xt7kkw57dt0n https://exploreuk.uky.edu/dips/xt7kkw57dt0n/data/mets.xml Otis, James, 1848-1912. 1884  books b92-252-31802730 English Harper, : New York : Contact the Special Collections Research Center for information regarding rights and use of this collection. Newspaper carriers Fiction. Left behind, or, Ten days a newsboy  / by James Otis. text Left behind, or, Ten days a newsboy  / by James Otis. 1884 2002 true xt7kkw57dt0n section xt7kkw57dt0n 
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i           PRESENTED TO THE

Young Men's     Christian Association
          OF COLLEGE POINT, N. Y.
                  BY
     GODFREY A. S. WIENERS, Esq.

                 1 92.

 This page in the original text is blank.

 


   I"  11 I,,-Act; 17    e       -0X
:t0i ::: :ffn:::  ::0ff:::0:  0000  :uSf:0: U::::0S0: E:f:00  ft:000:0z:0

 



     LEFT BEHIND



                OR



TEN DAYS A NEWSBOY



        By JAMES OTIS
AUTHOR OF " TOIY TYLER"   MR. STUBBS'S BROTHER"
      "L RAISING THE 'PEARL"' ETC.





          ILL USTRA TED









          NEW YORK
HARPER & BROTHERS, FRANKLIN SQUARE

 











HARPER'S YOUNG PEOPLE SERIES.
       Illustrated. Square 16mo, Cloth, 1 00 per volume.

CAPTAIN POLLY. By So-sur Swan.
UNCLE PETER'S TRUST; or, Followving the Drums. By G.ORGE B. PantY.
IORYNIATES. A Tale of the Fislhing Banks. By Msax 3I'UN.o.
CIIRYSTAL, JACK, & CO., AND DELTA BIXBY. Two Stories. By KIRK MAsftos.
DERRICK STERLING. By KsI. Musnon.
THE FLAMIXNGO FEATHER. By KIRK MvCNE.
WAKULLA:A Story of Adventure in Florida. By KIRK rtcsnox.
STRANGE STORIES FROM HISTORY. By GEORGE CAR- Eootastor.
THE ICE QUEEN. By En..u. Innsosz.
PRINCE LAZYBIINES, AND OTHER STORIES. By Mrs. J's. H.vs.
WllO WAS PAUL GRAYSON  By JollN HIABBERTON, Auth-r ef" lele-ns Babies."
TWO ARROWS. A St-ry of Ret and 'White. By XV. 0. ST.-sn..
TIIE TALKING LEAVES. An Indian Stry. By W. 0. STODDAIRD.
INTO UNKNOXXN SEAS; or, The Cruise of Two Sailor.-Bys. By DArn KE.
THE LOST CITY; or The Boy Explorers in Central Asia. By D-vI KEB.
THlE FOUR: M1ACNILS. Iy WILI.IA3 BLAIX.
TIlE IIHOUSEIOLOD OF GLEN HoLLY. By Lu-C C. LlI.,
JO'S OPPORTUNITY. By Lu-Y C. LtLI-.
ROLF HOUSE. By Lucy C. LLIE
MIUSIC AND MUSICIANS. By L-cy C. Lrl.
NAN. By LuCY C. LILLIE.
MIILDRED'S BARGAIN, AND OTHER STOIIES. By LUcY C. LILLIE.
THE COLONEL'S MONEY. By Lucy C. I.LI.IE.
SILENT PETE; or, The Stowaay,. By JaM-s OT-s.
RAISING THE " PEARL." By JAMES OTIS.
LEFT BEHIND; r, Ten Days a Newsboy. By JAME- Own.
TIM AND TIP; or, The Adventures of a Boy and a Dog. By JAMES OTIS.
MR. STUBBS'S BROTIIER. A Sequel to " Toby Tyler." By JAMES OTIS.
TOBY TYLER; or, Ten Week with a Cirrus. By JAMES OTrS.
A NEW ROBINSON CRUSOE. By W. L. ALDESf.
TIlE MNORAL PIRATES. By W. L. AL DEN.
THE CRUISE OF THE "GHIOST." By W. L. ALDE.
THE CRUISE OF THE CANOE CLUB. By WV. L.. ALDENr.
THE ADVENTURES OF JIMIM1Y BROWN. Edited by W. L. ALDEN.

