I have found a good
friend who has been very kind to me."
"Who is he?"
"Roland Reed, the owner of the tin box I referred to."
"Roland Reed! I never heard the name. Where is he from?"
"From the West, I believe, though at present he is staying in
New York."
"How much were you paid as janitor?"
"A dollar a week."
"That is very little. Is the amount important to you?"
"No, sir, not now." And then Luke gave particulars of the
good fortune of the family in having secured a profitable boarder,
and, furthermore, in obtaining for himself profitable employment.
"This Mr. Reed seems to be a kind-hearted and liberal man.
I am glad for your sake. I sympathize with poor boys. Can you
guess the reason?"
"Were you a poor boy yourself, sir?"
"I was, and a very poor boy. When I was a boy of thirteen
and fourteen I ran around in overalls and bare-footed. But I
don't think it did me any harm," the old man added, musingly.
"It kept me from squandering money on foolish pleasures, for I
had none to spend; it made me industrious and self-reliant, and
when I obtained employment it made me anxious to please my employer.
Pages:
109
110
111
112
113
114
115
116
117
118
119
120
121
122
123
124
125
126
127
128
129
130
131
132
133