as bootblack were the best he had. His face and hands generally bore the marks of his business, and as long as he made enough to buy three

taking a room with him, he looked at life with different eyes. He began to understand that his business, though honorable because

ad," he said one day, "I'

se would

more respectable than blackin'

Do you need m

o weeks, and I'd have to liv

an see you t

y, Rodney. I'll wait and se

ing near the ladies' entrance to the Astor House one day, when casting his eyes downward he espied a nea

as no one had seen him pick it up. But Mike was by instinct an honest boy, and he decided that this would not b

own silk and wearing glasses, walked up from the direction of Broad

s hers," th

for anything, m

and glanc

n I left the hotel, but I had something on my mind and I think I must have drop

ed Mike, producin

he lady joyfully. "Wh

Mike, indicating a p

eal of money in it?" said Mi

u didn't

n't have a chance

osing it. It contained a receipt for a thousand dollars which I am to use in a law suit. Tha

glad I f

boy. You seem to

I was rich I wouldn't bl

Arabs I've read about," and the lady loo

pect

e you haven't

ount is very

ed 'Ragged Dick.' I think he was

ma'am," answere

don't represent Mike as p

r my little nephew. Now I can tell him I have s

eformed

for

' boots. He's in b

in this pocketbook, you wouldn't spend

eform like my cou

truthful boy. Here are

aid Mike overjoyed. "No, I don't mean that bu

eciate your good wishes. I am an old maid from princip

ffice, ma'am?" asked M

onsibility. Please tell me your n

is Michae

are of Celti

ver heard that I was. It i

my own veins. If you ever come to Boston

Mike, who thought the l

yer, and leave the receipt w

"I'll go home and dress up, and app

upper time he found Mike,

he asked. "Have you r

business. Tomorrow I sh

haven't saved up te

dy gave me ten dollars fo

s fine

s at that time, and Mike, who was a sharp lad, on pass

hat he had risen in the social scale. True, his earnings did not average as m

the task of making up the deficiencies in his early education. These were extensi

him in good stead, and enabled him to make more rapid advancement than some who had been longer in the employ of the firm. In particular he was promote

onceived a great dislike for Rodney, of

his duties, and failed to inspire confidence. He was a boy who liked to spend money and found his

one day, "when do you t

now if it were no

mean

romoted to a place which

d Jasper. "I have bee

pet. It was an unlucky day for you whe

Mr. Goodnow t

ad decided to give Arc

on account of pulmonary weakness, to lea

does Ropes

dollars

They ought to have more regard for you, Uncle

what we can

get into some scrape

er dwelt upon it, and out o