Ten dollars a week was to him a fortune, and three times
as much as he had expected to obtain at first. Indeed he would have
been glad, only the day before, to get a place at three dollars a
week. He reflected that with the stock of clothes which he had now
on hand, he could save up at least half of it, and even then live
better than he had been accustomed to do; so that his little fund in
the savings bank, instead of being diminished, would be steadily
increasing. Then he was to be advanced if he deserved it. It was
indeed a bright prospect for a boy who, only a year before, could
neither read nor write, and depended for a night's lodging upon
the chance hospitality of an alley-way or old wagon. Dick's great
ambition to "grow up 'spectable" seemed likely to be accomplished
after all.
"I wish Fosdick was as well off as I am," he thought generously. But
he determined to help his less fortunate friend, and assist him up
the ladder as he advanced himself.
When Dick entered his room on Mott Street, he discovered that some
one else had been there before him, and two articles of wearing
apparel had disappeared.
"By gracious!" he exclaimed; "somebody's stole my Washington coat
and Napoleon pants. Maybe it's an agent of Barnum's, who expects to
make a fortun' by exhibitin' the valooable wardrobe of a gentleman
of fashion."
Dick did not shed many tears over his loss, as, in his present
circumstances, he never expected to have any further use for the
well-worn garments.
Pages:
170
171
172
173
174
175
176
177
178
179
180
181
182
183
184
185
186
187
188
189
190
191
192
193
194