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diff --git a/old/54006-0.txt b/old/54006-0.txt deleted file mode 100644 index bbd3d60..0000000 --- a/old/54006-0.txt +++ /dev/null @@ -1,7364 +0,0 @@ -The Project Gutenberg EBook of Tattered Tom, by Horatio Alger Jr. - -This eBook is for the use of anyone anywhere in the United States and most -other parts of the world at no cost and with almost no restrictions -whatsoever. You may copy it, give it away or re-use it under the terms of -the Project Gutenberg License included with this eBook or online at -www.gutenberg.org. If you are not located in the United States, you'll have -to check the laws of the country where you are located before using this ebook. - -Title: Tattered Tom - or The Story of a Street Arab - -Author: Horatio Alger Jr. - -Release Date: January 18, 2017 [EBook #54006] - -Language: English - -Character set encoding: UTF-8 - -*** START OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK TATTERED TOM *** - - - - -Produced by KD Weeks, David Edwards and the Online -Distributed Proofreading Team at http://www.pgdp.net (This -book was produced from scanned images of public domain -material from the Google Books project.) - - - - - - ------------------------------------------------------------------------- - - Transcriber’s Note: - -This version of the text cannot represent certain typographical effects. -Bold and italic characters, which appear only in the advertisements, are -delimited with the ‘_’ and ‘=’ characters respectively, as ‘_italic_’ and -‘=bold=.’ - -The few minor errors, attributable to the printer, have been corrected. -Please see the transcriber’s note at the end of this text for details -regarding the handling of these issues. - - - - - POPULAR JUVENILE BOOKS, - - BY HORATIO ALGER, JR. - - ---------- - - _RAGGED DICK SERIES._ - _Complete in Six Volumes._ - I. RAGGED DICK; or, Street Life in New York. - - II. FAME AND FORTUNE; or, The Progress of Richard - Hunter. - - III. MARK, THE MATCH BOY. - - IV. ROUGH AND READY; or, Life Among New York Newsboys. - - V. BEN, THE LUGGAGE BOY; or, Among the Wharves. - - VI. RUFUS AND ROSE; or, The Fortunes of Rough and - Ready. - - =_Price, $1.25 per volume._= - - ---------- - - _CAMPAIGN SERIES._ - _Complete in Three Volumes._ - I. FRANK’S CAMPAIGN. - II. PAUL PRESCOTT’S CHARGE. - III. CHARLIE CODMAN’S CRUISE. - =_Price, $1.25 per volume._= - - ---------- - - _LUCK AND PLUCK SERIES._ - _To be completed in Six Volumes._ - I. LUCK AND PLUCK; or, John Oakley’s Inheritance. - - II. SINK OR SWIM; or, Harry Raymond’s Resolve. - - III. STRONG AND STEADY; or, Paddle your own Canoe. (In - October, 1871.) - - OTHERS IN PREPARATION. - - =_Price, $1.50 per volume._= - - ---------- - - _TATTERED TOM SERIES._ - - _To be completed in Six Volumes._ - I. TATTERED TOM; or, The story of a Street Arab. - - II. PAUL, THE PEDDLER; or, The Adventures of a Young - Street Merchant. (In November, 1871.) - - OTHERS IN PREPARATION. - - =_Price, $1.25 per volume._= - ------------------------------------------------------------------------- - -[Illustration] - ------------------------------------------------------------------------- - ------------------------------------------------------------------------- - - TATTERED TOM SERIES. - - BY - - HORATIO ALGER JR. - -[Illustration] - - TATTERED TOM. - ------------------------------------------------------------------------- - - TATTERED TOM; - OR, - THE STORY OF A STREET ARAB. - - BY - - HORATIO ALGER, JR., - - AUTHOR OF “RAGGED DICK SERIES,” “LUCK AND PLUCK SERIES,” - “CAMPAIGN SERIES.” - - ---------- - - LORING, Publisher, - COR. BROMFIELD AND WASHINGTON STREETS, - BOSTON. - - - - - Entered according to Act of Congress, in the year 1871, by - A. K. LORING, - In the office of the Librarian of Congress, at Washington. - - - - - - - - - Rockwell & Churchill, Printers and Stereotypers, - 122 Washington Street, Boston. - ------------------------------------------------------------------------- - - - - - =To= - =AMOS AND O. AUGUSTA CHENEY,= - - =This Volume= - - IS DEDICATED - - BY THEIR AFFECTIONATE BROTHER. - ------------------------------------------------------------------------- - - - - - PREFACE. - - ---------- - - -When, three years since, the author published “Ragged Dick,” he was far -from anticipating the flattering welcome it would receive, or the degree -of interest which would be excited by his pictures of street life in New -York. The six volumes which comprised his original design are completed, -but the subject is not exhausted. There are yet other phases of street -life to be described, and other classes of street Arabs, whose fortunes -deserve to be chronicled. - -“Tattered Tom” is therefore presented to the public as the initial -volume of a new series of six stories, which may be regarded as a -continuation of the “Ragged Dick Series.” Some surprise may be felt at -the discovery that Tom is a girl; but I beg to assure my readers that -she is not one of the conventional kind. Though not without her good -points, she will be found to differ very widely in tastes and manners -from the young ladies of twelve usually to be met in society. I venture -to hope that she will become a favorite in spite of her numerous faults, -and that no less interest will be felt in her fortunes than in those of -the heroes of earlier volumes. - -NEW YORK, April, 1871. - ------------------------------------------------------------------------- - - TATTERED TOM; - - OR, - - THE ADVENTURES OF A STREET ARAB. - - ------- - - - - - CHAPTER I. - INTRODUCES TATTERED TOM. - - -Mr. Frederic Pelham, a young gentleman very daintily dressed, with -exquisitely fitting kids and highly polished boots, stood at the corner -of Broadway and Chambers Streets, surveying with some dismay the dirty -crossing, and speculating as to his chances of getting over without -marring the polish of his boots. - -He started at length, and had taken two steps, when a dirty hand was -thrust out, and he was saluted by the request, “Gi’ me a penny, sir?” - -“Out of my way, you bundle of rags!” he answered. - -“You’re another!” was the prompt reply. - -Frederic Pelham stared at the creature who had dared to imply that he—a -leader of fashion—was a bundle of rags. - -The street-sweeper was apparently about twelve years of age. It was not -quite easy to determine whether it was a boy or girl. The head was -surmounted by a boy’s cap, the hair was cut short, it wore a boy’s -jacket, but underneath was a girl’s dress. Jacket and dress were both in -a state of extreme raggedness. The child’s face was very dark and, as -might be expected, dirty; but it was redeemed by a pair of brilliant -black eyes, which were fixed upon the young exquisite in an expression -half-humorous, half-defiant, as the owner promptly retorted, “You’re -another!” - -“Clear out, you little nuisance!” said the dandy, stopping short from -necessity, for the little sweep had planted herself directly in his -path; and to step out on either side would have soiled his boots -irretrievably. - -“Gi’ me a penny, then?” - -“I’ll hand you to the police, you little wretch!” - -“I aint done nothin’. Gi’ me a penny?” - -Mr. Pelham, provoked, raised his cane threateningly. - -But Tom (for, in spite of her being a girl, this was the name by which -she was universally known; indeed she scarcely knew any other) was wary. -She dodged the blow, and by an adroit sweep of her broom managed to -scatter some mud on Mr. Pelham’s boots. - -“You little brat, you’ve muddied my boots!” he exclaimed, with vexation. - -“Then why did you go for to strike me?” said Tom, defiantly. - -He did not stop to answer, but hurried across the street. His pace was -accelerated by an approaching vehicle, and the instinct of -self-preservation, more powerful than even the dictates of fashion, -compelled him to make a détour through the mud, greatly to the injury of -his no longer immaculate boots. But there was a remedy for the disaster -on the other side. - -“Shine your boots, sir?” asked a boot-black, who had stationed himself -at the other side of the crossing. - -Frederic Pelham looked at his boots. Their glory had departed. Their -virgin gloss had been dimmed by plebeian mud. He grudged the -boot-black’s fee, for he was thoroughly mean, though he had plenty of -money at his command. But it was impossible to walk up Broadway in such -boots. Suppose he should meet any of his fashionable friends, especially -if ladies, his fashionable reputation would be endangered. - -“Go ahead, boy!” he said. “Do your best.” - -“All right, sir.” - -“It’s the second time I’ve had my boots blacked this morning. If it -hadn’t been for that dirty sweep I should have got across safely.” - -The boy laughed—to himself. He knew Tom well enough, and he had been an -interested spectator of her encounter with his present customer, having -an eye to business. But he didn’t think it prudent to make known his -thoughts. - -The boots were at length polished, and Mr. Pelham saw with satisfaction -that no signs of the street mire remained. - -“How much do you want, boy?” he asked. - -“Ten cents.” - -“I thought five cents was the price.” - -“Can’t afford to work on no such terms.” - -Mr. Pelham might have disputed the fee, but he saw an acquaintance -approaching, and did not care to be caught chaffering with a boot-black. -He therefore reluctantly drew out a dime, and handed it to the boy, who -at once deposited it in the pocket of a ragged vest. - -He stood on the sidewalk on the lookout for another customer, when Tom -marched across the street, broom in hand. - -“I say, Joe, how much did he give you?” - -“Ten cents.” - -“How much yer goin’ to give me?” - -“Nothin’!” - -“You wouldn’t have got him if I hadn’t muddied his boots.” - -“Did you do it a-purpose?” - -Tom nodded. - -“What for?” - -“He called me names. That’s one reason. Besides, I wanted to give you a -job.” - -Joe seemed struck by this view, and, being alive to his own interest, -did not disregard the application. - -“Here’s a penny,” he said. - -“Gi’ me two.” - -He hesitated a moment, then diving once more into his pocket, brought up -another penny, which Tom transferred with satisfaction to the pocket of -her dress. - -“Shall I do it ag’in?” she asked. - -“Yes,” said Joe. “I say, Tom, you’re a smart un.” - -“I’d ought to be. Granny makes me smart whenever she gets a chance.” - -Tom returned to the other end of the crossing, and began to sweep -diligently. Her labors did not extend far from the curbstone, as the -stream of vehicles now rapidly passing would have made it dangerous. -However, it was all one to Tom where she swept. The cleanness of the -crossing was to her a matter of comparative indifference. Indeed, -considering her own disregard of neatness, it could hardly have been -expected that she should feel very solicitous on that point. Like some -of her elders who were engaged in municipal labors, she regarded -street-sweeping as a “job,” out of which she was to make money, and her -interest began and ended with the money she earned. - -There were not so many to cross Broadway at this point as lower down, -and only a few of these seemed impressed by a sense of the pecuniary -value of Tom’s services. - -“Gi’ me a penny, sir,” she said to a stout gentleman. - -He tossed a coin into the mud. - -Tom darted upon it, and fished it up, wiping her fingers afterwards upon -her dress. - -“Aint you afraid of soiling your dress?” asked the philanthropist, -smiling. - -“What’s the odds?” said Tom, coolly. - -“You’re a philosopher,” said the stout gentleman. - -“Don’t you go to callin’ me names!” said Tom; “’cause if you do I’ll -muddy up your boots.” - -“So you don’t want to be called a philosopher?” said the gentleman. - -“No, I don’t,” said Tom, eying him suspiciously. - -“Then I must make amends.” - -He took a dime from his pocket, and handed it to the astonished Tom. - -“Is this for me?” she asked. - -“Yes.” - -Tom’s eyes glistened; for ten cents was a nugget when compared with her -usual penny receipts. She stood in a brown study till her patron was -half across the street, then, seized with a sudden idea, she darted -after him, and tugged at his coat-tail. - -“What’s wanted?” he asked, turning round in some surprise. - -“I say,” said Tom, “you may call me that name ag’in for five cents -more.” - -The ludicrous character of the proposal struck him, and he laughed with -amusement. - -“Well,” he said, “that’s a good offer. What’s your name?” - -“Tom.” - -“Which are you,—a boy or a girl?” - -“I’m a girl, but I wish I was a boy.” - -“What for?” - -“’Cause boys are stronger than girls, and can fight better.” - -“Do you ever fight?” - -“Sometimes.” - -“Whom do you fight with?” - -“Sometimes I fight with the boys, and sometimes with granny.” - -“What makes you fight with your granny?” - -“She gets drunk and fires things at my head; then I pitch into her.” - -The cool, matter-of-fact manner in which Tom spoke seemed to amuse her -questioner. - -“I was right,” he said; “you’re a philosopher,—a practical philosopher.” - -“That’s more’n you said before,” said Tom; “I want ten cents for that.” - -The ten cents were produced. Tom pocketed them in a business-like -manner, and went back to her employment. She wondered, slightly, whether -a philosopher was something very bad; but, as there was no means of -determining, sensibly dismissed the inquiry, and kept on with her work. - - - - - CHAPTER II - TOM GETS A SQUARE MEAL. - - -About twelve o’clock Tom began to feel the pangs of hunger. The exercise -which she had taken, together with the fresh air, had stimulated her -appetite. It was about the time when she was expected to go home, and -accordingly she thrust her hand into her pocket, and proceeded to count -the money she had received. - -“Forty-two cents!” she said, at last, in a tone of satisfaction. “I -don’t generally get more’n twenty. I wish that man would come round and -call me names every day.” - -Tom knew that