thus all the offices were filled.

The boys now crowded around Frank Fowler, with petitions for such places
as they desired.

"I hope you will give me a little time before I decide about positions,
boys," Frank said; "I want to consider a little."

"All right! Take till next week," said one and another, "and let us have
a scrub game this afternoon."

The boys were in the middle of the sixth inning, when some one called
out to Frank Fowler: "Frank, your sister is running across the field. I
think she wants you."

Frank dropped his bat and hastened to meet his sister.

"What's the matter, Gracie?" he asked in alarm.

"Oh, Frank!" she exclaimed, bursting into tears. "Mother's been bleeding
at the lungs, and she looks so white. I'm afraid she's very sick."

"Boys," said Frank, turning to his companions, "I must go home at once.
You can get some one to take my place, my mother is very sick."

When Frank reached the little brown cottage which he called home, he
found his mother in an exhausted state reclining on the bed.

"How do you feel, mother?" asked our hero, anxiously.