      PUBLISBED BY HARPER & BROTHERS, NEW YOEEL
    Any of thd shre "e  uea ill b, sent by mail, roaae prepaid, to any tnaf of th
            Ulited States, Canada, o - Meri o, o ; t hof ie tpricT.



Copyright. 1884. by HARIERL & BROTHERS.

 












                  CONTENTS.




CHAP.                                                PAGE
  I.PAUL'SINTRODUCTION TONE  w YORK.................................  9
  II.STARTINGLNBUSINESS.......................................................22
  III.]MAKINGACQUAINTANCES. ...................................................34
  IV. AGREAT ENTERPRISE.......................................................48
  V. MiESSRS. TREAT, JONES, WESTON, AND DOWD ....................... 60
  VI. T1ETHEATRICAL ENTERPRISE..........................................73
VII.AR TISTS ANDPRINTERS......................................................86
VIII.AN AUTIIoI's TRIALS........................................................99
IX. TIIEMOMENTOUS OCCASION..............................................111
  X. TIIEFIRSTACT..........................................................121
  XI. TIEEVENING'S ENTERTAINMENT....................................... 133
XII. AGENEROUS ACT..........................................................146
XIII.    A   JOYFUL       MEETING .......................................................... 159
XIV. A DAY'SPLEASURING .......................................................172
XV. THE GREAT SURPRISE.......................         185
XVI. IN CONCLUSION.......................             197

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              ILLUSTRATIONS.


                                                     PAGE
SHE FED HIM PATIENTLY ....................        Frontispiece.
HE SHOWED THEM IN PROOF OF THE TRUTHFULNESS OF HIS STORY 11
"IF YOU PICK ANY ROW WITH HINM, YOU PICK IT WITH M1E AND
  JOHNNY "..                                          31
PAUL LOOKED ON AT THESE PREPARATIONS WITH THE MOST PRO-
  FOUND SURPRISE .45
"FELLERS! DO YOU KNOW WHAT WE CAN DO UP HERE ".............. 57
"MULTIPLICATION  IS  VEXATION" .. ................................................  67
" How's BIz, DICK I" ..........................................................   81
ALL COULD SEE TIlE RESEMIBLANCE AT ONCE .......... ..................... 91
"WHO  PUT  THAT  UPV  ..........................................................  103
HOLDING BOTH WEAPONS IN FRONT OF HIrM, HE LOOKED READY
  FOR  INSTANT  FLIGHT ..........................................................  127
DICKEY FOUND HIMSELF IN THE MIDST OF A BLOODTHIRSTY CROWD 141
" MISTER WESTON," SAID BEN, GRAN-ELY .......... . ......................... 155
THEY STOOD IN A ROW BEFORE THE CLERK OF TIIE FIFTH AvENUE
  HOTEL ..........................................................  163
AT CONEY ISLAND ..........................................................   179
BEN AND JOHNNY ALONE IN THE NEW STORE ......... ................... 189
" THREE  CHEERS  FOR  POLLY! .." ...................................................  201

 This page in the original text is blank.

 







             LEFT BEHIND;

    OR, TEN DAYS A NEWSBOY.



                    CHAPTER I.
          PAUL'S INTRODUCTION TO NEW YORK.

        E was a stray boy, with a very strange story. The
        two ragged boys, one of whom had a bundle of
        papers under his arm, and the other the outfit of a
        boot-black slung over his shoulder, thought that at
the best he was stretching the truth to an alarming degree,
even though his manner appeared to bear out what he said.
  He had met these two boys at the corner of Cortlandt
and West streets, in New York City, and had stated his
case to them, believing that they could tell him what to do.
This was the story he told:
  The family, consisting of his father, mother, sister, and
himself, had come from Chicago for the purpose of sailing

 

Left Behind; or,



in a steamer-which one he was unable to say-for Europe.
They went directly from the cars to the pier, and had gone
on board the liuge vessel which was to be their home while
crossing the Atlantic. After they had been there some
time, and he could see no evidences that the steamer was
about to start, he had asked his mother's permission to go
on deck for the purpose of making the acquaintance of a
boy about his own age, whom he had seen when they first
came on board. The attempt at making the acquaintance
was so successful that in five minutes they were firm
friends, and in as many more had laid all kinds of plans
for future enjoyment.
  Both the boys claimed to excel in the art of kinging the
ring; but, unfortunately, neither one had a top with him.
Then this one who was telling the story proposed that he
should go on shore and buy two, while the other remained
to inform the absent boy's parents where he had gone.
  He had had some difficulty in finding a top to suit him,
and he thought that he must have spent at least an hour in
the search. When at last lie had procured two good ones-
and he showed them in proof of the truthfulness of his story
-he was nearly as long again in finding his way back to the
steamer. Not knowing the name of the vessel, nor the line
to which she belonged, he was obliged to visit each pier in
succession, in order to find the right one.



