but you did your level
best, and that's all anybody eau do.
I'm too light! repeated Pinkllan mourn
fully.
It's perfectly true, said the coach
afterWard to Edwards. He is too light.
I'm afraid Rockville will smash things up
around his end. What do you say we
play Horton with him on that side Of the
line?
1t wouldn't do, said Edwards. 1t
would only weaken the other end and
throw Tommy all Cff.
Well, anyway, said the coach, Pink
ham keeps end-thaI's settled. He's the
hast man that's nlaI u there. in spite o.
his weight, and he's dandy little sports
man, besides.
He's all that, admitted the captain,
But l wish that man Babb would come
out
Why don't you make one more try
asked the coach.
think l will, said Edwards.
Early on Monday afternoon he went tt
Babb's room.
Look here, Babb, he said, Tn no beg
gar, but I've got something to say to you
He outlined the situation, and ended
Now the school needs you; will you come
out ?
Babb, tall, dark quite young fellow
listened in silence. When Edwards haC
finished, he answered:
To tell the truth, Edwards, Tve beer
thinking the thing over, and / guess
was wrong. Yes, I'll come out.
Good said Edwards. To-dsyP
To-day, certainly. When l make ~
my mind, make it up.
The captain, oveljJyed. hastened t.
find the coach. On the way ole though
troubled him littie-the recollection
that when Babb came on, little Candle
Pinkham must be dropped.
It's too confoundedly bad, agreed the
coach, never coached any boy liked
more than that little chap. But if Babt
makes good, it's got to be done, and he'll
be the first to see it.
Yes, that's true, said Edward.
Babb came out, and little Pinkbam
retired to the scrub. where he played as
faithfully and apparently With as much
enjoyment as OIL the fist eleven. Iu
three Weeks mort tatitee HE great game
with Pockville, aud Valeyside won.
Babb was everywhere on the feld-he
shared tile lanrels equally with Jimmy
Edwards.
Alter the game was over, and the shout
ing, there was, as usual, big dinner, at
which the head mater presided. He
spoke, and the coach spoke, and the
captain, and then there were cries for
Bubb. Tie boy rose, tall, cool, master
of himself.
You fellows will excuse me, think, if
! say one or two words about myself, be
began, for they're only the preface to
what ] really want to tell you. You
know WouIdu't come out for the team
at FIST, and think many Of YOU know
why. Last year was ruled off twice for
siugging. knew | meant to be gentle.
man, and l figured that it was the game
that was bad, because | was ungentle.
manly when played it.
Well, you saw the Neuka gsme, and
what happened therej and yoa remember
what little Pinkham did.
'Rah, 'rah, 'rah, Pinkhsm! cried some-
body far down the table. But B4bb went
right on
That set me TO thinking Il SEEMED to
me il a boy could love the game as he
did, and yet be as fqnare as lie wac, the
game couldn't be all ba /; perhaps there
was something wrong with me. On the
next Monday afternoon Captain e lwards
asked me again to go out, aud l said l
would. did, and | played as we'll as l
knew how; and because l was big ID
husky and lots older than Pinkham, I
made the team, and he went back to the
scrub. And now I'm going to tell you
the real reason why went ont to prac
tice. 1t wasn't only what Pinkham did
at Neoks; it Wasn't at all because Captain
Edwards came and asked me OH Monday
afternoon. II was because little Pinkham
came himself on Monday morning and
begged me with tears in his eyes TO go
out and play, when he knew that il l
made GOOD, it would mean putting him
off the team; and said ! would. And |
swore if boy who loved football as much
as be did was that kind Of . Chap, I'd
stick at it as long as could, and keep my
temper while played it-and | mean i'll