The Pennant

The Pennant by Everett T. Tomlinson

The Pennant follows Walter Borden, a well-off New York schoolboy of sixteen, and Dan Richards, the quiet farm boy he befriends, as Dan is sent to the Tait School. While fishing on Six Town Pond near Rodman, where Walter spends his summers on his Grandfather Sprague's farm, Walter learns that Dan is hiring himself out as a rower to save money for school. Dan hopes to attend the Normal School at Jericho and perhaps go on to college. Walter has never suspected that Dan has ambitions beyond the little Rockland Farm he runs with his widowed mother and his brother Tom. The two boys share a day of fishing, a camp dinner, and a lively argument. Walter loses one big pickerel and lands another, and they glimpse a huge water-snake that Walter would like to have as a trophy. The next day Dan pitches for the Rodman nine against Benson, with Walter playing shortstop. Moulton, a Princeton pitcher staying nearby who has been coaching Dan, umpires. Walter is condescending toward the rustic players and crowd, especially Si Slater, the loud harness-maker, and his bunting and advice earn him some teasing. Dan strikes out fifteen men and starts a triple play in the ninth inning. Walter, impressed, asks his father to pay for Dan to attend the Tait School and room with him. Mr. Borden studies Dan carefully. He talks with him on the piazza, visits the farm, and questions Moulton and others. He decides to help, though Dan at first refuses to accept charity. Mr. Borden persuades him by saying privately that Walter is spoiled, conceited and in need of Dan's steadying influence. He keeps this reason from Walter and from his wife. He also refuses to bring Dan home beforehand for polishing, believing the plain approach will be better for both boys. At the Tait School, Dan feels the gap between himself and the well-dressed boys. He meets Sin Bradley, Ned Davis (called Priz), Frank Hoblit (called Chesty), and the small, homesick Carlton Hall. He overhears Chesty sneer at him as a bumpkin from the hayfield, and Walter is embarrassed by his trunk and his homemade study gown. In a scrub game, Dan strikes out the school nine's three heaviest hitters, Hodge, Smith and the bully Gus Kiggins, each twice in a row. Gus, who had counted on being the school pitcher, calls Dan a mucker and a hired professional. Dan admits that he does not pay his own way, and Walter defends him by taunting Gus about his pork-packer father. Dan later defends Carlton against Gus's bullying and encourages the boy to stay and face his troubles instead of running home. As the fall term passes, Dan works hard under the encouragement of the teacher Mr. Hale, who warns him to do real work and not merely look busy. Walter, meanwhile, drifts away from Dan and into a closer friendship with Gus. Walter calls Dan a grind and objects when Dan throws Gus out of their room. Both Dan and Gus receive ten marks and a week on the limits from Mr. Sharp, and Walter agrees to write to his father about it. After Christmas, Dan wins the privilege of studying in his own room. Ned, Hodge and Smith become his firm friends and spend the holidays at his Rodman home. On the train back to school Gus taunts Dan with "Co' boss!" and Ned silences him by mocking his father's trade. Ned tells Dan that the boys fear he may quit because of Walter's behavior, and Dan admits that he has sometimes thought of leaving. Ned urges him to stay and says that Gus is jealous of his pitching arm.

By Everett T. Tomlinson · First published 1912 · Genre: Sports fiction, Juvenile fiction, Coming-of-age · 32 chapters · 85,774 words

First lines

"Have you tried the fishing this summer?"

"No; I've been too busy on the farm. This is the first day I have had when I could get away."

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Genres

Tags

boys' school story · juvenile fiction · coming-of-age · friendship between boys · class differences · rural life · New York City · boarding school · baseball · fishing · pickerel · self-reliance

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The Pennant is listed on Textopian as a novel by Everett T. Tomlinson, dated 1912 CE.

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