she was expected to go home and carry the result of her -morning’s work to her granny; but the unusual amount suggested to her -another idea. Her mid-day meal was usually of the plainest and -scantiest,—a crust of dry bread, or a cold sausage on days of -plenty,—and Tom sometimes did long for something better. But generally -it would have been dangerous to appropriate a sufficient sum from her -receipts, as the deficit would have been discovered, and quick -retribution would have followed from her incensed granny, who was a -vicious old woman with a pretty vigorous arm. Now, however, she could -appropriate twenty cents without danger of discovery. - -“I can get a square meal for twenty cents,” Tom reflected, “and I’ll do -it.” - -But she must go home first, as delay would be dangerous, and have -disagreeable consequences. - -She prepared for the visit by dividing her morning’s receipts into two -parcels. The two ten-cent scrips she hid away in the lining of her -tattered jacket. The pennies, including one five-cent scrip, she put in -the pocket of her dress. This last was intended for her granny. She then -started homewards, dragging her broom after her. - -She walked to Centre Street, turned after a while into Leonard, and went -on, turning once or twice, until she came to one of the most wretched -tenement houses to be found in that not very choice locality. She passed -through an archway leading into an inner court, on which fronted a rear -house more shabby, if possible, than the front dwelling. The court was -redolent of odors far from savory; children pallid, dirty, and -unhealthy-looking, were playing about, filling the air with shrill -cries, mingled with profanity; clothes were hanging from some of the -windows; miserable and besotted faces were seen at others. - -Tom looked up to a window in the fourth story. She could descry a woman, -with a pipe in her mouth. - -“Granny’s home,” she said to herself. - -She went up three flights, and, turning at the top, went to the door and -opened it. - -It was a wretched room, containing two chairs and a table, nothing more. -On one of the chairs was seated a large woman, of about sixty, with a -clay pipe in her mouth. The room was redolent of the vilest -tobacco-smoke. - -This was granny. - -If granny had ever been beautiful, there were no traces of that -dangerous gift in the mottled and wrinkled face, with bleared eyes, -which turned towards the door as Tom entered. - -“Why didn’t you come afore, Tom?” she demanded. - -“I’m on time,” said Tom. “Clock aint but just struck.” - -“How much have you got?” - -Tom pulled out her stock of pennies and placed them in the woman’s -outstretched palm. - -“There’s twenty-two,” she said. - -“Umph!” said granny. “Where’s the rest?” - -“That’s all.” - -“Come here.” - -Tom advanced, not reluctantly, for she felt sure that granny would not -think of searching her jacket, especially as she had brought home as -much as usual. - -The old woman thrust her hand into the child’s pocket, and turned it -inside-out with her claw-like fingers, but not another penny was to be -found. - -“Umph!” she grunted, apparently satisfied with her scrutiny. - -“Didn’t I tell you so?” said Tom. - -Granny rose from her chair, and going to a shelf took down a piece of -bread, which had become dry and hard. - -“There’s your dinner,” said she. - -“Gi’ me a penny to buy an apple,” said Tom,—rather by way of keeping up -appearances than because she wanted one. Visions of a more satisfactory -repast filled her imagination. - -“You don’t want no apple. Bread’s enough,” said granny. - -Tom was not much disappointed. She knew pretty well beforehand how her -application would fare. Frequently she made sure of success by buying -the apple and eating it before handing the proceeds of her morning’s -work to the old woman. To-day she had other views, which she was in a -hurry to carry out. - -She took the bread, and ate a mouthful. Then she slipped it into her -pocket, and said, “I’ll eat it as I go along, granny.” - -To this the old woman made no objection, and Tom went out. - -In the court-yard below she took out her crust, and handed it to a -hungry-looking boy of ten, the unlucky offspring of drunken parents, who -oftentimes was unable to command even such fare as Tom obtained. - -“Here, Tim,” she said, “eat that; I aint hungry.” - -It was one of Tim’s frequent fast days, and even the hard crust was -acceptable to him. He took it readily, and began to eat it ravenously. -Tom looked on with benevolent interest, feeling the satisfaction of -having done a charitable act. The satisfaction might have been -heightened by the thought that she was going to get something better -herself. - -“So you’re hungry, Tim,” she said. - -“I’m always hungry,” said Tim. - -“Did you have any breakfast?” - -“Only an apple I picked up in the street.” - -“He’s worse off than me,” thought Tom; but she had no time to reflect on -the superior privileges of her own position, for she was beginning to -feel hungry herself. - -There was a cheap restaurant near by, only a few blocks away. - -Tom knew it well, for she had often paused before the door and inhaled -enviously the appetizing odor of the dishes which were there vended to -patrons not over-fastidious, at prices accommodated to scantily lined -pocket-books. Tom had never entered, but had been compelled to remain -outside, wishing that a more propitious fortune had placed it in her -power to dine there every day. Now, however, first thrusting her fingers -into the lining of her jacket to make sure that the money was there, she -boldly entered the restaurant and took a seat at one of the tables. - -The room was not large, there being only eight tables, each of which -might accommodate four persons. The floor was sanded, the tables were -some of them bare, others covered with old newspapers, which had become -greasy, and were rather worse than no table-cloth at all. The guests, of -whom perhaps a dozen were seated at the table, were undoubtedly -plebeian. Men in shirt-sleeves, rough-bearded sailors and ’long-shore -men, composed the company, with one ragged boot-black, who had his -blacking-box on the seat beside him. - -It was an acquaintance of Tom, and she went and sat beside him. - -“Do you get dinner here, Jim?” she asked. - -“Yes, Tom; what brings you here?” - -“I’m hungry.” - -“Don’t you live along of your granny?” - -“Yes; but I thought I’d come here to-day. What have you got?” - -“Roast beef.” - -“Is it good?” - -“Bully!” - -“I’ll have some, then. How much is it?” - -“Ten cents.” - -Ten cents was the standard price in this economical restaurant for a -plate of meat of whatever kind. Perhaps, considering the quality and -amount given, it could not be regarded as very cheap; still the sum was -small, and came within Tom’s means. - -A plate of beef was brought and placed before Tom. Her eyes dilated with -pleasure as they rested on the delicious morsel. There was a potato -besides; and a triangular slice of bread, with an infinitesimal dab of -butter,—all for ten cents. But Tom’s ambition soared higher. - -“Bring me a cup o’ coffee,” she said to the waiter. - -It was brought,—a very dark, muddy, suspicious-looking beverage,—a base -libel upon the fragrant berry whose name it took; but such a thought did -not disturb Tom. She never doubted that it was what it purported to be. -She stirred it vigorously with the spoon, and sipped it as if it had -been nectar. - -“Aint it prime just?” she exclaimed, smacking her lips. - -Then ensued a vigorous onslaught upon the roast beef. It was the first -meat Tom had tasted for weeks, with the exception of occasional cold -sausage; and she was in the seventh heaven of delight as she hurriedly -ate it. When she had finished, the plate was literally and entirely -empty. Tom did not believe in leaving anything behind. She was almost -tempted to “lick the platter clean,” but observed that none of the other -guests did so, and refrained. - -“Bring me a piece of apple pie,” said Tom, determined for once to have -what she denominated a “good square meal.” The price of the pie being -five cents, this would just exhaust her funds. Payment was demanded when -the pie was brought, the prudent waiter having some fears that his -customer was eating beyond her means. - -Tom paid the money, and, vigorously attacking the pie, had almost -finished it, when, chancing to lift her eyes to the window, she saw a -sight that made her blood curdle. - -Looking through the pane with a stony glare that meant mischief was her -granny, whom she had supposed safe at home. - - - - - CHAPTER III - CAUGHT IN THE ACT. - - -It was Tom’s ill luck that brought granny upon the scene, contrary to -every reasonable expectation. After smoking out her pipe, she made up -her mind to try another smoke, when she found that her stock of tobacco -was exhausted. Being constitutionally lazy, it was some minutes before -she made up her mind to go out and lay in a fresh supply. Finally she -decided, and made her way downstairs to the court, and thence to the -street. - -Tim saw her, and volunteered the information, “Tom gave me some bread.” - -“When?” demanded granny. - -“When she come out just now.” - -“What did she do that for?” - -“She said she wasn’t hungry.” - -The old woman was puzzled. Tom’s appetite was usually quite equal to the -supply of food which she got. Could Tom have secreted some money to buy -apples? This was hardly likely, since she had carefully searched her. -Besides, Tom had returned the usual amount. Still, granny’s suspicions -were awakened, and she determined to question Tom when she returned at -the close of the afternoon. - -The tobacco shop where granny obtained her tobacco was two doors beyond -the restaurant where Tom was then enjoying her cheap dinner with a zest -which the guests at Delmonico’s do not often bring to the discussion of -their more aristocratic viands. It was only a chance that led granny, as -she passed, to look in; but that glance took in all who were seated at -the tables, including Tom. - -Had granny received an invitation to preside at a meeting in the Cooper -Institute, she would hardly have been more surprised than at the sight -of Tom, perfidiously enjoying a meal out of money from which she had -doubtless been defrauded. - -“The owdacious young reprobate!” muttered the old woman, glaring -fiercely at her unconscious victim. - -But Tom just then happened to look up, as we have seen. Her heart gave a -sudden thump, and she said to herself, “I’m in for a lickin’, that’s so. -Granny’s mad as blazes.” - -The old woman did not long leave her in doubt as to the state of her -feelings. - -She strode into the eating-house, and, advancing to the table, seized -Tom by the arm. - -“What are you here for?” she growled, in a hoarse voice. - -“To get some dinner,” said Tom. - -By this time she had recovered from her temporary panic. She had courage -and pluck, and was toughened by the hard life she had led into a stoical -endurance of the evils from which she could not escape. - -“What business had you to come?” - -“I was hungry.” - -“Didn’t I give you a piece of bread?” - -“I didn’t like it.” - -“What did you buy?” - -“A plate of beef, a cup o’ coffee, and some pie. Better buy some, -granny. They’re bully.” - -“You’re a reg’lar bad un. You’ll fetch up on the gallus,” said granny, -provoked at Tom’s coolness. - -So saying, she seized Tom by the shoulder roughly. But by this time the -keeper of the restaurant thought fit to interfere. - -“We can’t have any disturbance here, ma’am,” he said. “You must leave -the room.” - -“She had no right to get dinner here,” said granny. “I won’t let her pay -for it.” - -“She has paid for it already.” - -“Is that so?” demanded the old woman, disappointed. - -Tom nodded, glad to have outwitted her guardian. - -“It was my money. You stole it.” - -“No it wa’n’t. A gentleman give it to me for callin’ me names.” - -“Come out of here!” said granny, jerking Tom from her chair. “Don’t you -let her have no more to eat here,” she added, turning to the keeper of -the restaurant. - -“She can eat here whenever she’s got money to pay for it.” - -Rather disgusted at her failure to impress the keeper of the restaurant -with her views in the matter, granny emerged into the street with Tom in -her clutches. - -She gave her a vigorous shaking up on the sidewalk. - -“How do you like that?” she demanded. - -“I wish I was as big as you!” said Tom, indignantly. - -“Well, what if you was?” demanded the old woman, pausing in her -punishment, and glaring at Tom. - -“I’d make your nose bleed,” said Tom, doubling up her fist. - -“You would, would you?” said granny, fiercely. “Then it’s lucky you -aint;” and she gave her another shake. - -“Where are you going to take me?” asked Tom. - -“Home. I’ll lock you up for a week, and give you nothin’ to eat but -bread once a day.” - -“All right!” said Tom. “If I’m locked up at home, I can’t bring you any -money.” - -This consideration had not at first suggested itself to the vindictive -old woman. It would cut off all her revenue to punish Tom as she -proposed; and this would be far from convenient. But anger was more -powerful just then than policy; and she determined at all events to -convey Tom home, and give her a flogging, before sending her out into -the street to resume her labors. - -She strode along, dragging Tom by the arm; and not another word was -spoken till they reached the rear tenement house. - -“What’s the matter with the child?” asked Mrs. Murphy, who had just come -down into the court after one of her own children. - -“She stole my money,” said granny; “and was eatin’ a mighty fine dinner -out of it.” - -“It was my money, Mrs. Murphy,” said Tom. “I gave granny twenty-two -cents when I came home.” - -“I hope you won’t go to hurt the child,” said kind-hearted Mrs. Murphy. - -“I’ll be much obliged to you, Mrs. Murphy, if you’ll mind your own -business,” said granny, loftily. “When I want your