The Acorn 9 "Bert" "O Jack, why did you bring that boy home with you? You might have known that the girls woudn't like him, and that he would make us all feel uncomfortable." "Now see here, little sis, I know just as well as you that Bert isn't the sort of fellow to attract a crowd of college girls out for a holiday, but he's here and we must make the best of it." "But how ever did you happen to bring him here when you knew the girls were coming with me, and how I depended on you to help entertain them?" "Jean, I believe you would have done just as I did if you had been there. I confess it was too much for me. You see, all the fellows had been talking for weeks about their Thanksgiving vacation and he seemed to be the only one who had no place to go. I didn't have the heart to leave him and I knew he lived away out West and couldn't possibly go home so I asked him where he intended going. He said 'O, I have some work to make up so I think I shall remain here near the libraries.' I knew that was only an excuse, so I invited him to come along with me, and here he is." "Well you entertain him and we will try to get along without you. It's a great disappointment, though, and I wish it might have been different." Jean looked the picture of despair as she turned to leave, but seeing Jack's forlorn face, she came back, threw her arms around his neck and kissed him. "Never mind old fellow, I know you didn't mean to spoil our fun. Just keep out of the way as much as you can and it will be alright." Jack felt relieved when he saw his sister's smile but he couldn't help thinking aloud, "why the deuce do girls look only at a fellow's clothes and the part of him that is polished? I know Bert is a splendid, honest fellow and they ought to appreciate him." Bert was kept away from the house most of the day, however, the two groups meeting only at luncheon and then the conversation was formal and constrained, and even Jack wished that his friend would say more and feel at ease. In the evening when the two boys were in the parlor with Jack's father and mother, Bert was quite himself and talked as freely as though he were with his own people. Fatherly old Mr. Nevin knew what it meant for a poor boy to struggle through college, so he was anxious to know this student's story. He drew it from the young man in a most delicate way and soon Bert's eyes were bright, and his whole face beaming with the enthusiasm of one who has the right and is not afraid to face the world. As he was in the midst of his narrative, the girls entered, but he continued uninterrupted and they listened attentively. "I had always longed to go to college but did not see how the opportunity could possibly come to me after our misfortune. My mother and sisters were determined I should go but I was not willing to