Dare to her son at dinner the day following
the fire, "I hope you don't get up to go to any more midnight alarms."
"Why, mother?"
"Because I was worried to death about you. I knew you would get hurt,
and, sure enough, you did."
"Oh, this burn? That doesn't amount to much. I'm glad I went, for I
helped Mr. Stimson save something from the fire."
"Yes, I heard about it. All the neighbors are talking about you. You
certainly take after your father, and I am quite proud, though I can't
get over how frightened I felt."
"I'm sorry you feel that way, mother, for I was thinking of a plan
that might save the village from any more such fires, and I might have
to take part in it"
"What do you mean, Herbert?"
"Well, I think the village ought to have a fire department, a
volunteer one at least, and I was thinking of organizing it."
"Well, Herbert, you know your poor father used to say the same thing,
but he never could get any one to agree with him. The men don't seem
to take an interest in such a matter, though I should think they
would."
"I wasn't thinking of taking in the men, mother."
"Not take in the men? Whom would you have, then?"
"The boys--my chums.
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