advice, mum, I’ll -come and ask it; begging your pardon, mum.” - -“She’s a tough craythur,” said Mrs. Murphy to herself. “She beats that -poor child too bad entirely.” - -Granny drew Tom into the room with no gentle hand. - -“Now you’re goin’ to catch it,” said she, grimly. - -Tom was of the same opinion, and meant to defend herself as well as she -knew how. She had all her wits about her, and had already planned out -her campaign. - -On the chair was a stout stick which granny was accustomed to use on -such occasions as the present. When wielded by a vigorous arm, it was -capable of inflicting considerable pain, as Tom very well knew. That -stick she determined to have. - -Accordingly when granny temporarily released her hold of her, as she -entered the room, Tom sprang for the chair, seized the stick, and sent -it flying out of the window. - -“What did you do that for?” said granny, fiercely. - -“I don’t want to be licked,” said Tom, briefly. - -“You’re going to be, then.” - -“Not with the stick.” - -“We’ll see.” - -Granny poked her head out of the window, and saw Tim down in the court. - -“Bring up that stick,” she said; “that’s a good boy.” - -Tim picked up the stick, and was about to obey the old woman’s request, -when he heard another voice—Tom’s—from the other window. - -“Don’t you do it, Tim. Granny wants to lick me.” - -That was enough. Tim didn’t like the old woman,—no one in the building -did,—and he did like Tom, who, in spite of being a tough customer, was -good-natured and obliging, unless her temper was aroused by the old -woman’s oppression. So Tim dropped the stick. - -“Bring it right up,” said granny, angrily. - -“Are you goin’ to lick Tom?” - -“None of your business! Bring it up, or I’ll lick you too.” - -“No, you don’t!” answered Tim. “You must come for it yourself if you -want it.” - -Granny began to find that she must do her own errands. It was an -undertaking to go down three flights of stairs to the court and return -again, especially for one so indolent as herself; but there seemed to be -no other way. She inwardly resolved to wreak additional vengeance upon -Tom, and so get what satisfaction she could in this way. Muttering -imprecations which I do not care to repeat, she started downstairs, -determined to try the stick first upon Tim. But when she reached the -court Tim had disappeared. He had divined her benevolent intentions, and -thought it would be altogether wiser for him to be out of the way. - -Granny picked up the stick, and, after a sharp glance around the court, -commenced the ascent. She did not stop to rest, being spurred on by the -anticipated pleasure of flogging Tom. So, in a briefer space of time -than could have been expected, she once more arrived at her own door. - -But Tom had not been idle. - -No sooner was the door closed than Tom turned the key in the lock, -making herself a voluntary prisoner, but having in the key the means of -deliverance. - -Granny tried the door, and, to her inexpressible wrath, discovered Tom’s -new audacity. - -“Open the door, you trollop!” she screamed. - -“You’ll lick me,” said Tom. - -“I’ll give you the wust lickin’ you ever had.” - -“Then I shan’t let you in,” said Tom, defiantly. - - - - - CHAPTER IV - THE SIEGE. - - -“Open the door,” screamed granny, beside herself with rage, “or I’ll -kill you.” - -“You can’t get at me,” said Tom, triumphantly. - -The old woman grasped the knob of the door and shook it vigorously. But -the lock resisted her efforts. Tom’s spirit was up, and she rather -enjoyed it. - -“Shake away, granny,” she called through the key-hole. - -“If I could only get at you!” muttered granny. - -“I won’t let you in till you promise not to touch me.” - -“I’ll skin you alive.” - -“Then you can’t come in.” - -The old woman began alternately to pound and kick upon the door. Tom sat -down coolly upon a chair, her dark eyes flashing exultingly. She knew -her power, and meant to keep it. She had not reflected how it was to -end. She supposed that in the end she would get a “lickin’,” as she had -often done before. But in the mean while she would have the pleasure of -defying and keeping the old woman at bay for an indefinite time. So she -sat in placid enjoyment in her stronghold until she heard something that -suggested a speedy raising of the siege. - -“I’m goin’ for a hatchet,” said granny, through the key-hole. - -“If you break the door, you’ll have to pay for it.” - -“Never you mind!” said the old woman. “I know what I’m about.” - -She heard the retreating steps of granny, and, knowing only too well her -terrible temper, made up her mind that she was in earnest. If so, the -door must soon succumb. A hatchet would soon accomplish what neither -kicks nor pounding had been able to effect. - -“What shall I do?” thought Tom. - -She was afraid of something more than a lickin’ now. In her rage at -having been so long baffled, the old woman might attack her with the -hatchet. She knew very well that on previous occasions she had flung at -her head anything she could lay hold of. Tom, brave and stout-hearted as -she was, shrunk from this new danger, and set herself to devise a way of -escape. She looked out of the window; but she was on the fourth floor, -and it was a long distance to the court below. If it had been on the -second floor she would have swung off. - -There was another thing she could do. Granny had gone down below to -borrow a hatchet. She might unlock the door, and run out upon the -landing; but there was no place for hiding herself, and no way of -getting downstairs without running the risk of rushing into granny’s -clutches. In her perplexity her eyes fell upon a long coil of rope in -one corner. It was a desperate expedient, but she resolved to swing out -of the window, high as it was. She managed to fasten one end securely, -and let the other drop from the window. As it hung, it fell short of -reaching the ground by at least ten feet. But Tom was strong and active, -and never hesitated a moment on this account. She was incited to extra -speed, for she already heard the old woman ascending the stairs, -probably provided with a hatchet. - -Tom got on the window-sill, and, grasping the rope, let herself down -rapidly hand over hand, till she reached the end of the rope. Then she -dropped. It was rather hard to her feet, and she fell over. But she -quickly recovered herself. - -Tim, the recipient of her dinner, was in the court, and surveyed her -descent with eyes and mouth wide open. - -“Where’d you come from, Tom?” he asked. - -“Can’t you see?” said Tom. - -“Why didn’t you come downstairs?” - -“’Cause granny’s there waitin’ to lick me. I must be goin’ before she -finds out where I am. Don’t you tell of me, Tim.” - -“No, I won’t,” said Tim; and he was sure to keep his promise. - -Tom sped through the arched passage to the street, and did not rest till -she had got a mile away from the home which had so few attractions for -her. - -Beyond the chance of immediate danger, the young Arab conjured up the -vision of granny’s disappointment when she should break open the door, -and find her gone; and she sat down on the curbstone and laughed -heartily. - -“What are you laughing at?” asked a boy, looking curiously at the -strange figure before him. - -“Oh, it’s too rich!” said Tom, pausing a little, and then breaking out -anew. - -“What’s too rich?” - -“I’ve run away from granny. She wanted to lick me, and now she can’t.” - -“You’ve been cutting up, I suppose.” - -“No, it’s granny that’s been cuttin’ up. She’s at it all the time.” - -“But you’ll catch it when you do go home, you know.” - -“Maybe I won’t go home.” - -It was not a street-boy that addressed her; but a boy with a comfortable -home, who had a place in a store near by. He did not know, practically, -what sort of a thing it was to wander about the streets, friendless and -homeless; but it struck him vaguely that it must be decidedly -uncomfortable. There was something in this strange creature—half boy in -appearance—that excited his interest and curiosity, and he continued the -conversation. - -“What sort of a woman is your granny, as you call her?” he asked. - -“She’s an awful old woman,” was the answer. - -“I shouldn’t think you would like to speak so of your grandmother.” - -“I don’t believe she is my grandmother. I only call her so.” - -“What’s your name?” - -“Tom.” - -“Tom!” repeated the boy, in surprise. “Aint you a girl?” - -“Yes; I expect so.” - -“It’s hard to tell from your clothes, you know;” and he scanned Tom’s -queer figure attentively. - -Tom was sitting on a low step with her knees nearly on a level with her -chin, and her hands clasped around them. She had on her cap of the -morning, and her jacket, which, by the way, had been given to granny -when on a begging expedition, and appropriated to Tom’s use, without -special reference to her sex. Tom didn’t care much. It made little -difference to her whether she was in the fashion or not; and if the -street boys chaffed her, she was abundantly able to give them back as -good as they sent. - -“What’s the matter with my clothes?” said Tom. - -“You’ve got on a boy’s cap and jacket.” - -“I like it well enough. As long as it keeps a feller warm I don’t mind.” - -“Do you call yourself a feller?” - -“Yes.” - -“Then you’re a queer feller.” - -“Don’t you call me names, ’cause I won’t stand it;” and Tom raised a -pair of sharp, black eyes. - -“I won’t call you names, at least not any bad ones. Have you had any -dinner?” - -“Yes,” said Tom, smacking her lips, as she recalled her delicious -repast, “I had a square meal.” - -“What do you call a square meal?” - -“Roast beef, cup o’ coffee, and pie.” - -The boy was rather surprised, for such a dinner seemed beyond Tom’s -probable resources. - -“Your granny don’t treat you so badly, after all. That’s just the kind -of dinner I had.” - -“Granny didn’t give it to me. I bought it. That’s what she wants to lick -me for. All she give me was a piece of hard bread.” - -“Where did you get the money? Was it hers?” - -“That’s what she says. But if a feller works all the mornin’ for some -money, hasn’t she got a right to keep some of it?” - -“I should think so.” - -“So should I,” said Tom, decidedly. - -“Have you got any money?” - -“No, I spent it all for dinner.” - -“Then here’s some.” - -The boy drew from his vest-pocket twenty-five cents, and offered it to -Tom. - -The young Arab felt no delicacy in accepting the pecuniary aid thus -tendered. - -“Thank you,” said she. “You can call me names if you want to.” - -“What should I want to call you names for?” asked the boy, puzzled. - -“There was a gent called me names this mornin’, and give me twenty cents -for doin’ it.” - -“What did he call you?” - -“I dunno; but it must have been something awful bad, it was so long.” - -“You’re a strange girl, Tom.” - -“Am I? Well, I reckon I am. What’s your name?” - -“John Goodwin.” - -“John Goodwin?” repeated Tom, by way of fixing it in her memory. - -“Yes; haven’t you got any other name than Tom?” - -“I dunno. I think granny called me Jane once. But it’s a good while ago. -Everybody calls me Tom, now.” - -“Well, Tom, I must be getting back to the store. Good-by. I hope you’ll -get along.” - -“All right!” said Tom. “I’m goin’ into business with that money you give -me.” - - - - - CHAPTER V - TOM GAINS A VICTORY. - - -Granny mounted the stairs two at a time; so eager was she to force a -surrender on the part of the rebellious Tom. She was a little out of -breath when she reached the fourth landing, and paused an instant to -recover it. Tom was at that moment half-way down the rope; but this she -did not suspect. - -Recovering her breath, she strode to the door. Before making an assault -with the hatchet, she decided to summon Tom to a surrender. - -“Tom!” she called out. - -Of course there was no answer. - -“Why don’t you answer?” demanded granny, provoked. - -She listened for a reply, but Tom remained obstinately silent, as she -interpreted it. - -“If you don’t speak, it’ll be the wuss for ye,” growled granny. - -Again no answer. - -“I’ll find a way to make you speak. Come and open the door, or I’ll -break it down. I’ve got a hatchet.” - -But the old woman had the conversation all to herself. - -Quite beside herself now with anger, she no longer hesitated; but with -all her force dealt a blow which buried the hatchet deep in the door. - -“Jest wait till I get in!” she muttered. “Will ye open it now?” - -But there was no response. - -While she was still battering at the door one of the neighbors came up -from below. - -“What are you doin’, Mrs. Walsh?” for such was granny’s name. - -“I’m tryin’ to get in.” - -“Why don’t you open the door?” - -“Tom’s locked it. She won’t let me in,” said granny, finishing the -sentence with a string of profane words which had best be omitted. - -“You’ll have a good bill to pay to the landlord, Mrs. Walsh.” - -“I don’t care,” said granny. “I’m goin’ to get at that trollop, and beat -her within an inch of her life.” - -Another vigorous blow broke the lock, and the door flew open. - -Granny rushed in, after the manner of a devouring lion ready to pounce -upon her prey. But she stopped short in dismay. Tom was not visible! - -Thinking she might be in the closet, the old woman flung open the door: -but again she was balked. - -“What has ’come of the child?” she exclaimed, in bewilderment. - -“She got out of the window,” said the neighbor, who had caught sight of -the rope dangling from the open casement. - -Granny hastened to the window, and the truth flashed upon her. Her prey -had escaped her! - -It was a deep disappointment to the vindictive old woman, whose hand -itched to exercise itself in punishing Tom. - -“She’s a bold un,” said the neighbor, with some admiration of Tom’s -pluck. - -Granny answered with a strain of invective, which gave partial vent to -the rage and disappointment she felt. - -“If I could only get at her!” she muttered between her teeth; “I’d give -her half-a-dozen lickin’s in one. She’d