10

 









It"  



   'f



lIE SHOW1FD THEM IN PROOF' OF TIlE TRUTHFULNESS OF HIS STORY.

 This page in the original text is blank.

 

Ten Days a Newsboy.



  When, from the appearance of the buildings opposite, he
knew that he was back again to the point from which he
had started, he learned to his dismay that the steamer had
been gone fully an hour. At first he could hardly realize
that he had been left behind, while his parents had started
on such a long voyage, and he could not account for the neg-
lect of his newly-m-ade friend in not telling them that he
had gone on shore, unless it was owing to the fact that he
had neglected to point out his father, or to tell what his
name was.
  After lie had fully realized that lie was alone in a great
city, with no means of providing himself with food and
shelter, save through the medium of two very nice tops and
six cents, he started in search of the depot which they had
arrived at, intending to take the next train back to Chicago,
providing the conductor would take his tops in payment.
But he could not find the depot, and at nearly seven
o'clock in the evening he had stopped to ask advice from
two boys of about his own age-neither one of them was
over eleven years old-in the hope that they could straight-
en matters out for him.
  These two were very much inclined to doubt his story
until he showed the tops as proof, and even then they would
have looked upon some portions of it as false had lie not
also produced the six cents, and with three of them stood



1 3

 

14                Left Behind; or,

treat all round to that sticky delicacy known as "pea-nut
taffy."
  Then they believed all he had told them, and adjourning
to a very broad door-step near by, they sat down to consult
upon what it was best for him to do. To begin with, and
in order that he might understand the case fully, one of the
boys asked, as he struggled with the sticky dainty,
  "W hat's yer name"
  "Paul Weston," replied the stranger.
  "1Well, my name's Johnny Jones, though the boys call
me Shiner," said the boy with the papers under his arm,
"an' my chum here's named Ben Treat. Now you know
us; an' we'll call you Polly, so's to make you feel more's if
you was home."
  Paul was not just certain as to how far this nickname
would go towards making him feel at home, but he did not
venture to make any remark upon it, preferring rather that
his own condition, and how he could better it, should be the
subject under discussion.
  Johnny Jones told him at once that his idea of trying to
get home by the cars without money enough in his pocket
to buy his ticket was an impossibility; for he and Ben had
tried riding on the cars without paying for it, even a short
distance, and had always come to grief because of either the
conductor or the brakemen, whom they looked upon as the

 


Tea Days a XNewsboy.



natural enemies of boys. It was useless, therefore, to think
of getting to Chicago in that way, and Joinny appealed to
Ben to decide whether lie was right or not.
  "It's jest as Shiner says," replied Ben, rubbing the end of
his nose thoughtfully, as if lie believed that gave him more
of an air of wisdom. " You couldn't git as far as Newark
in a week, 'less you walked, an' you'd better not try it."
  "But what shall I do " asked Paul, in such distress that
even the candy failed to soothe him.
  "I don't see but one way," said Johnny, gravely, as he
took the lump of sweetness from his mouth, lest it should
dissolve while he was not able to give it his undivided atten-
tion, and he thus lose a portion of the treat. " Youfll have
to stay here till yer earn money enough ter pay for a whole
ticket."
  " But how much will that be" asked Paul, astounded at
the careless way with which the boy spoke of such an
undertaking.
  " I dunno; but it'll be a good deal. We'll find out ter-
morrer." Then Johnny turned his attention to the candy
again.
  "But I can't earn any money ;" and now Paul was on the
verge of crying.
  " Of course yer can," replied Ben, decidedly. "Y er can
sell papers like Shiner does, or yer can get a box, an' go in-



1 5

 

