uld think not."

"I don't see how I am going to get any clothes."

"You certainly can't if you go to the theater."

"I used to go sometimes when I was a newsboy, and I didn't earn so
much money then."

"Probably you didn't have a regular room then."

"No, I didn't; and sometimes I only had one meal a day."

"That isn't a very nice way to live. You're so old now you ought to be
considering what you'll do when you are a man."

"I mean to earn more than five dollars a week then."

"So do I; but if I were a street boy, picking up my living by blacking
boots or selling papers, I shouldn't expect to. Now we have a chance
to learn business, and improve."

"Were you ever a street boy?" asked Sam, becoming interested in his
companion's history.

"No, that is, not over a month. I was born in the country."

"So was I," said Sam.

"My father and mother both died, leaving nothing, and the people
wanted to send me to the poorhouse; but I didn't like that, so I
borrowed five dollars and came to New York. When I got here I began to
think I should have to go back again. I tried to get a place and
couldn't. Finally, I bought some papers and earned a little money
selling them. It was better than nothing; but all the while I was
hoping to get a place. One day, as I was passing the store where I am
now, I saw some boys round the door. I asked them what was going on.
They told me that Hamilton & Co. had advertised for an errand boy, and
they were going to try for the place. I thought I might as well try,
too, so I went in and applied. I don't know how it was, but out of
about forty boys they took me."

"Did they give you five dollars a week right off?"

"No; I only got three dollars the first year," answered Henry.

"You couldn't live on that, could you?"

"I had to."

"You didn't have the room you have now, did you?"

"I couldn't afford it. I lived at the 'Newsboys Lodge,' and took my
breakfast and suppers there. That cost me eighteen cents a day, or
about a dollar and a quarter a week. Out of the rest I bought my
dinners and clothes. So I got along till the second year, when my
wages were raised to four dollars. At the beginning of the third year
I got a dollar more."

"I suppose you'll get six dollars next year?"

"I hope so. Mr. Hamilton has promised to put me in the counting-room
then."

"It seems a long time to wait," said Sam.

"Yes, if you look ahead; but, after all, time goes fast. Next year I
expect to