wish she hadn’t done it.” - -Not a doubt entered granny’s mind that Tom would return. It never -occurred to her that her young servant had become tired of her bondage, -and had already made up her mind to break her chains. She knew Tom -pretty well, but not wholly. She did not realize that the days of her -rule were at an end; and that by her tyranny she had driven from her the -girl whose earnings she had found so convenient. - -If there had been much chance of meeting Tom outside, granny would have -gone out into the streets and hunted for her. But to search for her -among the numerous streets, lanes, and alleys in the lower part of the -city would have been like trying to find a needle in a haystack. Then, -even if she found her, she could not very well whip her in the street. -Tom would probably come home at night as usual, bringing money, and she -could defer the punishment till then. - -Fatigued with her exercise and excitement, the old woman threw herself -down on her rude pallet, first drawing the contents of a jug which stood -in the closet, and was soon in a drunken sleep. Leaving her thus, we go -back to Tom. - -She had made up her mind not to go back to sweeping the streets; partly, -indeed, because she no longer had her broom with her. Moreover, she -thought that she would in that case be more likely to fall into the -clutches of the enemy she so much dreaded. With the capital for which -she was indebted to her new boy acquaintance she decided to lay in a -supply of evening papers, and try to dispose of them. It was not a new -trade to her; for there was scarcely one of the street trades in which -the young Arab had not more or less experience. - -She bought ten copies of the “Express,” and selected the corner of two -streets for the disposal of her stock in trade. - -“Here’s the ‘Express,’—latest news from the seat of war!” cried Tom; -catching the cry from a boy engaged in the same business up on Broadway. - -“What’s the news?” asked one of two young men who were passing. - -“The news is that you’re drafted,” said Tom, promptly. “Buy the paper, -and you’ll find out all about it.” - -It was in the midst of the draft excitement in New York; and as it so -happened that the young man had actually been drafted, his companion -laughed. - -“You must buy a paper for that, Jack,” he said. - -“I believe I will,” said the first, laughing. “Here’s ten cents. Never -mind about the change.” - -“Thank you,” said Tom. “Come round to-morrow, and I’ll sell you -another.” - -“You’ll have me drafted again, I am afraid. Perhaps you will go as my -substitute?” - -“I would if I was old enough,” said Tom. - -“You’re a girl,—aint you? Girls can’t fight.” - -“Try me and see,” said Tom. “I can fight any boy of my size.” - -The two young men passed on, laughing. - -Tom soon had an opportunity to test her prowess. The corner where she -had stationed herself was usually occupied by a boy somewhat larger than -Tom, who considered that it belonged to him by right. He came up rather -late, having a chance to carry a carpet-bag for a guest at French’s -Hotel to the Hudson River station. Tom had disposed of half her papers -when he came blustering up:— - -“Clear out of here!” he said, imperiously. - -“Who was you speakin’ to?” asked Tom, coolly. - -“To you. Just clear out!” - -“What for?” asked Tom. - -“You’ve got my stand.” - -“Have I?” said Tom, not offering to move. - -“Yes, you have.” - -“Then I’m goin’ to keep it. ’Ere’s the ‘Express,’—latest news from the -seat of war.” - -“Look here!” said the newsboy, menacingly, “if you don’t clear out, I’ll -make you.” - -“Will you?” said Tom, independently, taking his measure, and deciding -that she could fight him. “I aint afraid of you!” - -Her rival advanced, and gave her a push which nearly thrust her from the -sidewalk into the street. But he was rather astonished the next moment -at receiving a blow in the face from Tom’s fist. - -“If you want to fight, come on!” said Tom, dropping her papers and -squaring off. - -He was not slow in accepting the defiance, being provoked by the -unexpected blow, and aimed a blow at Tom’s nose. But Tom, who had some -rudimental ideas of boxing, while her opponent knew nothing of it, -fended off the blow, and succeeded in getting in another. - -“Ho! ho!” laughed another boy, who had just come up; “you’re licked by a -gal.” - -Bob, for this was the newsboy’s name, felt all the disgrace of the -situation. His face reddened, and he pitched in promiscuously, -delivering blow after blow wildly. This gave a decided advantage to Tom, -who inflicted considerably more damage than she received. - -The fight would have gone on longer if a gentleman had not come up, and -spoken authoritatively: “What is all this fighting about? Are you not -ashamed to fight with a girl?” - -“No, I aint,” said Bob, sullenly. “She took my place, and wouldn’t give -it up.” - -“Is that true?” turning to Tom. - -“I’ve got as much right to it as he,” said Tom. “I’ll give it to him if -I am a gal.” - -“Don’t you know it is wrong to fight?” asked the gentleman, this time -addressing Tom. - -“No, I don’t,” said Tom. “Wouldn’t you fight if a feller pitched into -you?” - -This was rather an embarrassing question, but the gentleman said, “It -would be better to go away than to get into a fight.” - -“He fit me.” - -“It is bad enough for boys to fight, but it is worse for girls.” - -“Don’t see it,” said Tom. - -Had Tom been in a higher social position, it might have been suggested -to her that to fight was not ladylike; but there was such an incongruity -between Tom’s appearance and anything lady-like, that such an appeal -would have been out of place. The fact is, Tom claimed no immunity or -privilege on the score of sex, but regarded herself, to all intents and -purposes, as a boy, and strongly wished that she were one. - -The gentleman looked at her, rather puzzled, and walked away, satisfied -with having stopped the fight. - -Bob did not seem inclined to renew hostilities, but crossed the street, -and took his stand there. Tom, by right of conquest, held her place -until she had sold out her whole stock of papers. - - - - - CHAPTER VI - AN UNFASHIONABLE HOTEL. - - -Tom found at the end of the afternoon that her capital had increased -from twenty-five to fifty cents. - -“Granny won’t get none of this,” she soliloquized, complacently. “It’s -all mine.” - -Sitting on a doorstep she counted over the money with an entirely -different feeling from what she had experienced when it was to be -transferred to granny. Now it was all her own, and, though but fifty -cents, it made her feel rich. - -“What shall I do with it?” thought Tom. - -She had a square meal in the middle of the day; but several hours had -passed since then, and she felt hungry again; Tom did not see any -necessity for remaining hungry, with fifty cents in her possession. She -made her way, therefore, to another eating-house, where the prices were -the same with those at the one before mentioned, and partook of another -square meal, leaving out the pie. This reduced her capital to thirty -cents. She felt that she ought to save this, to start in business upon -in the morning. As a street-sweeper she required no capital except her -broom; but though Tom was not troubled with pride, she preferred to sell -papers, or take up some other street vocation. Besides, she knew that as -a street-sweeper on Broadway, she would be more likely to be discovered -by the old woman whom she was now anxious to avoid. - -After eating supper Tom went out into the streets, not knowing exactly -how to spend her time. Usually, she had gone down into the court, or the -street, and played with the children of her own and neighboring tenement -houses. But now she did not care to venture back into the old locality. - -So she strolled about the streets aimlessly, until she felt sleepy, and -began to consider whereabouts to bestow herself for the night. She might -have gone to the “Girls’ Lodging House,” if she had known of such an -institution; but she had never heard of it. Chance brought her to a -basement, on which was the sign,— - - “LODGINGS—FIVE CENTS.” - -This attracted Tom’s attention. If it had not been a cold night, she -would have been willing to sleep out, which would have been cheaper; but -it was a damp and chilly evening, and her dress was thin. - -“Five cents won’t bust me!” thought Tom. “I’ll go in.” - -She went down some steps, and opened a door into a room very -low-studded, and very dirty. - -A stout woman, in a dirty calico loose-gown, was sitting in a chair, -with a fat, unhealthy-looking baby in her lap. - -“What you want, little gal?” she asked. - -“Where’s your lodgin’?” asked Tom. - -“In back,” answered the woman, pointing to an inner room, partially -revealed through a half-open door. It was dark, having no windows, and -dirtier, if possible, than the front room. The floor was covered with -straw, for beds and bedsteads were looked upon as unnecessary luxuries -in this economical lodging-house. - -“Is that the place?” asked Tom. - -“Yes. Do you want to stop here to-night?” - -Tom had not been accustomed to first-class hotels, still the -accommodations at granny’s were rather better than this. However, the -young Arab did not mind. She had no doubt she could sleep comfortably on -the straw, and intimated her intention of stopping. - -“Where’s your money?” asked the woman. - -The invariable rule in this establishment was payment in advance, and, -perhaps, considering the character of the customers, it was the safest -rule that could be adopted. - -Tom took out her money, and counted out five cents into the woman’s -palm. She then put back the remainder in her pocket. If she had been -less sleepy, she might have noticed the woman’s covetous glance, and -been led to doubt the safety of her small fortune. But Tom was sleepy, -and her main idea was to go to bed as soon as possible. - -“Lay down anywhere,” said the landlady, dropping the five cents into her -pocket. - -Tom’s preparation for bed did not take long. No undressing was required, -for it was the custom here to sleep with the day’s clothes on. Tom -stowed herself away in a corner, and in five minutes was asleep. - -It was but little after eight o’clock, and she was, at present, the only -lodger. - -No sooner did her deep, regular breathing indicate slumber, than the -landlady began to indulge in various suspicious movements. She first put -down her baby, and then taking a lantern,—the only light which could -safely be carried into the lodging-room, on account of the straw upon -the floor,—crept quietly into the inner room. - -“She’s fast asleep,” she muttered. - -She approached Tom with cautious step. She need not have been afraid to -awaken her. Tom was a good sleeper, and not likely to wake up, unless -roughly awakened, until morning. - -Tom was lying on her side, with her face resting on one hand. - -The woman stooped down, and began to look for the pocket in which she -kept her money; but it was in that part of her dress upon which she was -lying. This embarrassed the woman somewhat, but an idea occurred to her. -She took up a straw, and, bending over, gently tickled Tom’s ear. Tom -shook her head, as a cat would under similar circumstances, and on its -being repeated turned over, muttering, “Don’t, granny!” - -This was what her dishonest landlady wanted. She thrust her hand into -Tom’s pocket, and drew out the poor girl’s entire worldly treasure. Tom, -unconscious of the robbery, slept on; and the woman went back to the -front room to wait for more lodgers. They began to come in about ten, -and by twelve the room was full. It was a motley collection, and would -have been a curious, though sad study, to any humane observer. They were -most of them in the last stages of ill-fortune, yet among them was more -than one who had once filled a respectable position in society. Here was -a man of thirty-five, who ten years before had filled a good place, with -a fair salary, in a city bank. But in an evil hour he helped himself to -some of the funds of the bank. He lost his situation, and, though he -escaped imprisonment, found his prospects blasted. So he had gone down -hill, until at length he found himself reduced to such a lodging-house -as this, fortunate if he could command the small sum needful to keep him -from a night in the streets. - -[Illustration] - -Next him was stretched a man who was deserving still more pity, since -his misfortunes sprang rather from a want of judgment than from his own -fault. He was a scholar, with a fair knowledge of Latin and Greek, and -some ability as a writer. He was an Englishman who had come to the city -in the hope of making his acquisitions available, but had met with very -poor encouragement. He found that both among teachers and writers the -demand exceeded the supply, at least for those of moderate -qualifications; and, having no influential friends, had sought for -employment almost in vain. His small stock of money dwindled, his suit -became shabby, until he found himself, to his deep mortification and -disgust, compelled to resort to such lodging-houses as this, where he -was obliged to herd with the lowest and most abandoned class. - -Next to him lay a mechanic, once in profitable employment. But drink had -been his ruin; and now he was a vagabond, spending the little money he -earned, at rum-shops, except what was absolutely necessary for food. - -There is no need of cataloguing the remainder of Meg Morely’s lodgers. -Her low rates generally secured her a room-full, and a dozen, sometimes -more, were usually packed away on the floor. On the whole she found it a -paying business, though her charges were low. Sixty cents a day was -quite a respectable addition to her income, and she had occupied the -same place for two years already. Tom’s experience will show that she -had other, and not quite so lawful, ways of swelling her receipts, but -she was cautious not to put them