I6                Left Behind; or,

ter the same bizness I'm in. Ef yer smart, yer'll git three
or four dollars a week, 'cordin' to the weather."
  Paul opened his eyes wide with surprise as this enor-
mous amount was spoken of, and lie almost forgot his grief
in the visions of wealth that floated through his brain.
  "Shiner an' I hain't got much money in our pockets,"
continued Ben, "'cause we're buyin' some real estate, an' we
put it all in that 'bout as fast as we git it; but we can patch
up an' lend you enough to start with, an' you can pay it
back when you git the chance."
  Surely Paul thought lie was fortunate in having made
the acquaintance of two boys who were so well off in this
world's goods as Ben and Johnny, and his position did not
seem nearly as bad as it had half an hour ago, even though
it was nearly dark, and he had no idea where lie should
sleep that night.
  I-le did not know, any more than his newly-made friends
did, that by telling his story to the police he would be tak-
en care of until his relatives in Chicago could be written to,
and he believed that he must depend upon his own exer-
tions to get home. Therefore lie eagerly accepted the gen-
erous offer.
  "But where can I live " lie asked, as the thought came
to him that even though a chance for making himself rich
had suddenly presented itself, he was still without a home.

 


Ten Days a Newsboy.



  " Didn't Ben tell yer that we'd been 'vestin' our money
in real estate " asked Johnny, almost impatiently, and speak-
ing rather indistinctly because of his mouth being so filled
with candy. " We've got a place we bought of Dickey Spry,
an' you can stay with us if you pay your share."
  Paul was willing to go into any extravagances for the
sake of having a home, provided his two tops, and the
three cents still remaining of his wealth, was sufficient to
make the first payment. This lie told his friends.
  "Shiner didn't inean that you was to pay it right down
said Ben, quickly.  "After you git to makin' money for
yourself, all you've got to do is to buy your share of the
things."
  As that was only just, Paul agreed to it, and Johnny, who
had by this time succeeded in eating the dark-colored mixt-
ure that was by courtesy called candy, started off to dis-
pose of the papers lie still held under his arm, while Ben
led Paul away with him.
  " Johnny has got to 'tend right up to biz," said Ben, in a
half-explanatory way, " or else he'd git stuck, you know."
  "Would lie" asked Paul, in evident alarmn. "Who would
stick him "
  Ben looked at this young gentleman from Chicago in. sur-
prise, and then in pity. Ile could not understand how any
one, and more especially a boy, could be so ignorant of the



1 7

 

Lefi Behind; or,



meaning of one of the most common words of slang. At
first lie looked as if he was about to reprove such igno-
rance; but he evidently thought better of it, for he said,
instead,
  " I mean that he'd be stuck by havin' a lot of this after-
noon's papers left over on his hands, an' hie couldn't sell 'em
termnorrer, you know."
  Paul really looked relieved to know that no worse danger
threatened Johnny; and as he walked along with Ben, the
latter said:
  "Y er see, Shiner would have been about through work if
we hadn't met you, an' fooled away so much of our time.
Now it'll take him quite a while to sell out, an' so you an' I
might as well go down to ther house. I've had a pretty
fair day's work, an' I'll git up such a supper as'll make
Shiner's eyes stick out more'n a foot."
  Just then they were opposite a grocery store, and lie went
in to begin the work of making his companion's eyes stick
out. It was with the air of one who felt able to purchase
at least half the store contained, in case lhe should want to,
that lie ordered half a pound of bologna sausage, a pound
of crackers, and two candles. IHe was also very careful to
see that lie was given full weight.
  Paul was a little mystified as to what share the candles
could have in extending Johnny's eyes; but he thought it



I 8

 


Ten Dazys a Newsboy.



better to wait the course of events, rather than to ask any
questions.
  WVlien Ben had been served, and there had been quite a
delay in paying for the articles, oWing to his inability to
count his money three times, and have it amount to the
same sum each time, lie caine out and completed his pur-
chases by buying a quart of pea-nuts at a stand near by.
  "There," Ben said, with evident satisfaction, as he gave
Paul one of the bundles to carry, "I guess when Shiner
gets home, an' finds all these things, he'll think we're havin'
a reg'lar party."
  Paul agreed very mildly to this assertion, for he had not
been accustomed to look upon such an assortment as much
of a treat, and already he began to have vague misgivings as
to the value of the real estate Ben had spoken of so proudly.
  To Paul, tired as lie was from the walking he had already
done, and the excitement through which lie had passed, it
seemed as if they would never reach this place which Ben
called home, for his guide turned up one street and down
another until lie was quite worn out.
  " That's the place, jest ahead there," said Ben, in a cau-
tious whisper, as lie halted at the corner of a street, and
pointed to a small yard in the rear of what seemed to be a
warehouse. " That's the place, but we've got to look out
that nobody don't see us."



