It is a noticeable fact that newsboys have a peculiarly natural way of drawing, what they call, tramp dogs to them. Many a newsboy has been seen caring for a poor dog, who had either lost its owner or was hurt. Sympathy is aroused very quickly. Often a poor, worthless dog has been taken into a seller’s favorite lunch-room and given a square meal. From a boy who jumped into fifteen feet of water to save a little dog, something might be expected. He was watched. At one of the regular meetings of an auxiliary he showed the metal he was made of by introducing the following preamble and resolution, and spoke so strongly in its favor that it was passed unanimously. “WHEREAS, It has come to our notice that boys throughout the city, and boys, too, from our swell families, are killing the song birds in the little patches of groves within the city limits, by the use of the Flobert rifle; therefore be it _Resolved_, That the members of the Boyville Newsboys’ Association bitterly disapprove of this wanton slaughter of our song birds, and we, therefore, pledge ourselves to do everything in our power to stop boys, whether members of this association or not, from killing, in any manner, these birds.” In his closing remarks he said: “If we expects people to show us kindness we must also do something what’s right. And what can we do better’n protect the dumb animals. Let us show, what we are trying to get, kindness, justice and mercy.” A short time after the adoption of the above resolution one of the trustees attention was called to a member, a boy eleven years of age, who was very much worked up over the acts of some of his associates, not members of the association. The boys had made a trap and were trying to catch the robins that made their summer homes in the yards along the street. The little boy always told his mother his troubles and in this case went to her for advice. She told him she would pray that God would tell the birds not to go near the trap. He seemed satisfied, but went away deeply buried in thought. A few days later he was sitting on the fence, at his home, when the trustee passed. Knowing of the incident he asked the boy about the trap. “Well, the trap was set all right,” he said, “and my mother prayed hard, asking God to strengthen the instinct of the birds so they would keep out of danger—not go near the trap.” “Did God answer your mother’s prayer?” asked the gentleman. “Sure thing He did,” the newsy quickly answered. “Why were you so certain?” “Because when it got dark I went to the barnyard and busted the trap all to pieces. There wasn’t enough wood left to make a tooth pick.” The trustee slowly walked away saying to himself: “Action was needed with prayer.” CHAPTER XV. The individual interest in the monthly auxiliary meetings developed into schools of instructions. The boys began to learn how to debate, how to make a motion, to discuss any subject.