Ben, the Luggage Boy; Or, Among the Wharves

had not yet given up the idea of getting a place in a store, tho

efore a bookstore. Here, too, t

WAN

nter. The oldest, a man of forty, Ben decided to be the pro

boy to run of errands, and deliver p

years

s rathe

speaking the truth here, for he was rathe

ry heavy parcels to carry. Are you well acquain

ht. He was at first tempted to say y

r," he

n the lower pa

is, I'm going

ve you lived

s morning," Ben con

my purpose. We need a boy who is we

or black boots. Of the two he preferred selling papers. Blacking boots would soil his hands and his clothes, and, as it was possible that he might some day encounter some one from his native village, he did not like to have the report carried ho

ree dollars per week, when a question as to his parents revealed the fact

Ben, despondently. "I

acks. As a rule, they bore the marks of their occupation not only on their clothes, but on their faces and hands as well. Some, who were a little more careful than the rest, were provided with a small square strip of carpeting, on which they kneeled when engaged in "shining up" a customer's b

y of Ben, observing that our you

, "if you'll do

eye for nothing

id Ben, "I won'

ds. A young man, whose appearance indicated that he was from the country

ch do y

e cents," w

imed the customer, aghast.

e, mister," w

kin' boots down by the

ll Park. We're employed by the city, an

e victim, in a tone of disappointment, producing twenty-five

a treat, or we'll peach

ce he ordered a penny ice-cream all round for the half-dozen boys in his company, even

ngry. There were apple and cake stands just outside the railings, on which he could have regaled himself cheapl

He had but twenty-two cents, and whatever he got must come within tha

,-that was

to get some dinner?" he aske

reet or Fulton Str

eet?" asked Ben, cat

y. You can go with

nd was led past the museum, the site of which, as I

n soon saw a restaurant, with

od place," s

you," s

uld obtain a plate of roast beef for fifteen cents, and a cup of coffee for

the door a

the sides of the room, were small tables intended for four persons each. There were but few eating, as the busy tim

one of the side tables, laying

ame up, and stood

te of roast be

r. Coffe

ffe

r end of the dining-room, a

turned with the article or

l piece of bread on the side of the plate. The co

restaurants, and supposed that, as in

ty cents," he said, pr

as you go out,"

rst time noticed a man behind a co

roduced a green ticket, beari

ical. At home he would have turned up his nose at such a repast, but hunger is very well adapted to cure one of fastidiousness. He ate rapidly, and felt that he had seldom eaten anything so good. He was sorry there was no more bread, the supply being exceedingly limi

ould not help wishing he had a cup of the g

asked the waiter, co

e prices of different articles. His eye rested rather longingly on "Apple Dumplings." He was very fond of this dish, and his appetite was so far from b

said he, and ros

t more comfortable than he had done, as one is very apt to feel after a good dinner, and B

hould h

ere would be something to see, and he was interested in watching the street boys, whose ranks he felt that he should very soon be compelled to join. His prospects did not look particularly bright, as he was