Dave Ranney / Or, Thirty Years on the Bowery; An Autobiography

e thought about it time and time again, and have come to the conclusion to write a story of my life, the good and the bad, and if t

there are now. I was born in old Dutch Row, now called Beacon Avenue, in a two-story frame house. In thos

, and then we would play Indian with him, and do everything with him except burn him. We were all boys born in America, but if we lived in Dutch Row, why, we had to be Dutch; but if, on the other hand, we happened to live in Irish Row, we had to be Irish. I

ing does a boy or girl so much good as lots of play in the open air. I never had a serious sickness in my life except the measles, and that was easy, for I wa

her I won't say so much about. He was a rough man who loved his cups, and died, as you might say, a young man through his own waywardness. I did love my mother, and would give anything now to have her here with me as I am writing this story. She has gone

T TASTE

many pounds to the quart. Every time I went for the beer I used to take a swallow before I came back, and sometimes two, and after a while I really began to enjoy it. Do you know, I was laying the found

ld rather play ball than go home to dinner. In those days the game was different from what it is at the present time. I was up in all athle

ch side would be eager to get the quickest and fastest runner on their side. How I did like that game! We then tossed to see who would be the outs and who would chase the outs, and many's the

All the learning I received was, you might say, pounded into me. He used to say to me, "David, why don't you be good and study your lessons? There is the making of a man in you, but if you don't study you will be fit for nothing else than the pick and shovel

n city; lawyers, surrogates, judges, and some in business for themselves, making a name and doing something, while I was no earthly use to myself or to any one else. Some p

r shelter, but they could, if they looked back to their early life, see that they were making their beds then, or as the Bible reads, sowing the seed. Listen, young people, and take heed. Don't believe the

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e of boys and we would hide our books until closing-time. If any boy was sent to my home with a note, I would see that boy and tell him if he went he knew what he would get. He knew

Little did I know what would happen before the day was over. One of the boys with us went out beyond his depth and was drowned. I can still hea

would make me stop too; but no, I went right along sowi

acher got tired of receiving notes saying I was sick, and she determined to se

mother it was all up with me, so I ran and met her and told her mother was out and would not be back until late. She a

of the window and asked who was there and what she wanted. Well, mother came down, and things were made straight as far as she and the teacher were concerned; but I was in for it; I knew that by the way mother looked at

If dad had been home I guess he could have caught me, that is if he had been sober. Mother could not run very fast, so I got clear of the whip for that time

Mike and told him all about the licking, and Mike said, "Don't go home; you are a fool if you do." We went around, and I was getting hungry, when we thought of a plan by which we could get something to eat. Mother ran a book in a groc

e left blank they refer t

sterday, and I'll never forget it as long as I live. After I got the things the grocer said, "Where is the book?" I told

We had a swim with some other boys, and after telling them not to say that they saw me, we le

his way inside. Remember I was green at the business; I had never been away from home before; and Mike, though only a little older, was used to this kind of life. Well, I pulled out hay enough,

e all the time. My head was under and my feet covered with the hay, when something took hold of my foot and began to chew. My hair stood on end, and I gave a yell that would have awakened "The Seven Sleepers." It woke Mike, and the last I heard of him that night he was laughing as though he would spli

ike --. When I did not come home they thought surely I was drowned, but I was born for a different fate. Sometimes in my years of roaming afterwards I wished I

EBALL

atch for my team and I would not miss that game of ball for anything in the world; I simply had to go. In looking around the room I found a skirt belonging to my sister that I thought would answer my purpose. I had my shirt on and I put the skirt on over my head. Then I ripped the skirt up the center and tied it around each leg with a piece of cord-anythin

which side won that game, but when it was finished I went home and met mother,

f them, and they do corrupt your mind. I would advise the young people who read these lines, and older folks also, if this is your style of reading, to stop ri

ETING ADDRESSE