fty miles by cars--that is, from Fall River."

"All the better," said Sam. "That will give us a little variety."

Meanwhile, the passengers were pouring in, and the cabin was getting
full.

"I guess I'll go out on deck," said Sam; "I want to see the boat
start."

"I should like to, ever so much."

"Come with me, then. I'll take care of you," said Sam, manfully. "Let
me carry your cage. It's too heavy for you."

So the two went out on deck together.

CHAPTER XIX.

MUTUAL CONFIDENCES.

The reader who has followed Sam's fortunes closely may wonder how a
boy so shabbily dressed as Sam, could be treated as an equal by a
young lady of good family. This leads me to explain that about a month
before Sam had been presented with a neat suit of clothes, originally
made for a nephew of his employer, but which had proved too small.
Thus it happened that, with the exception of his hat, which was rather
the worse for wear, our hero presented quite a respectable
appearance.

Julia Stockton remained outside with Sam till the boat rounded the
Battery, and for three-quarters of an hour longer. Sam was very well
qualified to answer her numerous questions about the different places
they passed.

"What is that island?" asked Julia.

"That is Blackwell's Island," answered Sam.

"Is that where the penitentiary is?" she inquired, with interest.

"Yes, it is that long stone building."

"How gloomy it is!" said Julia, with a shudder. "How can people be so
wicked as to need to go to such a place?"

Sam winced. He knew very well that he had done things, or, at any
rate, planned them, which would have entitled him to a place in the
prison they were now passing.

"How ashamed I should be if I were ever sent there, and Julia should
know it!" he thought.

"What makes you look so sober?" asked Julia.

"I was pitying the poor people who are confined there."

"It must be horrid, but I suppose it can't be helped. I don't see how
anybody can want to steal."

Sam thought he could understand. It was not so long since he himself
had tried to appropriate the property of another; but he only
determined that this should not happen again. He could not consent to
forfeit the good opinion of Julia Stockton, and the class to which she
belonged. A new ambition began to stir in Sam's soul--the ambition to
lead a thoroughly respectable life, and to rise to some creditable
position.

"I will turn over a new leaf, I really will," he sa