19

 

Left Behind; or,



  Paul believed that his companion referred to the building,
and he was surprised to find it so large; yet why they had
come around to the rear was more than he could under-
stand.
  "Now you keep right behind me, an' you come quick,"
said Ben, as he looked carefully around to assure himself
that there was no one in sight.
  Paul followed the directions, wondering why one was
obliged to use such precautions in getting into his own
house, and Ben led the way, not into tic building, but
over the fence and down into the yard, where was stored
empty boxes and barrels of every description.
  As if he was perfectly familiar with the way, Ben went
among the boxes to the farther end of the yard, where there
was a hogshead and a large packing-case close together. Ile
pulled the case a few inches aside-for it had been placed
directly in front of the hogshead-and whispered,
  " Get in, quick !"
  Paul obeyed, hardly believing that this could be the real
estate his companions had spoken of, and Ben followed him,
pulling the box against the hogshead again so adroitly as to
betoken considerable practice.
  When one of the candles was lighted, and stuck into an
empty ink-bottle that served as candlestick, Paul was able
to see the interior, and he stared at it in surprise.



20

 


               Tebz Days a Newsboy.                   2 1

  The case was evidently used as a place in which to keep
their food, and as a sort of general storehouse, for an old
coat was lying neatly folded up in one corner, and opposite
it were several tin cans, all slhowin-g more or less marks of
age, and in a battered condition.
  Tlie hogshcad had been lined with old newspapers, and
from the fact that quite a quantity of straw covered the
bottom, it was easy to see that this was the sleeping-room.
  "There !" said Ben, triumphantly, "you can stay here an'
live off the fat of the land jest as long as you want to."
  Anuid Paul never realized that, if lie had tried, lie could
not have hidden himiself more coiiipletely from those who
might be searching for hinm, than by thus sharin,,g the for-
tunes of these two Arabs of the street.
                            2

 

2 2                Left Behinld; or,





                     CHAPTER II.
                  STARTING IN BUSINESS.

         FIEERE was a look of delight on Ben's face as he
         saw his companion examining their home so care-
         fully, and each moment hie expected to hear his
         exclamation of surprise at the very comfortable
manner in which they lived. But since, after waiting some
time, no such exclamation was heard, he asked, a trifle im-
patiently,
  " Ain't it a stunner "
  Now Paul did not really think the place merited any
such praise. In fact, lie was considerably disappointed, and
he compromised the matter by saving,
  " I should think it might be real kind o' comfortable."
  "Kind o' comfortable !" echoed Ben, angrily. " Well, I
don't know anything about Chicago, but if you know of
any fellers there that have got any better place than this,
I'd like to go out an' stay two or three months with 'emii."
  " Well, you see I don't know much about it," said Paul,
conscious that lie had hurt his kiimd-lmearted friemld's feel-

 


Ten Days a Newsboy.



ings, and anxious to make amends in some way. " I've al-
ways lived in a regular house with father and mother, so I
don't know how boys do live that haven't got any home."
  " You'll see how they live before you get back to Chi-
cago," said Ben, grimly; and then he added, in a softened
voice, "I'd like to see how it would seem to have a father
an' a mother, an' a house to live in."
  "Didn't you ever have any, Ben a"
  "No," and the boy's voice trembled now in spite of him-
self; " I don't s'pose I ever did. Me an' Shiner have been
livin' round this way ever since we can remember, an' I
reckon we always lived so. We used to sleep 'round any-
where till Dickey Spry got a chance to run a stand over'n
Jersey City, an' then he sold us this place for fifty cents,
an' I tell you we've fatted right up ever since we had it."
  The conversation was taking such a sorrowful turn that
Johnny's entrance just then was very welcome. Paul stood
very much in need of somne cheerful company, to prevent the
great lump that was growing in his throat from getting the
best of him.
  " Well, you are goin' it strong!" exclaimed Johnny, as he
closed the door, by pulling one portion of their house against
the other. " Why this is 'bout as good as a 'lectric light,
ain't it  I tell you we shall be jest as snug as mice when
ws inter comes, for this candle makes the place so warm."