in practice, unless she considered it -prudent, as in the present instance. - -It was seven o’clock when Tom awoke. She looked around her in -bewilderment, thinking at first she must be in granny’s room. But a -glance at the prostrate forms around her brought back the events of the -day before, and gave her a realizing sense of her present situation. - -“I’ve had a good sleep,” said Tom to herself, stretching, by way of -relief from her constrained position. “I guess it’s time to get up.” - -She rubbed her eyes, and shook back her hair, and then rising, went into -the front room. Her landlady was already up and getting breakfast. - -“What time is it?” asked Tom. - -“It’s just gone seven,” said Meg, looking sharply at Tom to see if she -had discovered the loss of her money. “How did you sleep?” - -“Tip-top.” - -“Come ag’in.” - -“All right!” said Tom. “Maybe I will.” - -She climbed up the basement stairs to the street above, and began to -think of what the day had in store for her. Her prospects were not -brilliant certainly; but Tom on the whole felt in good spirits. She had -thrown off the yoke of slavery. She was her own mistress now, and -granny’s power was broken. Tom felt that she could get along somehow. -She had confidence in herself, and was sure something would turn up for -her. - -“Now, what’ll I do first?” thought Tom. - -With twenty-five cents in her pocket, and a good appetite, breakfast -naturally suggested itself. - -She dove her hand into her pocket, but the face of the little Arab -almost instantly expressed deep dismay. - -Her money was gone! - - - - - CHAPTER VII. - TOM MAKES A FRIEND. - - -Twenty-five cents is not a large sum, but it was Tom’s entire fortune. -It was all she had, not only to buy breakfast with, but also to start in -business. She had an excellent appetite, but now there was no hope of -satisfying it until she could earn some more money. - -Tom hurried back to the lodging, and entered, looking excited. - -“Well, what’s wanted?” asked Meg, who knew well enough without asking. - -“I’ve lost some money.” - -“Suppose you did,” said the woman, defiantly, “you don’t mean to say I -took it.” - -“No,” said Tom, “but I had it when I laid down.” - -“Where was it?” - -“In my pocket.” - -“Might have tumbled out among the straw,” suggested Meg. - -This struck Tom as not improbable, and she went back into the bedroom, -and, getting down on her hands and knees, commenced poking about for it. -But even if it had been there, any of my readers who has ever lost money -in this way knows that it is very difficult to find under such -circumstances. - -Tom persevered in her search until her next-door neighbor growled out -that he wished she would clear out. At length she was obliged to give it -up. - -“Have you found it?” asked Meg. - -“No,” said Tom, soberly. - -“How much was it?” - -“Twenty-five cents.” - -“That aint much.” - -“It’s enough to bust me. I don’t believe it’s in the straw.” - -“What do you believe?” demanded Meg, whose guilty conscience made her -scent an accusation. - -“I think some of them took it while I was asleep,” said Tom, indicating -the other lodgers by a jerk of her finger. - -“Likely they did,” said Meg, glad to have suspicion diverted elsewhere. - -“I wish I knew,” said Tom. - -“What’ud you do?” - -“I’d get it back again,” said Tom, her black eyes snapping with -resolution. - -“No, you wouldn’t. You’re nothin’ but a babby. You couldn’t do nothin’!” - -“Couldn’t I?” returned Tom. “I’d let ’em know whether I was a baby.” - -“Well, you go along now,” said Meg. “Your money’s gone, and you can’t -get it back. Next time give it to me to keep, and it’ll be safe.” - -Being penniless, Tom was in considerable uncertainty when she would -again be mistress of so large a sum. At present she felt in no -particular dread of being robbed. She left the lodgings, realizing that -the money was indeed gone beyond hope of recovery. - -There is some comfort in beginning the day with a good breakfast. It -warms one up, and inspires hope and confidence. As a general rule people -are good-natured and cheerful after a hearty breakfast. For ten cents -Tom might have got a cup of coffee, or what passed for such, and a plate -of tea-biscuit. With the other fifteen she could have bought a few -morning papers, and easily earned enough to pay for a square meal in the -middle of the day. Now she must go to work without capital, and on an -empty stomach, which was rather discouraging. She would have fared -better than this at granny’s, though not much, her breakfast there -usually consisting of a piece of stale bread, with perhaps a fragment of -cold sausage. Coffee, granny never indulged in, believing whiskey to be -more healthful. Occasionally, in moments of extreme good nature, she had -given Tom a sip of whiskey; but the young Arab had never got to like it, -fortunately for herself, though she had accepted it as a variation of -her usual beverage, cold water. - -In considering what she should do for the day, Tom decided to go to some -of the railway stations or steamboat landings, and try to get a chance -to carry a carpet-bag. “Baggage-smashing” required no capital, and this -was available in her present circumstances. - -Tom made her way to the pier where the steamers of the Fall River line -arrive. Ordinarily it would have been too late, but it had been a windy -night, the sound was rough, and the steamer was late, so that Tom -arrived just in the nick of time. - -Tom took her place among the hackmen, and the men and boys who, like -her, were bent on turning an honest penny by carrying baggage. - -“Clear out of the way here, little gal!” said a stout, overgrown boy. -“Smash your baggage, sir?” - -“Clear out yourself!” said Tom, boldly. “I’ve got as much right here as -you.” - -Her little, sharp eyes darted this way and that in search of a possible -customer. The boy who had been rude to her got a job, and this gave Tom -a better chance. She offered her services to a lady, who stared at her -with curiosity and returned no answer. Tom began to think she should not -get a job. There seemed a popular sentiment in favor of employing boys, -and Tom, like others of her sex, found herself shut out from an -employment for which she considered herself fitted. But, at length, she -saw approaching a big, burly six-footer, with a good-natured face. There -was something about him which inspired Tom with confidence, and, -pressing forward, she said, “Carry your bag, sir?” - -He stopped short and looked down at the queer figure of our heroine. -Then, glancing at his carpet-bag, which was of unusual size and weight, -the idea of his walking through the streets with Tom bending beneath the -weight of his baggage, struck him in so ludicrous a manner that he burst -into a hearty laugh. - -“What’s up?” demanded Tom, suspiciously. “Who are you laughin’ at?” - -“So you want to carry my carpet-bag?” he asked, laughing again. - -“Yes,” said Tom. - -“Why, I could put you in it,” said the tall man, his eyes twinkling with -amusement. - -“No, you couldn’t,” said Tom. - -“Do you think you could carry it?” - -“Let me try.” - -He set it down, and Tom lifted it from the ground; but it was obviously -too much for her strength. - -“You see you can’t do it. Have you found anything to do this morning?” - -“No,” said Tom. - -“Business isn’t good, hey?” - -“No,” said Tom, “but I wouldn’t mind so much if I hadn’t had my money -stole. I’m bust!” - -“How’s that? Did the bank break or have you been speculating?” - -“Oh, you’re gasin’! I aint got nothing to do with banks. Somebody stole -two shillin’s I had, so I’ve had no breakfast.” - -“Come, that’s bad. I guess I must give you a job, after all. You can’t -carry my bag, but you can carry this.” - -He had under his arm something wrapped in a paper, making a small -bundle. He handed it to Tom, and she trudged along with it after him. - -“You couldn’t guess what that is, I suppose?” said her companion, -sociably. - -“No,” said Tom; “it feels soft.” - -“It’s a large wax doll, for my little niece,” said her patron. “You -haven’t got any dolls, I suppose?” - -“I had one once,” said Tom. “It was made of rags. But granny threw it -into the fire.” - -“I suppose you were sorry.” - -“I was then; but I’m too old for dolls now.” - -“How old are you?” - -“I aint sure. Somewheres about twelve.” - -“You live with your granny, then?” - -“No, I don’t,—not now.” - -“Why not?” - -“She wanted to lick me, so I run away.” - -“Then where do you live now?” - -“Nowhere.” - -“You have no home?” - -“I don’t want no home. I can take care of myself,” said Tom, briskly. - -“I see you are an independent, young woman. Now, if you were a boy, I’d -give you a chance on board my ship.” - -“Have you got a ship?” asked Tom, becoming interested. - -“Yes, I am a sea-captain, and go on long voyages. If you wasn’t a girl, -I’d take you along with me as cabin-boy.” - -“I wish you would,” said Tom, eagerly. - -“But you are a girl, you know? You couldn’t climb a mast.” - -“Try me,” said Tom. “I’m strong. I fit with a boy yesterday, and licked -him.” - -Captain Barnes laughed, but shook his head. - -“I see you’re spunky, if you are a girl,” he said. “But I never heard of -a girl being cabin-boy, and I don’t think it would do.” - -“I’d put on a boy’s clothes,” suggested Tom. - -“You’ve begun to do it already,” said the captain, glancing at the cap -and jacket. “I didn’t know at first but you were a boy. What makes you -wear a cap?” - -“Granny gave it to me. I like it better than a bonnet.” - -They had by this time reached Broadway. - -“You may steer across the Park to French’s Hotel,” said the sailor. -“It’s too late to get breakfast at my sister’s.” - -“All right,” said Tom. - -They crossed the Park, and the street beyond, and reached the door of -the brick hotel on the corner of Frankfort Street. - -“I’ll go down into the restaurant first,” said Captain Barnes. “I feel -like laying in a cargo before navigating any farther.” - -“Here’s your bundle,” said Tom. - -He took it, and handed Tom twenty-five cents, which she received with -gratification, not having expected so much for carrying so small a -bundle. - -“Stay a moment,” said the sailor, as she was about to go away. “You -haven’t had any breakfast, I think you said.” - -“No.” - -“Then you shall come in, and breakfast with me.” - -This invitation astonished Tom not a little. It was the first invitation -she had ever received to breakfast with a gentleman. French’s restaurant -being higher priced than those which her class were in the habit of -patronizing, she entered with some hesitation, not feeling quite sure -how her entrance would be regarded by the waiters. She was not generally -wanting in self-possession, but as she descended the stairs and entered -the room, she felt awkward and out of her element. - - - - - CHAPTER VIII. - AT FRENCH’S HOTEL. - - -“Clear out of here!” said a waiter, arresting Tom’s progress, and -pointing to the steps by which she had descended from the sidewalk. - -If Tom had been alone, she would have felt bound to obey the summons; -but being under the protection of Captain Barnes, who, she reflected, -looked a good deal stronger than the waiter, she stood her ground. - -“Did you hear what I said?” demanded the waiter angrily, about to take -Tom by the shoulder. - -“Avast there!” put in the captain, who thought it time to interfere; “is -that the way you treat your customers?” - -“She aint no customer.” - -“She is going to take breakfast here, my friend, and I should like to -know what you have got to say about it.” - -The waiter seemed taken aback by this unexpected championship of one -whom he had supposed to be an unprotected street girl. - -“I didn’t know she was with you,” he stammered. - -“Well, you know it now. Come, child, you can sit down here.” - -Tom enjoyed her triumph over the waiter, and showed it in a -characteristic manner, by putting her thumb to her nose. - -Captain Barnes sat down on one side of a table at one of the windows, -and motioned Tom to sit opposite. - -“I don’t think you told me your name,” he said. - -“Tom.” - -“Then, Tom, let me suggest that you take off your cap. It’s usual in the -best society.” - -“I never was there,” said Tom; but she removed her cap. This revealed a -mop of hair, tangled it is true, but of a beautiful brown shade. Her -black eyes sparkled from beneath, giving a bright, keen look to her -face, browned by exposure to all weathers. I regret to say that the face -was by no means clean. If it had been, and the whole expression had not -been so wild and untamed, Tom would certainly have been considered -pretty. As it was, probably no one would have wasted a second glance -upon the little street girl. - -“What will you have, sir, you and the young _lady_?” asked the waiter, -emphasizing the last word, with a grin at Tom. - -“What will you have, Tom?” asked the captain. - -“Beefsteak, cup o’ coffee, and bread-and-butter,” said Tom, glibly. - -Her knowledge of dishes was limited; but she had tried these and liked -them, and this guided her in the selection. - -“Very good,” said Captain Barnes; “the same for me, with fried potatoes -and an omelet.” - -Tom stared at this munificent order. She fixed her black eyes -meditatively upon her entertainer, and wondered whether he always -indulged in such a superlatively square meal. - -“What are you thinking about, Tom?” questioned the captain. - -“You must be awful rich,” said Tom. - -Captain Barnes laughed. - -“What makes you think so?” - -“It’ll cost you a lot for breakfast.” - -“But you know I don’t always have company to breakfast.” - -“Do you call me company?” - -“Of course I do.” - -“I shouldn’t think you’d want to have me eat with you.” - -“Why not?” - -“You’re a gentleman.” - -“And you’re a young lady. Didn’t you hear the waiter call you so?” - -“He was chaffin’.” - -“You may be a lady some time.” - -“’Taint likely,” said Tom. - -“Why not?” - -“I haven’t got no good clothes to wear, nor don’t know