The message was: "Thank Mrs. Howard for being so
good to my boy. Some day I hope to see her and tell her how I love
her for it." Ikey's heart fairly glowed when Aunt Zelie said that it
was only a pleasure to be good to such a nice boy.
Last of all came Cousin Helen and Aleck, who stayed and spent a merry
evening.
"It is so nice to have Aunt Zelie back, I am almost glad she went,"
Bess was heard to say.
And that lady herself thought that such a welcome quite made up for
the four rather lonely weeks in the country with her invalid aunt.
CHAPTER XX.
THE ORDER OF THE BIG FRONT DOOR.
On the afternoon of the meeting at Miss Brown's, when the silver keys
were distributed, Jim had walked home with Aunt Zelie and said as they
reached the gate, "Thank you very much for the pin, Mrs. Howard; I
mean to remember the motto and be a helper if I can."
"I am sure you do, and you are more than welcome," she replied,
thinking, as she looked into the bright, handsome face, "He wants to
please me now, but perhaps it will grow into a higher motive."
Jim was quite in earnest when he said this. Three months in the Good
Neighbors Club had somewhat changed his point of view. He might still
be inconsiderate and thoughtless, but he no longer defended himself by
saying that every fellow must look out for himself.
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