23

 


24                 Left Behind; or,

  Johnny's idea of the heat from one candle could not be a
correct one, if he thought that their house would be as wvarm
in January from it as it was then in August. But January
was so far away that no one thought of starting an argument
on the subject.
  Ben brought forward the dainties he had bought, and al-
though Shiner's eyes did not stick out as far as lie had said,
there was enough of a pleasant surprise in his face to sat-
isfy Ben for the outlay lie had made.
  . Now this is what I call livin' high," said Jolhnny, in a
choking voice, as lie tried to eat pea-nuts, bologna sausage,
and crackers, all at the same time. " Seems like we'd had
a reg'lar streak of luck ever since we bought this house,
don't it 2"
  " It was a good trade, that's what it was, an' it's lucky for
Polly that we had it, or he'd found out the difference in
huntin' round for a place to sleep."
  Poor Paul! he was doing his best to eat the portion of the
feast that had been set aside as his, but, hungry as lie had
been, he found it difficult to swallow because of the lumip in
his throat, that kept growing larger and larger every mo-
iient, and which seemed to be doing its best to force the
tears from his eyes.
  lie thouglht of his parents and his sister, who were prob-
ably goillg farther away from. himi each miomnemt, grieving

 


Tent Days a News6oy.



quite as much, if not more, because of his absence than he
did himself; and when he realized that he might never see
them again, the tears would roll from beneath his eyelids.
But he brushed them away very quickly, as if ashamed to
have his companions see them, honest though they were.
  Then, as Ben and Johnny began to talk of their business,
leaving him alone, as it seemed, the tears camne faster and
faster, until he could no longer wipe them away, and putting
back into the paper the cracker he was trying to eat, he threw
himself upon the straw, crying as if his heart would break.
  Paul's hosts seemed bewildered by such singular behavior
on his part. They could not understand why a boy who
had had the good-fortune to find such a place in which to
sleep as they had just offered Paul should cry, and not under-
standing it, they did the very best thing for him - they
let him cry, without trying to console him, though it sadly
marred the happiness of their feast.
  The tears were a relief to Paul in more ways than one, for
before they were done flowing lie was sound asleep, and he
did not awake to a consciousness of his troubles until Ben
shook him the following morning.
  " It's time to get up," said the boy, in a kindly tone. "You
see, Shiner has to get down about sunrise to buy his papers,
an' I go with him, so's folks won't be so likely to see us
comin' out of here."



25

 

Left Behind; or,



  It was some moments before Paul realized where lie was,
or what had happened to so change his sleeping-room from
the neat, cleanly one lie called his own at home, to this very
rude shelter. But when all that had occurred came back to
his mind, he leaped to his feet at once, striking his head
against the top of the hogshead with a force that told him he
must lie careful to get up no higher than his hands and knees.
  "You'll see now what a swell house we've got," said
Johnny, when they were outside, and while Paul was still
rubbing the top of his head. " We've got runnin' water near
every room, jest like any place, an' you can come in here an'
wash yer face with jest as much water as Astor can git."
  Johnny led the way to one corner of the building, where
a water-pipe with a faucet jutted out from the brick-work,
having evidently been placed there in case of fire, and turn-
ing the water on, the three boys scrubbed their faces and
hands with the greatest vigor. But Paul found some diffi-
culty in drying himself with straw as his companions did.
  During this important ceremony the boys had been care-
ful to screen themselves from the view of any one on the
street by the boxes, which they had arranged beforehand.
When they were as clean as the water would make them
without soap, they started out of the yard at full speed, go-
ing over the fence as a rubber ball goes over any projection
in its way.



26

 


Teit Days a Newsboy.



