That Football Game, and What Came of It


Read by LibriVox Volunteers

The boy world is in an ecstasy of delight, for Father Finn has not only given us a new story, but, positively, the best book he has ever written. He calls it That Football Game, and the acquaintance he displays with that very lively sport is equaled only by his thorough knowledge of boys.

The story turns on a game that is to be played between the Central High School and the Milwaukee College teams, the latter being “our boys”. Our friend, Claude Lightfoot, is captain of the College team, and the way in which he handles his players, the trouble he encounters, the difficulties he has to surmount, are all described in Father Finn's best manner, and that is the highest praise we can give the book. Whether Claude succeeds, or how the game results it would not be fair to say as that might detract from the interest of the story. Besides Claude Lightfoot most of the boys introduced are those we have known so long: Harry Archer, Frank Elmwood, Willie Hardy, who “lies with elegance and ease”, but there are also two or three who are new to us. Every one is a strongly marked character, and although a few are of the sort we would hardly choose for friends they are each and every one perfectly true to life. Of course, the story would not be complete without a touch of that pathos which Father Finn so well knows how to provide. It is furnished in this case by Harry Archer whose life seems to be made up of one continuous act of self sacrifice. (From the New Ireland review, 1898)
(5 hr 23 min)

Chapters

A Little Poetry, a Little of Mathematics, with the Prospects of a Great Deal ab… 18:40 Read by Kevin Manley
In which the Milwaukee College Eleven Begin to Feel the Iron Hand of Discipline 14:11 Read by SKVeld
In which it is shown that the Game of Football, with its Severe Preparatory Wor… 16:25 Read by SKVeld
The Home of Harry Archer 11:40 Read by SKVeld
Showing How a Want of Ready Money is Not Always a Thing to be Deplored 15:12 Read by SKVeld
In which Mathematicians are Given Their Due 11:47 Read by SKVeld
In which it is shown that Football May be a Help both to Study and to Devotion 11:35 Read by SKVeld
In which New Troubles Visit the Archer Family 17:43 Read by SKVeld
In which Harry Begins to Suspect that He is Burning the Candle at Both Ends 28:23 Read by SKVeld
In which Harry and Claude Take a Drive 9:39 Read by SKVeld
In which the Morning of Thanksgiving Day Reveals Serious Internal Dissensions i… 12:42 Read by Kevin Manley
In which Mr. Keenan Faces an Indignant Mother and Is More Frightened than He ev… 17:46 Read by SKVeld
On the way to the Football Field 9:00 Read by SKVeld
In which Mandolin Merry and Mary Dale Learn Something of the Great Game 21:27 Read by SKVeld
In which the Milwaukees Play the First Half under Great Difficulties 39:28 Read by SKVeld
In which Ernest Snowden Surprises Everybody, and the Great Football Game Comes … 27:38 Read by rupiess9
In which Harry Learns that He Cannot Compete in the Mathematical Contest 11:01 Read by rupiess9
In which it is shown that Doctors May Compare Favorably with Even the Best of M… 11:47 Read by Claudia Peri
In which the Prospects for the Archer Family Grow Brighter 6:42 Read by Claudia Peri
In which Everybody is Happy and the Curtain Falls 10:24 Read by Claudia Peri