"I'm glad, indeed, to hear that you have any ambitions.

Come into the library, if you can let your luncheon go that long." "If you don't mind, Dad, I'd rather eat while I talk," urged Fred.
"I have to be back at school before three." "What---under discipline ?" inquired the lawyer.
"No, sir; it's baseball that I wish to talk about." "Well, then, Fred, what is it ?" asked his father.
"Why, sir, we're going to get together on baseball, this afternoon.
The start for the season is to be made early this year.

Gridley expects to put forth the finest High School nine ever." "I'm glad to hear that," nodded the lawyer.

"School and college athletics, rightly indulged in, give the budding man health, strength, courage and discipline to take with him out into the battle of life.

We didn't have much in the way of athletics when I was at college, but I appreciate the modern tendency more than do some men of my age." Fred, though not interested in his father's praise of athletics waited patiently until his parent had finished.
"I'm pretty sure, Dad, I can make the chance of being the star pitcher on the school team for this coming season, if only you'll back me up in it." "Why, as far as that goes," replied Lawyer Ripley, "I believe that about all the benefits of school athletics can be gained by one who isn't necessarily right at the top of the crowd." "But not to go to the top of the crowd, and not to try too, Dad, is contrary to the spirit of athletics," argued Fred, rather cleverly.
"Besides, one of the best things about athletics, I think, is the spirit to fight for leadership.