nothin’.” - -“Can you read?” - -“A little, but I don’t like to. It’s too hard work.” - -“Makes your head ache, eh?” - -“Yes,” said Tom, seriously. - -Captain Barnes looked attentively at the odd little creature opposite -him. He wondered what would be her fate. She was quick, sharp, pretty, -but withal an untamed Arab of the streets. The chances seemed very much -against her in the warfare of life. Society seemed leagued against her, -and she was likely to be at war with it. - -“I’ll make an effort to save her,” he thought. But of this he did not -speak to Tom at present, more especially as the waiter was seen -advancing with the breakfast ordered. - -He deposited the various dishes, some before Tom, and the remainder -before the captain. - -Tom was not used to restaurants of the better class, and did not see the -necessity of an empty plate in addition to the dish which contained the -meat. Such ceremony was not in vogue at the ten-cent restaurants which -she had hitherto patronized. She fixed her eyes eagerly upon the -beefsteak, which emitted a very savory odor. - -“Pass your plate, Tom, and I will give you some meat.” - -Tom passed her plate, nothing loath, and the captain transferred to it a -liberal supply of meat. - -Tom waited for no ceremony, but, seizing her knife, attacked the meat -vigorously. - -“How is it?” asked her companion, amused. - -“Bully!” said Tom, too busy to raise her eyes from her plate. - -“Let me help you to a little of the omelet.” - -Tom extended her plate, and a portion of the omelet was placed upon it. - -Tom raised a little to her lips, cautiously, for it was a new dish to -her, and she did not know whether she would like it. It seemed to be -satisfactory, however, none being left upon her plate when she had -finished eating. - -Not much conversation went on during the meal. Tom’s entire energies -were given to disposing of the squarest meal in which she had ever -indulged, and the captain’s attention was divided between his breakfast -and the young waif upon whom he was bestowing perfect bliss. - -At length Tom’s efforts relaxed. She laid down her knife and fork, and -heaved a sigh of exquisite enjoyment. - -“Well,” said the captain, “would you like some more?” - -“No,” said Tom, “I’m full.” - -“Did you enjoy your breakfast?” - -“Didn’t I, just?” and Tom’s tone spoke volumes. - -“I’m glad of that. I think it’s very good myself.” - -“You’re a brick!” said Tom, in a tone of grateful acknowledgment. - -“Thank you,” said Captain Barnes, his eyes twinkling a little; “I try to -be.” - -“I wonder what granny would say if she knowed where I was,” soliloquized -Tom, aloud. - -“She’d be glad you had enjoyed your breakfast.” - -“No, she wouldn’t. She’d be mad.” - -“You don’t give your grandmother a very good character. Doesn’t she like -you?” - -“No; she hates me, and I hate her. She takes all my money, and then -licks me.” - -“That’s unpleasant, to be sure. Then you don’t want to go back to her?” - -“Not for Joe!” said Tom, shaking her head very decidedly. - -“Then you expect to take care of yourself? Do you think you can?” - -Tom nodded confidently. - -“What are you going to do this morning, for instance?” - -“Buy some papers with the money you give me.” - -“What a self-reliant spirit the little chit has!” thought Captain -Barnes. “I’ve known plenty of young men, who had less faith in their -ability to cope with the world, and gain a livelihood, than she. Yet she -has next to no clothes, and her entire capital consists of twenty-five -cents. There is a lesson for the timid and despondent in her -philosophy.” - -Tom had no idea of what was passing in the mind of her companion. If she -had been able to read his thoughts, it is not likely she would have -understood them. Her own thoughts had become practical. She had had a -good breakfast,—thanks to the kindness of her new friend,—but for dinner -she must depend upon herself. She felt that it was quite time to enter -upon the business of the day. - -She put on her cap and rose to her feet. - -“I’m goin’,” she said, abruptly. - -“Where are you going?” - -“To buy some papers. Thank you for my breakfast.” - -It was probably the first time Tom ever thanked anybody for anything. I -am not quite sure whether anybody before this had given her any cause -for gratitude. Certainly, not granny, who had bestowed far less than she -had received from the child, upon whom she had not been ashamed to be a -selfish dependent. There was something, possibly, in her present -companionship with a kind-hearted gentleman, something, perhaps, in her -present more respectable surroundings, which had taught Tom this first -lesson in good manners. She was almost surprised herself at the -expression of gratitude to which she had given utterance. - -“Stop a minute, Tom!” said the captain. - -Tom had got half way to the door, but she stopped short on being called -back. - -“You haven’t asked me whether I have got through with you.” - -Tom looked surprised. She knew of no further service in which she could -make herself useful to her companion. - -“Haven’t you got through with me?” she asked. - -“Not quite. I’m not going to stop here, you know,—I am going to my -sister’s.” - -“Where does she live?” - -“In Sixteenth Street.” - -“Do you want me to carry your carpet-bag?” asked Tom. - -“Well, no; I think you couldn’t manage that. But you can carry the -bundle.” - -“All right!” said Tom. - -It was all one to her whether she sold papers, or carried bundles. The -main thing was to earn the small amount of money necessary to defray her -daily expenses. Of the two she would rather go up to Sixteenth Street; -for as she had seldom found occasion to go up town, the expedition -promised a little novelty. - -Captain Barnes paid his bill, and left the restaurant, with Tom at his -heels. - - - - - CHAPTER IX. - MRS. MERTON. - -“We’ll go across Broadway, and take the Sixth Avenue cars, Tom,” said -the captain. - -“Are we goin’ to ride?” asked Tom, surprised. - -“Yes, you don’t catch me lugging this heavy carpet-bag up to Sixteenth -Street.” - -Tom was rather surprised at this. She did not understand why her -services were required to carry the bundle if they were going to ride. -However, she very sensibly remained silent, not feeling called upon to -comment on her employer’s arrangements. - -At this time in the day there was no difficulty in obtaining a seat in -the cars. Tom, however, was not disposed to sit down quietly:— - -“I’ll stand outside,” she said. - -“Very well,” said Captain Barnes, and he drew out a copy of a morning -paper which he had purchased on leaving the hotel. - -Tom took her position beside the driver. She rather enjoyed the ride, -for, though she had lived in the city for years, she had seldom been on -the car as a passenger, though she had frequently stolen a ride on the -steps of a Broadway omnibus. - -“Well, Johnny, are you going up town to look after your family?” asked -the driver, good-naturedly. - -“I’d have to look a long time before I found ’em,” said Tom. - -“Haven’t you got any relations, then?” - -“There’s an old woman that calls herself my granny.” - -“Does she live up on Fifth Avenue?” - -“Yes,” said Tom; “next door to you.” - -“You’ve got me there,” said the driver, laughing. “Give my respects to -your granny, and tell her she’s got a smart grand-daughter.” - -“I will, when I see her.” - -“Don’t you live with her?” - -“Not now. She aint my style.” - -Here the conductor tapped Tom on the shoulder. - -“_He_ pays for me,” said Tom, pointing back at Captain Barnes. - -“I suppose he’s your grandfather,” said the driver, jocosely. - -“I wish he was. He’s a trump. He gave me a stunnin’ breakfast.” - -“So you like him better than your granny?” - -“You can bet on that.” - -Captain Barnes, sitting near the door, heard a part of this -conversation, and it amused him. - -“I wonder,” he thought, “whether my sister will be willing to assume -charge of this wild little girl? There’s enough in her to make a very -smart woman, if she is placed under the right influences and properly -trained. But I suspect that will require not a little patience and tact. -Well, we shall see.” - -After a while the car reached Sixteenth Street, and the captain left it, -with Tom following him. They turned down Sixteenth Street from the -avenue, and finally stopped before a fair-looking brick house. Captain -Barnes went up the steps, and rang the bell. - -“Is Mrs. Merton at home?” he asked. - -“Yes,” said the servant, looking hard at Tom. - -“Then I’ll come in. Tell her her brother wishes to see her. Come in, -Tom.” - -Tom followed the captain, the servant continuing to eye her -suspiciously. They entered the parlor, where Captain Barnes took a seat -on the sofa, motioning Tom to sit beside him. Tom obeyed, surveying the -sofa with some curiosity. The families in the tenement house with whom -she had been on visiting terms did not in general possess sofas. She had -sometimes seen them in furniture stores, but this was the first time she -had sat upon one. - -“What are you thinking of, Tom?” asked the captain, desiring to draw her -out. - -“Does your sister live here?” - -“Yes.” - -“She’s rich, isn’t she?” - -“No, she makes a living by keeping boarders. Perhaps you’d like to board -with her.” - -Tom laughed. - -“She don’t take the likes of me,” she said. - -“Suppose you were rich enough, wouldn’t you like to board here?” - -“I don’t know,” said Tom, looking round. “It’s dark.” - -“All the rooms are not dark. Besides, you’d get three square meals every -day.” - -“I’d like that,” said Tom, seriously. - -Their further conversation was interrupted by the entrance of the -captain’s sister, Mrs. Merton. She was rather a stout woman, but there -was an expression of care on her face, which was not surprising, for it -is no light thing to keep a New York boarding-house. - -“When did you arrive in the city, Albert?” she asked, giving him her -hand cordially. - -“Only just arrived, Martha. How does the world use you?” - -“I can’t complain, though it’s a wearing thing looking after a household -like this. Have you had any breakfast?” - -“I took some down town.” - -Just then Mrs. Merton’s eye fell for the first time upon Tom. She -started in surprise, and looked doubtfully at her brother. - -“Who is this?” she asked. “Did she come with you?” - -“It’s a young friend of mine. She met me at the wharf, and wanted to -carry my carpet-bag.” - -“You didn’t let her do it?” - -“Bless you, no. It’s big enough to pack her away in. But I employed her -to carry a bundle. Didn’t I, Tom?” - -“What did you call her?” asked his sister. - -“Tom. That’s her name, so she says.” - -“What made you bring her here?” asked Mrs. Merton, who evidently -regarded her brother’s conduct as very queer. - -“I’ll tell you, but not before her. Tom, you can go out into the entry, -and shut the door behind you. I’ll call you in a few minutes.” - -Tom went out, and Captain Barnes returned to the subject. - -“She’s got no relations except an intemperate old grandmother,” he said. -“I’ve taken a fancy to her, and want to help her along. Can’t you find a -place for her in your kitchen?” - -“I take a girl from the street!” ejaculated Mrs. Merton. “Albert, you -must be crazy.” - -“Not at all. I am sure you can find something for her to do,—cleaning -knives, running of errands, going to market, or something of that kind.” - -“This is a very strange proposal.” - -“Why is it? At present she lives in the street, being driven from the -only home she had, by the ill-treatment of a vicious grandmother. You -can see what chance she has of growing up respectably.” - -“But there are plenty such. I don’t see that it’s our business to look -after them.” - -“I don’t know why it is, but I’ve taken a fancy to this little girl.” - -“She looks perfectly wild.” - -“I won’t deny that she is rather uncivilized, but there’s a good deal in -her. She’s as smart as a steel trap.” - -“Smart enough to steal, probably.” - -“Perhaps so, under temptation. I want to remove the temptation.” - -“This is a very strange freak on your part, Albert.” - -“I don’t know about that. You know I have no child of my own, and am -well off, so far as this world’s goods are concerned. I have long -thought I should like to train up a child in whom I could take an -interest, and who would be a comfort to me when I am older.” - -“You can find plenty of attractive children without going into the -street for them.” - -“I don’t want a tame child. She wouldn’t interest me. This girl has -spirit. I’ll tell you what I want you to do, Martha. I’m going off on a -year’s voyage. Take her into your house, make her as useful as you can, -civilize her, and I will allow you a fair price for her board.” - -“Do you want her to go to school?” - -“After a while. At present she needs to be civilized. She is a young -street Arab with very elementary ideas as to the way in which people -live. She needs an apprenticeship in some house like this. My little -niece must be about her age.” - -“Mary? How can I trust her to the companionship of such a girl?” - -“Tom isn’t bad. She is only untrained. She will learn more than she will -teach at first. Afterwards Mary may learn something of her.” - -“I am sure I don’t know what to say,” said Mrs. Merton, irresolutely. - -Here the captain named the terms he was willing to pay for Tom’s board. -This was a consideration to Mrs. Merton, who found that she had to -calculate pretty closely to make keeping boarders pay. - -“I’ll try her,” she said. - -“Thank you, Martha. You can let her go into the kitchen at first, till -she is fit to be promoted.” - -“She must have some clothes. She had on a boy’s jacket.” - -“Yes, and cap. In fact she is more of a boy than a girl at present.” - -“I am not sure but some of Mary’s old dresses may fit her. Mary must be -a little larger than she is.” - -“That reminds me I brought a doll for Fanny. She has not grown too large -for dolls yet.” - -“No, she is just the age to enjoy them. She