Page:Stanwood Pier--Harding of St Timothys.djvu/180

152 He spoke the lines so pathetically that they appealed to all the other substitutes, who began to applaud and laugh with great appreciation. That gave him confidence, and he went through his speech with a genial humor and enthusiasm which reached his audience. They laughed at his jokes, and were delighted by his sallies at the expense of Fatty Myers and "Old Stay-So;" and when he finished, it was with the comfortable sense that he had improved his reputation for cleverness.

The fellows near by congratulated him, and the applause lasted much longer than that which had consigned Frank Windsor's speech to friendly oblivion.

When it was over, Mr. Eldredge stood up again.

"If it is true," he began, "that 'calamity is man's true touchstone,' perhaps we ought to congratulate our captain this year on his test instead of condoling with him on his misfortune. I will venture to say that if he had been able to lead his team to victory in person, we should still not have learned to respect and