  OIicc on the street, whlere they were not afraid of any
one seeing them, their movements were more leisurely,
and they began to discuss plans for starting their guest in
business.
  But the discussion was not a long one, owing to the fact
that but two avenues of trade were open to him-that of
blackening boots or selling papers; and when lie was called
upon to decide, he chose the latter, very much to Johnny's
secret delight.
  "Now, Ben," said Johnny, who appeared to think it his
duty to look out for his guest's business education and wel-
fare, "you'd better kinder lay 'round an' see that the boys
don't try to come it on him the first day, an' I'll keep miy
eye on him too."
  Ben nodded assent, and Johnny said to Paul,
  "You watch, an' see how I do it, after I git the papers,
an' then you do jest as I do. If there is a big lot of news,
it won't be a great deal of -work; but if there ain't anythinig
very 'portant, then you ve got to hioller."
  After this lesson had been given, and while they were
walking towards the newspaper offices, Ben divided what
l)ologna had been left from the feast of the previous even-
iig, and also put in Paul's pocket his share of the pea-nuts
whlich lie had not eaten with the others.
  Oni account of finding an early customer whlio wvanlted his



27

 

Left Behind; or,



boots blackened, Ben did not go with them to get the papers,
but promised to meet Paul on City Hall Square, where it
had been decided he should make his first venture as news-
boy.
  Now the boys who sell the papers do not buy their stock
in the business offices, as Paul had supposed, but are obliged
to go into some room nearer the presses, and where they
will be out of the way of more imnortant customers.
Therefore, when Johnny led him into a room lighted by
gas, even though it was in the day-time, and filled by a crowd
of noisy, pushing, eager boys, all wanting to be served first,
Paul felt quite as much alarmed as surprised.
  "It's all right," said Johnny, as he saw his companion
was about to draw back; "there won't anybody try to
hurt you here, an' you'll git used to it after you've come
two or three times."
  Paul hardly believed that he should become accustomed
to anything of the kind; but before they had finished their
rounds-for Johnny carried four of the different morning
papers-lie could look upon the scene, which was almost
the same in each case, with something very nearly approach-
ing interest.
  When at last the stock was procured, Johnny divided it,
giving half to Paul, and saying, as he did so,
  "I'll git all the papers for a while, till you kinder git



28

 


Ten Days a Nezvsboy.



used to it, an' then you can git 'em for yerself. Now come
over here on the Square an' sing out, as loud as you know
how, jest what I do."
  Then, for example, Johnny began shouting his wares in a
way that was more noisy than distinct. But after lie had
repeated it several times, selling two papers in the mean-
while, Paul had no more idea of what lie said than if he had
been speaking in a foreign tongue.
  Johnny would have lost a good deal of the morning trade,
which was quite brisk, in his efforts to start Paul aright, if
Ben had not come along, and offered to give the beginner
his first lesson.
  Paul found it rather difficult to make as much noise as
Ben seemed to think necessary, for the sound of his own
voice frightened him; but in the course of an hour, during
which time his instructor alternately blackened boots and
gave him lessons, he had got along so well that he was sell-
ing quite a number of papers. His success did a great deal
towards helping him fight off the homesick feeling that
would come over him.
  At first none of the other newsboys paid any attention to
him, perhaps because they were too busy; but as trade be-
gan to grow dull they commenced to gather around Paul,
until he was thoroughly alarmed at some of the demonstra-
tions they made.



29

 

Left Behind; or,



  One boy, considerably larger than he was, insisted that if
he wanted to sell papers lie should go somewhere else to
do it, because that particular portion of the city was under
the immediate control of himself and his friends. Paul
made no reply, for the very good reason that he did not
know but that the claim which this boy set up was a just
one, and he remained silent, which caused his tormentors
to think-exactly what was the true state of the case-that
he was afraid of them.
  One boy, the same who had first spoken, began pushing
him aside, and poor Paul, seeing at least a dozen boys, nearly
all of them larger than he was, standing in threatening atti-
tudes, looked around in vain for his two friends, who had
promised to care for him.
  "You want to get out of this, young feller, an' you don't
want to show your nose 'round here agin," said the largest
member of the party, as he pushed Paul rudely aside with
one hand, and with the other attempted to take his papers
from him.
  It was this, more than anything else, which made Paul
resist; for even if lie had no right on that particular spot,
they surely had no right to take his papers from him; and
besides, they were Johnny's property, not his. Therefore
he felt he should defend them all the more strongly.
  Ile was trying to call up all his strength and will in do-



30

 
























































i' IF YOU PICK ANY ROW WITH HIM, YOU' PICK IT WITH ME AND JOHNNY."



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