"Surely," said the Englishman, "you were not brought up in the street?""Oh, no," answered Rodney, "I was more fortunate.""Then how does it happen that I find you here--among the needy boys of the city?""Because I am needy, too.""But you were not always poor?"
"No; I inherited a moderate fortune from my father. It was only within a short time that I learned from my guardian that it was lost. I left the boarding school where I was being educated, and came to the city to try to make a living.""But surely your guardian would try to provide for you?""He is no longer in the city.""Who was he?" asked Otis Goodnow.
"Mr. Benjamin Fielding."
"Is it possible? Why, I lost three thousand dollars by him.
He has treated you shamefully."
"It was not intentional, I am sure," said Rodney.
"He was probably drawn into using my money by the hope of retrieving himself. He wrote me that he hoped at some time to make restitution.""You speak of him generously, my lad," said Mr. Mulgrave.
"Yet he has brought you to absolute poverty.""Yes, sir, and I won't pretend that it is not a hard trial to me, but if I can get a chance to earn my own living, I will not complain.""Goodnow, a word with you," said the Englishman, and he drew his friend aside. "Can't you make room for this boy in your establishment?"Otis Goodnow hesitated. "At present there is no vacancy," he said.
"Make room for him, and draw upon me for his wages for the first six months.""I will do so, but before the end of that time I am sure he will justify my paying him out of my own pocket."There was a little further conference, and then the two gentlemen came up to where Rodney was standing with Mr. O'Connor.
"My boy," said Mr. Mulgrave, "my friend here will give you a place at five dollars a week. Will that satisfy you?"Rodney's face flushed with pleasure.
"It will make me very happy," he said.
"Come round to my warehouse--here is my business card--tomorrow morning," said the merchant. "Ask to see me.""At what time shall I call, sir?""At half past nine o'clock. That is for the first morning.
When you get to work you will have to be there at eight.""There will be no trouble about that, sir.""Now it is my turn," said the Englishman. "Here are five dollars to keep you till your first week's wages come due.
I dare say you will find them useful."
"Thank you very much, sir. I was almost out of money."After the two gentlemen left the Lodging House Rodney looked at the card and found that his new place of employment was situated on Reade Street not far from Broadway.
"It's you that's in luck, Rodney," said his friend Mike.
"Who'd think that a gentleman would come to the Lodging House to give you a place?""Yes, I am in luck, Mike, and now I'm going to make you a proposal.""What is it?""Why can't we take a room together? It will be better than living here.""Sure you wouldn't room with a poor boy like me?""Why shouldn't I? You are a good friend, and I should like your company. Besides I mean to help you get an education.
I suppose you're not a first class scholar, Mike?""About fourth class, I guess, Rodney.""Then you shall study with me. Then when you know a little more you may get a chance to get out of your present business, and get into a store.""That will be bully!" said Mike with pleasure.
"Now we'd better go to bed; I must be up bright and early in the morning. We'll engage a room before I go to work."There was no difficulty about rising early. It is one of the rules of the Lodging House for the boys to rise at six o'clock, and after a frugal breakfast of coffee and rolls they are expected to go out to their business whatever it may be.
Mike and Rodney dispensed with the regulation breakfast and went out to a restaurant on Park Row where they fared better.
"Now where shall we go for a room?" asked Rodney.
"There's a feller I know has a good room on Bleecker Street,"said Mike.
"How far is that?"
"A little more'n a mile."
"All right! Let us go and see."
Bleecker Street once stood in better repute than at present.
It is said that A. T. Stewart once made his home there. Now it is given over to shops and cheap lodging houses.
