This peculiarity of feature gave the cousins special titles in whose selection the boy-instinct for nicknames had shown its unerring accuracy of aim.  One was “Choppy,” and the other, Billy, was “Cousin Choppy.”  Their playmates were generally considerate and did not apply these titles unless they “got mad.”  Forgetting themselves, these titles might be sent flying about freely as snow-balls in a January thaw.  There was Worthington Wentworth.  It takes a long breath and a very straight throat to say that, and we will not repeat it, but will call him Wort Wentworth, as the boys did.  His hair was twisted all over his head, like a brush fence, and his black eyes were very lively.  He was one of the rogues of the club, and at school took more rattannings, as a mark of his teacher’s affection, than any other boy.  Juggie Jones—­full name Jugurtha Bonaparte Jones—­was a little colored fellow lately from the South, now living with his granny, a washer-woman, in a little yellow house at the head of the lane.  He was always laughing and showing his white teeth.  He was a great favorite with the boys.  Wort and Juggie were of the same age as Charlie,—­nine.  Pip or Piper Peckham, aged eight, was a big-eyed, black-haired, little fellow with a peaked face.  Timid, sensitive to neglect, very fond of notice, he was sometimes a subject for the tricks of his playmates.  Then there was Tony or Antonio Blanco, a late arrival at Seamont.  He was an olive-faced, black-haired, shy little fellow.  When he spoke, he used English, but his accent was Italian.  He was rarely heard from.  An air of mystery encircled him.  Whether his father was a count in Italy or a seller of pea-nuts in New York, no one at Seamont had been able to say for a month, and that was a long time in circles of gossip.  It was finally asserted that his father lived in Italy.  Tony was of the same age as Pip.

Concerning Charlie we shall find out farther along.

“Will the gentlemen please come to order,” shouted Sid Waters, pompously,” and sit—­sit—­on the floor?”

The meeting obeyed at once.

“Ahem—­I ’spose we had better fill the offices first.  Who will be president?”

This magnanimous tender of the office to any one present was received in silence.  The meeting was overawed by the thought of this mighty honor so nigh at hand.  All recovered in a short time, and several, including Pip Peckham, were about to sacrifice themselves for the common good, when Sid dexterously presented himself as an offering ahead of them all, and said:  “Well, if nobody wants it, as I don’t like to see an office go a-beggin’, I’ll—­I’ll take it!”

“Three cheers for our president!” said Charlie, magnanimously, and the three were given, though it must be confessed that several disappointed souls cheered faintly.

“We ought to have a governor,” said Charlie.

“What! besides a president?” inquired Sid, a slight sneer noticeable in his tones.