Page:American Boy's Life of William McKinley.djvu/39

Rh, he was generally found on the winning side.

At first the society room was but plainly furnished, with a small desk-like table, a few common chairs, and half a dozen benches. On the walls were a print of Washington and another of Jefferson, and between them a pair of crossed flags. The floor was bare.

"I think this society ought to have a carpet for the floor," said one of the girl members one day.

"Oh yes, let us have a carpet, by all means!" cried a number. "It would make the room look ever so much nicer."

When the question was put to the boys, some of them were doubtful. A carpet would cost a good deal of money, and besides, what would keep it from getting covered with mud on rainy meeting days? None of the roads around Poland were paved, and when it was wet, the shoes and boots of the members often became thickly covered with mud.

"We'll get a carpet," said the young president. "Let us all save up and contribute what we can, and when we've