“I heard it, an’ I told him it was against the rules, an’ if he didn’t cut it out I would punk him. What did he do but swore at me. He violated the rules before my face. I punked, gently at first, an’ then I punked him again. He ran into the alley, I followed him, an’ de boys come from the street, I told them he was my game, an’ I punked him again. I told all the boys I would punk de gang ef they came to help him. Say, pres., wasn’t I right in punking him?” The boy acknowledged he swore and Firetop kept at him until he promised he would never do it again. This was accomplished with very little trouble. The boy’s face was washed and as there was no traces of a wound the matter was amicably settled. The boys left the office, good friends. CHAPTER XX. This incident recalls another case of swearing, and the peculiar method adopted to correct a boy, as well as to influence a family to train their son in the right path. One reason why so many boys swear is because they constantly hear men swear on the streets. At Sunday-school the boy learns that he is violating one of the commandments. But men pay no attention to it, then why should boys? Boys are imitative. They want to do what men do. It is seldom that we hear of a mother approving of her boy swearing and encouraging him in this, certainly vulgar habit. This method used by the president in curing a boy of swearing, may not meet the approval of many of our Sunday-school teachers, and it is given with some reluctance. It is given, however, to show what can be done in extreme cases. “Are you the president of the Newsboys’ association?” asked a boy with a very pretty face. “Yes, and what can I do for you?” “I want to join the association.” [Illustration: “HE SWEARED AT A LADY AND I PUNKED HIM.” _See Page 118_ ] The usual questions were asked and answered. He proved to be a carrier and had twenty-eight customers. A membership card was given the boy with instructions to call in thirty days and get the badge. The boy left the office perfectly happy. In about a week he returned, walked to the desk and laid his membership card down, saying: “My mother says I can swear all I want to, and you have nothing to do with it. You must not tell me to stop swearing.” The president turned around, looked at the boy for a moment, discovered he was unusually bright, and back behind his black eyes he showed the right kind of spirit indicating that if he made up his mind to do a thing he would do it. “So your mother wants you to swear. Well, well, and she don’t want you to belong to any association unless we all swear. Well, you shall not be made unhappy. If your mother wants you to swear you shall have that pleasure. Does she swear?” “Yes, sir, we all swear to beat the band,” he replied, and in a tone indicating that it was one of the pleasures of his home life. “And don’t any of you think it wrong to swear?”