CHAPTER I IS INTRODUCED TO " Wake up there , , " said .
opened eyes slowly , and stared stupidly in the face of , but did not offer to get up .
" Wake up , ! "
said a little impatiently ; " suppose 'd lay there all day , if had n't called . "
" What time is it ? "
asked .
" Seven o'clock . "
" Seven o'clock !
oughter 've been up an hour ago .
know what 't was made so precious sleepy .
went to last night , and did n't turn in till past twelve . "
" went to ?
Where 'd get money ? "
asked , who was .
" Made it by shines , in course .
do n't allow no money for , so have to earn it . "
" get it easier than that , " said significantly .
" do n't catch stealin ' , if that 's what mean , " said .
" Do n't ever steal , then ? "
" No , and would n't .
does it , but would n't . "
" Well , 'm glad to hear say that .
believe there 's some good in , , after all . "
" Oh , 'm ! "
said .
" But would n't steal .
It 's mean . "
" 'm glad think so , , " and sounded gentler than at first .
" Have got any money to buy breakfast ? "
" No , but 'll soon get some . "
While this conversation had been going on , had got up .
had been a wooden box half full of straw , on which had reposed weary limbs , and slept as soundly as if it had been a bed of down .
dumped down into the straw without taking the trouble of undressing .
Getting up too was an equally short process .
jumped out of the box , shook , picked out one or two straws that had found their way into rents in clothes , and , drawing a well-worn cap over uncombed locks , was all ready for the business of the day .
's appearance as stood beside the box was rather peculiar .
pants were torn in several places , and had apparently belonged in the first instance to .
wore a vest , all the buttons of which were gone except two , out of which peeped a shirt which looked as if it had been worn a month .
To complete costume wore a coat too long for , dating back , if one might judge from its general appearance , to a remote antiquity .
Washing the face and hands is usually considered proper in commencing the day , but was above such refinement .
had no particular dislike to dirt , and did not think it necessary to remove several dark streaks on face and hands .
But in spite of dirt and rags there was something about that was attractive .
It was easy to see that if had been clean and well dressed would have been decidedly good-looking .
were sly , and faces inspired distrust ; but had a frank , straight-forward manner that made a favorite .
's business hours had commenced .
had to open .
little blacking-box was ready for use , and looked sharply in the faces of , addressing each with , " Shine yer boots , ? "
" How much ? "
asked .
" Ten cents , " said , dropping box , and sinking upon knees on , flourishing brush with the air of .
" Ten cents !
Is n't that a little steep ? "
" Well , know ' taint all clear profit , " said .
" There 's the _ blacking _ costs something , and have to get a new brush pretty often . "
" And have a large rent too , " said quizzically , with a glance at a large hole in 's coat .
" Yes , , " said , always ready to joke ; " have to pay such a big rent for , that ca n't afford to take less than ten cents a shine .
'll give a bully shine , . "
" Be quick about it , for am in a hurry .
So is on , is ? "
" is n't anywhere else , " said , and spoke the truth there .
" What do patronize ? "
asked , surveying 's attire .
" Would like to go to the same one ? "
asked , shrewdly .
" Well , no ; it strikes that did n't give a very good fit . "
" This coat once belonged to , " said , comically .
" wore it all through the Revolution , and it got torn some , 'cause fit so hard .
When died told to give it to ; so gave it to .
But if 'd like it , , to remember by , 'll let have it reasonable . "
" Thank , but would n't want to deprive of it .
And did pants come from too ? "
" No , they was a gift from .
had outgrown 'em and sent 'em to , -- 's bigger than , and that 's why they do n't fit . "
" It seems have .
Now , , suppose would like money . "
" should n't have any objection , " said .
" believe , " said , examining pocket-book , " have n't got anything short of twenty-five cents .
Have got any change ? "
" Not a cent , " said .
" All money 's invested in . "
" That 's unfortunate . "
" Shall get the money changed , ? "
" ca n't wait ; 've got to meet an appointment immediately .
'll hand twenty-five cents , and can leave the change at any time during the day . "
" All right , .
Where is ? "
" .
Shall remember ? "
" Yes , .
What name ? "
" , -- . "
" All right , ; 'll bring it . "
" wonder whether will prove honest , " said to , as walked away .
" If does , 'll give custom regularly .
If do n't as is most likely , sha n't mind the loss of fifteen cents . "
did n't understand .
was n't in all respects .
am afraid swore sometimes , and now and then played tricks upon , or gave a wrong direction to .
once directed to , and , following unobserved , was highly delighted when walked up the front steps of , and tried to obtain admission .
" guess would n't want to stay long if did get in , " thought , hitching up pants .
" Leastways should n't .
're so precious glad to see that wo n't let go , but board gratooitous , and never send in no bills . "
Another of 's faults was extravagance .
Being always wide-awake and ready for business , earned enough to have supported comfortably and respectably .
There were not who employed from time to time in professional capacity , who scarcely earned as much as , greatly as style and dress exceeded .
But was careless of earnings .
Where they went could hardly have told .
However much managed to earn during the day , all was generally spent before morning .
was fond of going to , and to , and if had any money left afterwards , would invite in somewhere to have an oyster-stew ; so it seldom happened that commenced the day with a penny .
Then am sorry to add that had formed the habit of smoking .
This cost considerable , for was rather fastidious about cigars , and would n't smoke the cheapest .
Besides , having a liberal nature , was generally ready to treat .
But of course the expense was the smallest objection .
can smoke without being affected injuriously .
are frequently injured by smoking , and always .
But form the habit .
Exposed to the cold and wet find that it warms up , and the self-indulgence grows upon .
It is not uncommon to see , too young to be out of 's sight , smoking with all the apparent satisfaction of .
There was another way in which sometimes lost money .
There was , which in the evening was sometimes crowded with , who staked hard earnings , generally losing of course , and refreshing from time to time with a vile mixture of liquor at two cents a glass .
Sometimes strayed in , and played with .
have mentioned 's faults and defects , because want it understood , to begin with , that do n't consider .
But there were some good points about nevertheless .
was above doing anything mean or dishonorable .
would not steal , or cheat , or impose upon , but was frank and straight-forward , manly and self-reliant .
nature was a noble one , and had saved from all mean faults .
hope will like as do , without being blind to faults .
Perhaps , although was only , may find something in to imitate .