Plans carried out--its object--how it must be conducted--the organization--rule to make it respectable--his desire to make all things respectable--the fire company reformed--the first discussion--the question--an evening without a question--how they got over it--Nat's speech--curiosity to hear--tremendous compliments--Nat wards them off--contends that a man may become what he wants to be--this the view of Buxton and others--influence of the debating society on Nat--a similar society influenced Curran, the Irish orator--and a living American statesman--Canning, the English statesman--and Henry Clay--interesting account of a similar society in Boston 183-195
Ben Drake's visit--the welcome of Frank--Mrs. Martin's questions--surprise at learning that Ben is a Christian--going to the prayer-meeting--Frank surprised to hear Ben speak--goes to tell Nat the next morning--their conversation--Ben calls around--announcement that Webster would speak in Boston--Nat's resolve to hear him--the walk to Boston--the speech--Nat's observation and remarks--power of the human voice--hearing Edward Everett--walks to hear other speakers--learned much of the use of language and oratory by observation--so with Robert Bloomfield--the charm of the voice 196-205
Talk which Nat created--scene in the sewing circle--use of spare moments--boys who read their leisure moments not get into mischief--old Mrs. Lane on education--her ideas about his going to hear Webster and Everett and the book in his pocket--how much time he saves a day for reading--wants more boys like Nat--his going to the party--sympathy for the slighted--explanation of the scene--waiting upon the slighted girls--the effect of it--Nat's decision, independence, and kind-hearted nature enabled him to do it--like Robert Burns in this respect 206-213
Nat's desire to witness a tragedy played--resolve to go and hear Booth--talk with his companions--what would be said--the evening of his visit--the play--after conversation with his companions--the bar--why vices connected with theatres--can they be severed from it--Nat wants to hear more--at home at one o'clock--outside remarks afterwards--his course criticized--went a number of times thereafter--his object in going good--yet it was not safe---the Roman youth at the amphitheatre--so with theatre-goers--theatres always been schools of vice--acts of Congress against--vain attempt to make theatres respectable in Boston--the legend of Tertullian--the actor Macready exposed the vice of theatres--Judge Bulstrode's charge--Sir Matthew Hale's experience in boyhood--opinion of the infidel Rousseau 214-225