will be delighted.” - -“I think we may call in Tom now, and inform her of our intention.” - -“She must have another name. It won’t do to call a girl Tom.” - -“She said her name used to be Jenny, but she has been nicknamed Tom.” - -The door was opened, and Captain Barnes called in Tom. - -“Come in, Tom,” he said. - -“All right!” said Tom. “I’m on hand!” - -“We’ve been talking about you, Tom,” pursued the captain. - -“What have you been sayin’?” asked Tom, suspiciously. - -“I’ve been telling my sister that you had no home, and were obliged to -earn your own living in the streets.” - -“I don’t care much,” said Tom. “I’d rather do that than live with -granny, and get licked.” - -“But wouldn’t you like better to have a nice home, where you would have -plenty to eat, and a good bed to sleep in?” - -“Maybe I would.” - -“I’ve been asking my sister to let you stay here with her. Would you -like that?” - -Tom regarded Mrs. Merton attentively. The face was careworn, but very -different from granny’s. On the whole, it inspired her with some degree -of confidence. - -“If she wouldn’t lick me very often,” she said. - -“How about that, Martha?” he asked. - -“I think I can promise that,” said Mrs. Merton, amused in spite of -herself. - -“Of course you will have to work. My sister will find something for you -to do.” - -“I aint afraid of work,” said Tom, “if I only get enough to eat, and -aint licked.” - -“You see, Tom, I feel an interest in you.” - -“You’re a brick!” said Tom, gratefully. - -“Little girl,” said Mrs. Merton, shocked, “you mustn’t use such language -in addressing my brother.” - -“Never mind, Martha; she means it as a compliment.” - -“A compliment to call you a brick!” - -“Certainly. But now about clothes. Can’t you rig her out with something -that will make her presentable?” - -“She needs a good washing first,” said Mrs. Merton, surveying Tom’s -dirty face and hands with disfavor. - -“A very good suggestion. You won’t mind being washed, I suppose, Tom?” - -“I’d just as lives,” said Tom. - -In fact she was quite indifferent on the subject. She was used to being -dirty, but if she could oblige her new protector by washing, she was -quite willing. - -“I’ve got to go out for an hour or two,” said Captain Barnes, “but I -will leave my carpet-bag here, and come back to lunch.” - -“Of course, Albert. When do you sail?” - -“In three days at farthest.” - -“Of course you will remain here up to the day of sailing.” - -“Yes, if you can find a spare corner to stow me in.” - -“It would be odd if I couldn’t find room for my only brother.” - -“So be it, then. You may expect me.” - -He rose and taking his hat left the house. Tom and Mrs. Merton were now -alone. - - - - - CHAPTER X. - TOM DROPS HER TATTERS. - - -“Now, what is your name, little girl?” asked Mrs. Merton, surveying Tom -doubtfully, half sorry that she had undertaken the care of her. - -“Tom.” - -“That’s a boy’s name.” - -“Everybody calls me Tom,—sometimes Tattered Tom.” - -“There’s some reason about the first name,” thought Mrs. Merton, as her -glance rested on the ragged skirt and well-ventilated jacket of her -brother’s protegée. - -“As you are a girl, it is not proper that you should have a boy’s name. -What is your real name?” - -“I think it’s Jenny. Granny used to call me so long ago, but I like Tom -best.” - -“Then I shall call you Jenny. Now, Jenny, the first thing to do, is to -wash yourself clean. Follow me.” - -Mrs. Merton went up the front stairs, and Tom followed, using her eyes -to good advantage as she advanced. - -The landlady led the way into a bath-room. She set the water to running, -and bade Tom undress. - -“Am I to get into the tub?” asked Tom. - -“Yes, certainly. While you are undressing, I will try and find some -clothes that will fit you.” - -Though she did not at first fancy the idea of bathing, Tom grew to like -it, and submitted with a good grace. Mrs. Merton took care that it -should be thorough. After it, she dressed Tom in some clothes, still -very good, which had been laid aside by her daughter Mary. Then she -combed Tom’s tangled locks, and was astonished by the improvement it -made in the appearance of the little waif. - -I have already said that Tom had elements of beauty, but it took sharp -eyes to detect them under the rags and dirt which had so effectually -disguised her. She had very brilliant dark eyes, and a clear olive -complexion, with cheeks that had a tinge of red instead of the pallor -usually to be found in those children who have the misfortune to be -reared in a tenement house. In her new clothes she looked positively -handsome, as Mrs. Merton thought, though she did not see fit to say so -to Tom herself. - -When her toilet was concluded she turned Tom to the glass, and said, -“There, Jenny, do you know who that is?” - -Tom stared in open-eyed wonder at the image which she saw. She could -hardly believe the testimony of her eyes. - -“Is that me?” she asked. - -“I believe so,” said Mrs. Merton, smiling. - -“It don’t look like me a bit,” continued Tom. - -“It doesn’t look like ‘Tattered Tom,’ certainly. Don’t you like it -better?” - -“I dunno,” said Tom, doubtfully. “It looks too much like a girl.” - -“But you are a girl, you know.” - -“I wish I wasn’t.” - -“Why?” - -“Boys have more fun; besides, they are stronger, and can fight better.” - -“But you don’t want to fight?” said Mrs. Merton, scandalized. - -“I licked a boy yesterday,” said Tom, proudly. - -“Why did you do that?” - -“He sassed me, and I licked him. He was bigger’n I was, too!” - -“I can’t allow you to fight in future, Jenny,” said Mrs. Merton. “It -isn’t at all proper for girls, or indeed for boys, to fight; but it is -worse for girls.” - -“Why is it?” asked Tom. - -“Because girls should be gentle and lady-like.” - -“If you was a girl, and a boy should slap you in the face, what would -you do?” asked Tom, fixing her bright eyes upon her mentor. - -“I should forgive him, and hope he would become a better boy.” - -“I wouldn’t,” said Tom. “I’d give him Hail Columby.” - -“You’ve got some very wrong ideas, Jenny,” said Mrs. Merton. “I fear -that your grandmother has not brought you up properly.” - -“She did not bring me up at all. I brought myself up. As for granny, she -didn’t care as long as I brought her money to buy whiskey.” - -Mrs. Merton shook her head. It was very evident to her that Tom had been -under very bad influences. - -“I hope you will see the error of your ways after a while, Jenny. My -brother takes an interest in you, and for his sake I hope you will try -to improve.” - -“If he wants me to, I will,” said Tom, decidedly. - -Arab as she was, she had been impressed by the kindness of Captain -Barnes, and felt that she should like to please him. Still, there was a -fascination in the wild independence of her street life which was likely -for some time to interfere with her enjoyment of the usages of a more -civilized state. There was little prospect of her taming down into an -average girl all at once. The change must come slowly. - -“My brother will be very much pleased if he finds that you have improved -when he returns from his voyage.” - -“When is he goin’ to sea?” - -“In two or three days.” - -“I asked him to take me with him,” said Tom; “but he wouldn’t.” - -“You would only be in the way on a ship, Jenny.” - -“No, I shouldn’t. I could be a cabin-boy.” - -“But you are not a boy.” - -“I could climb the masts as well as a boy. If there was only a pole -here, I’d show you.” - -“What a child you are!” - -“Did you ever read about the female pirate captain?” asked Tom. - -“No.” - -“Jim Morgan told me all about it. He’d read it in some book. It was a -bully story.” - -“Such stories are not fit to read.” - -“I’d like to be a pirate captain,” said Tom, thoughtfully. - -“You mustn’t talk so, Jenny,” said Mrs. Merton, shocked. - -“But I would, though, and carry two pistols and a dagger in my belt, and -then if anybody sassed me I’d give ’em all they wanted.” - -“My brother wouldn’t like to hear you talk so, Jenny. I’m sure I don’t -know what has got into you to say such dreadful things.” - -“Then I won’t,” said Tom. “I wonder what granny would say if she saw me -in these fixin’s. She wouldn’t know me.” - -“When my brother comes, you shall go down and open the door for him, and -see if he knows you.” - -“That will be bully.” - -“Now I must be thinking what I can find for you to do. You will be -willing to help me?” - -“Yes,” said Tom, promptly. - -“Do you know how to make beds?” - -“I can learn,” said Tom. - -“Didn’t your grandmother ever teach you?” asked Mrs. Merton, who, though -for a long time a resident of New York, had a very imperfect knowledge -of how the poorest classes lived. - -“Granny never made her bed,” said Tom. “She just gave it a shake, and -tumbled into it.” - -“Bless me, how shiftless she must be!” ejaculated Mrs. Merton, in -surprise. - -“Oh, granny don’t mind!” said Tom, carelessly. - -“Did you ever sweep?” - -“Lots of times. That’s the way I got money to carry to granny.” - -“Were you paid for sweeping, then?” asked Mrs. Merton. - -“Yes, people that came along would give me money. If they wouldn’t I’d -muddy their boots.” - -“What do you mean, child? Where did you sweep?” - -“Corner of Broadway and Chambers’ Streets.” - -“Oh, you swept the crossing, then.” - -“In course I did. If you’ll give me a broom, I’ll go out and sweep front -of your house; but I guess there aint so many people come along here as -in Broadway.” - -“I don’t want you to do that,” said Mrs. Merton, hastily. “I want you to -sweep the rooms in the house. Sarah, the chambermaid, will show you how, -and also teach you to make beds.” - -“All right,” said Tom. “Bring her on, and I’ll help her.” - -“We will defer that till to-morrow. Now you may come down to the kitchen -with me, and I’ll see if I can find anything for you to do there.” - -Tom felt ready for any enterprise, and started to follow Mrs. Merton -downstairs, but rather startled the good lady by making a rapid descent -astride the banisters. - -“Don’t you do that again, Jenny,” she said reprovingly. - -“Why not?” asked Tom. “It’s jolly fun.” - - - - - CHAPTER XI - THE MISTAKES OF A MORNING. - - -On the way to the kitchen they met Sarah, the chambermaid, going -upstairs to make the beds. - -“Sarah,” said Mrs. Merton, “here is a little girl who is going to stay -with me, and help about the house. You may take her upstairs, and show -her how to help you make the beds.” - -If Tom had been in her street costume, Sarah would have preferred to -dispense with her assistance, but she looked quite civilized and -respectable now, and she accepted the offer. Tom accompanied her -upstairs to the second floor. The first chamber was that of Mr. -Craven,—a gentleman in business down town. It was of course vacant, -therefore. - -Tom looked about her curiously. - -“Now,” said Sarah, “do you know anything about making beds?” - -“No,” said Tom. - -“Then stand on one side, and I will tell you what to do.” - -Tom followed directions pretty well, but, as the task was about -finished, an impish freak seized her, and she caught the pillow and -threw it at Sarah’s head, disarranging that young lady’s hair, and -knocking out a comb. - -“What’s that for?” demanded Sarah, angrily. - -Tom sat down and laughed boisterously. - -“It’s bully fun!” she said. “Throw it at me.” - -“I’ll give you a shaking, you young imp,” said Sarah. “You’ve broke my -comb.” - -She picked up the comb, and dashed round the bed after Tom, who, seeing -no other way for escape, sprang upon the bed, where she remained -standing. - -“Come down from there,” demanded Sarah. - -“Let me alone, then!” - -“I’ll tell the missis, just as sure as you live!” - -“What’ll she do? Will she lick me?” - -“You’ll see.” - -This would not have checked Tom, but it occurred to her, all at once, -that her freak would be reported to the captain, and might displease -him. - -“I’ll stop,” said she. “I was only in fun.” - -By this time, Sarah had ascertained that the comb was not broken, after -all, and this made her more inclined to overlook Tom’s offence. - -“Now behave decent!” she said. - -She gave Tom further directions about the proper way of doing -chamber-work, which Tom followed quite closely, being resolved -apparently to turn over a new leaf. But her reformation was not -thorough. She caught sight of Mr. Craven’s shaving materials, which he -had carelessly left on the bureau, and before Sarah anticipated her -intention, she had seized the brush and spread the lather over her -cheeks. - -“What are you doing, you little torment?” asked Sarah. - -“I’m goin’ to shave,” said Tom. “It must feel funny.” - -“Put that razor down!” said Sarah, approaching. - -Tom brandished the razor playfully, in a manner that considerably -startled the chamber-maid, who stopped short in alarm:— - -“I’ll go and tell the missis how you cut up,” said she, going to the -door. - -This was unnecessary, however, for at this moment Mrs. Merton, desirous -of learning how Tom was getting along, opened the door. She started back -in dismay at the spectacle which greeted her view, and, in a tone -unusually decided for so mild a woman, said, “Jenny, put down that razor -instantly, and wipe the soap from your cheeks. Not so,” she added -hastily, seeing that Tom was about to wipe it off upon her skirt. “Here, -take the towel. Now, what do you mean by such conduct?” - -“Wouldn’t _he_ like it?” asked Tom, somewhat abashed. - -“Do you mean my brother?” - -“Yes, the sailor man.” - -“No, he would be very angry.” - -“Then I won’t do so again;” and Tom seemed quite decided in her -repentance. - -“What possessed you to touch those things, Jenny?” - -“That isn’t all she did, mum,” said Sarah. “She threw the pillow at me, -and almost druv the comb into my head. She’s the craziest creetur’ I -ever sot eyes on.” - -“Did you do that?” asked Mrs. Merton. - -“Yes,” said Tom. “I told her she might pitch it at me. It’s bully fun.” - -“I can’t allow such goings-on,” said Mrs. Merton. “If