CHAPTER X. 

GOOD ADVICE. 

Phonny was confined nearly a week with his wound. They moved the sofa on which he was lying up into a corner of the room, near Mrs. Henry's window, and there Stuyvesant and Malleville brought various things to him to amuse him. 

He was very patient and good-natured during his confinement to this sofa. Wallace came to see him soon after he was hurt, and gave him some good advice in this respect. 

"Now," said Wallace, "you have an opportunity to cultivate and show one mark of manliness which we like to see in boys." 

"I should think you would like to see all marks of manliness in boys," said Phonny. 

"Oh no," said Wallace. "Some traits of manly character we like, and some we don't like." 

"What don't we like?" asked Phonny. 

"Why--there are many," said Wallace, hesitating and considering. "We don't desire to see in boys the sedateness and gravity of demeanor that we like to see in men. We like to see them playful and joyous while they are boys." 

"I thought it was better to be sober," said Phonny. 

"No," said Wallace, "not for boys. Boys ought to be sober at proper times; but in their plays and in their ordinary occupations, it is better for them to be frolicsome and light-hearted. Their time for care and thoughtful concern has not come. The only way by which they can form good healthy constitutions, is to run about a great deal, and have a great deal of frolicking and fun. Only they must be careful not to let their fun and frolicking give other people trouble. But we like to see them full of life, and joy, and activity, for we know that that is best for them. If a boy of twelve were to be as sage and demure as a man, always sitting still, and reading and studying, we should be afraid, either that he was already sick, or that he would make himself sick." 
Who said that Phonny had an opportunity?
"Now," said Wallace, "you have an opportunity 