you do so again, I -must send you back to your grandmother.” - -“You don’t know where she lives,” said Tom. - -“At any rate I won’t keep you here.” - -Tom thought of the three square meals which she would receive daily, and -decided to remain. She continued quiet, therefore, and really helped -Sarah in the remaining rooms. When this task was completed she went -downstairs. At this moment a ring was heard at the door-bell. Thinking -that it might be the captain, Tom answered the summons herself. She -opened the door suddenly, but found herself mistaken. - -A young gentleman was the visitor. - -“Can I see Mrs. Merton?” he inquired. - -“Yes,” said Tom; “come in.” - -He stepped into the hall. - -“Come right along. I’ll show you where she is.” - -She knew that the landlady was in the kitchen, and supposed that this -was the proper place to lead the visitor. - -The latter followed Tom as far as the head of the stairs, and then -paused. - -“Where are you leading me?” he asked. - -“She’s down in the kitchen. Come right along.” - -“No, I will stay here. You may tell her there is a gentleman wishes to -see her.” - -Tom went down, and found the landlady. - -“There’s a feller upstairs wants to see you,” she said. “He wouldn’t -come down here. I asked him.” - -“Good gracious! You didn’t invite him down into the kitchen?” - -“Why not?” said Tom. - -“You should have carried him into the parlor.” - -“All right!” said Tom. “I’ll know better next time.” - -Mrs. Merton smoothed her hair, and went upstairs to greet her visitor, -who proved to be an applicant for board. - -Only fifteen minutes later Tom had a chance to improve on her first -mistake. Again the door-bell rang, and again Tom opened the door. A -wrinkled old woman, with a large basket, stood before her. - -“I’m a poor widder,” she whined, “with four childer that have nothing to -ate. Can’t you give me a few pennies, and may the blessings of Heaven -rest upon you!” - -“Come in,” said Tom. - -The old woman stepped into the hall. - -“Come right in here,” said Tom, opening the door of the parlor. - -The old beggar, not accustomed to being received with so much attention, -paused doubtfully. - -“Come in, if you’re comin’,” said Tom, impatiently. “The lady told me to -put everybody in here.” - -The old woman followed, and took a seat on the edge of a sofa, placing -her basket on the carpet. Before Tom had a chance to acquaint her -mistress with the fact that a visitor awaited her, the bell rang again. -This time Tom found herself confronted by a fashionably dressed and -imposing-looking lady. - -“I wish to see Mrs. Merton,” she said. - -“All right!” said Tom. “Just you come in, and I’ll call her.” - -The visitor entered, and was ushered also into the parlor. Leaving her -to find a seat for herself, Tom disappeared in pursuit of the landlady. - -Mrs. Courtenay did not at first observe the other occupant of the room. -When her eyes rested on the old crone sitting on the sofa, with her -basket, which was partly stored with cold victuals, resting on the -carpet, she started in mingled astonishment and disgust. Her -aristocratic nostrils curved, and, taking a delicate handkerchief, she -tried to shut out the unsavory presence. The old woman saw the action, -and fidgeted nervously, feeling that she ought not to be there. While -the two guests were in this uncomfortable state of feeling, Mrs. Merton, -quite unsuspicious of anything wrong, opened the door. - -“Is this Mrs. Merton?” asked Mrs. Courtenay. - -“Yes, madam.” - -“I called to inquire about a servant who referred me to you,” continued -Mrs. Courtenay, haughtily; “but I didn’t anticipate the company I should -find myself in.” - -Following her glance, Mrs. Merton was struck with dismay, as she saw the -second visitor. - -“How came you here?” she demanded hastily. - -“The little gal brought me. It wasn’t my fault indeed, mum,” whined the -old woman. - -“What do you want?” - -“I’m a poor widder, mum. If you could be so kind as to give me a few -pennies.” - -“I have nothing for you to-day. You can go,” said Mrs. Merton, who was -too provoked to be charitable, as otherwise she might have been. She -pointed to the door, and the applicant for charity hobbled out hastily, -feeling that she was not likely to obtain anything under present -circumstances. - -“I must beg your pardon,” said Mrs. Merton, “for the mistake of an -inexperienced child, who has never before waited upon the door; though, -how she could have made such an absurd blunder, I cannot tell.” - -Mrs. Courtenay deigned to be appeased, and opened her business. When she -had left the house, Mrs. Merton called Tom. - -“Jenny,” she said, “how came you to show that beggar into the parlor?” - -“She asked for you,” said Tom, “and you told me to take everybody that -asked for you into the parlor.” - -“Never take such a woman as that in.” - -“All right!” said Tom. - -“That comes of taking a girl in from the street,” thought Mrs. Merton. -“I wish I hadn’t agreed to take her.” - - - - - CHAPTER XII - THE VANQUISHED BULLY. - - -Notwithstanding Tom’s mistake, she was still intrusted with the duty of -answering the bell. At length, to her satisfaction, she opened the door -to her friend of the morning. - -He looked at her in surprise. - -“What, is this Tom?” he asked. - -“Yes,” she said, enjoying his surprise. “Didn’t you know me?” - -“Hardly. Why, you look like a young lady!” - -“Do I?” said Tom, hardly knowing whether or not to feel pleased at the -compliment, for she fancied she should prefer to be a boy. - -“Yes, you are much improved. And how have you been getting on this -morning?” - -“I’ve been cutting up,” said Tom, shaking her head. - -“Not badly, I hope.” - -“I’ll tell you what I did;” and Tom in her own way gave an account of -the events related in the previous chapter. - -The captain laughed heartily. - -“You aint mad?” questioned Tom. - -“Did you think I would be?” - -“She said so,” said Tom. - -“Who is she?” - -“Your sister.” - -The captain recovered his gravity. He saw that his merriment might -encourage Tom in her pranks, and so increase the difficulties his sister -was likely to find with her. - -“No, I am not angry,” he said, “but I want you very much to improve. You -will have a good home here, and I want you to do as well as you can, so -that when I get home from my voyage I may find you very much improved. -Do you think I shall?” - -Tom listened attentively. - -“What do you want me to do?” she asked. - -“To learn, as fast as you can, both about work and study. I shall leave -directions to have you sent to school. Will you like that?” - -“I don’t know,” said Tom. “I’m afraid I’ll be bad, and get licked.” - -“Then try not to be bad. But you want to know something when you grow -up,—don’t you?” - -“Yes.” - -“Then you will have to go to school and study. Can you read?” - -“Not enough to hurt me,” said Tom. - -“Then, if you find yourself behind the rest, you must work all the -harder. Will you promise me to do it?” - -Tom nodded. - -“And will you try to behave well?” - -“Yes,” said Tom. “I’ll do it for you. I wouldn’t do it for granny.” - -“Then do it for me.” - -Here Mrs. Merton appeared on the scene, and Tom was directed to go -downstairs to assist the cook. - -“Well, what do you think of her, Martha?” - -“She’s a regular trial. I’ll tell you what she did this morning.” - -“I know all.” - -“Did she tell you?” asked his sister, in surprise. - -“Yes, she voluntarily told me that she had been ‘cutting up;’ and, on my -questioning her, confessed how. However, it was partly the result of -ignorance.” - -“I wish I hadn’t undertaken the charge of her.” - -“Don’t be discouraged, Martha. There’s some good in her, and she’s as -smart as a steel trap. She’s promised me to turn over a new leaf, and do -as well as she can.” - -“Do you rely upon that?” - -“I do. She’s got will and resolution, and I believe she means what she -says.” - -“I hope it’ll prove so,” said Mrs. Merton, doubtfully. - -“I find she knows very little. I should like to have her sent to school -as soon as possible. She can assist you when at home, and I will take -care that you lose nothing by it.” - -To this Mrs. Merton was brought to agree, but could not help expressing -her surprise at the interest which her brother took in that child. She -was a good woman, but it was not strange if the thought should come to -her that she had two daughters of her own, having a better claim upon -their uncle’s money than this wild girl whom he had picked up in the -streets. But Captain Barnes showed that he had not forgotten his nieces, -as two handsome dress-patterns, sent in from Stewart’s during the -afternoon, sufficiently evinced. - -Tom had not yet met Mrs. Merton’s daughters, both being absent at -school. They returned home about three o’clock. Mary, a girl of about -Tom’s age, had rather pretty, but insipid, features, and was vain of -what she regarded as her beauty. Fanny, who was eight, was more -attractive. - -“Children, can’t you speak to your uncle?” said Mrs. Merton; for the -captain declared himself tired, and did not go out after lunch. - -“How do you do, uncle?” said Mary, advancing and offering her hand. - -“Why, Mary, you have become quite a young lady,” said her uncle. - -Mary simpered and looked pleased. - -“And Fanny too. Martha, where is that doll I brought for her?” - -The doll was handed to the delighted child. - -“I suppose you are too old for dolls, Mary,” said the captain to his -eldest niece. - -“I should think so, Uncle Albert,” answered Mary, bridling. - -“Then it’s lucky I didn’t bring you one. But I’ve brought you a -playmate.” - -Mary looked surprised. - -Tom was passing through the hall at the moment, and her guardian called -her. - -“Come in, Tom.” - -Mary Merton stared at the new-comer, and her quick eyes detected that -the dress in which she appeared was one of her own. - -“Why, she’s got on my dress,” she said. - -“She is about your size, Mary, so I gave her your dress.” - -“Didn’t she have any clothes of her own?” - -“Were you unwilling to let her have that dress?” asked her uncle. - -Mary pouted, and Captain Barnes said, “Martha, I will put money in your -hands to supply Jenny with a suitable wardrobe. I had intended to give -Mary new articles for all which been appropriated to Tom’s use; but I -have changed my mind.” - -“She can have them,” said Mary, regretting her selfishness, from an -equally selfish motive. - -“I won’t trouble you,” said her uncle, rather coldly. - -Tom had listened attentively to this conversation, turning her bright -eyes from one to the other. - -“Come here, Tom, and shake hands with these two little girls.” - -“I’ll shake hands with her,” said Tom, indicating Fanny. - -“And won’t you shake hands with Mary?” - -“I don’t want to.” - -“Why not?” - -“I don’t like her.” - -“Shake hands with her, for my sake.” - -Tom instantly extended her hand, but now it was Mary who held back. Her -mother would have forced her to give her hand, but Captain Barnes said, -“It don’t matter. Leave them to become friends in their own time.” - -Two days afterwards the captain sailed. Tom renewed her promise to be a -good girl, and he went away hopeful that she would keep it. - -“I shall have somebody to come home to, Jenny,” he said. “Will you be -glad to see me back?” - -“Yes, I will,” she said; and there was a heartiness in her tone which -showed that she meant what she said. - -The next day Tom went to school. She was provided with two or three -books such as she would need, and accompanied Fanny; for, though several -years older, she was not as proficient as the latter. - -In the next street there was a boy, whose pleasure it was to bully -children smaller than himself. He had more than once annoyed Fanny, and -when the latter saw him a little in advance, she said, nervously, “Let -us cross the street, Jenny.” - -“Why?” asked Tom. - -“There’s George Griffiths just ahead.” - -“What if he is?” - -“He’s an awful bad boy. Sometimes he pulls away my books, and runs away -with them. He likes to plague us.” - -“He’d better not try it,” said Tom. - -“What would you do?” asked Fanny, in surprise. - -“You’ll see. I won’t cross the street. I’m goin’ right ahead.” - -Fanny caught her companion’s arm, and advanced, trembling, hoping that -George Griffiths might not see them. But he had already espied them, -and, feeling in a bullying mood, winked to a companion and said, “You’ll -see how I’ll frighten these girls.” - -He advanced to meet them, and took off his hat with mock politeness. - -“How do you do this morning, young ladies?” he said. - -“Go away, you bad boy!” said little Fanny, in a flutter. - -“I’ll pay you for that,” he said, and tried to snatch one of her books, -but was considerably startled at receiving a blow on the side of the -head from her companion. - -“Just let her alone,” said Tom. - -“What have you got to say about it?” he demanded insolently. - -“You’ll see.” - -Hereupon he turned his attention to Tom, and tried to snatch her books, -but was rather astounded when his intended victim struck him a sounding -blow in the face with her fist. - -“Take my books, Fanny,” she said, and, dropping them on the sidewalk, -squared off scientifically. - -“Come on, if you want to!” said Tom, her eyes sparkling with excitement -at the prospect of a fight. - -“I don’t want to fight with a girl,” he said, considerably astonished at -vigorous resistance where he had expected timid submission. - -“You’re afraid!” said Tom, triumphantly. - -“No, I’m not,” said George, backing out all the while; “I don’t want to -hurt you.” - -“You can’t do it,” said Tom; “I can lick you any day.” - -“How could you do it?” asked Fanny, as the dreaded bully slunk away. -“How brave you are, Jenny! I’m awful afraid of him.” - -“You needn’t be,” said Tom, taking her books. “I’ve licked boys bigger’n -him. I can lick him, and he knows it.” - -She was right. The story got about, and George Griffiths was so laughed -at, for being vanquished by a girl, that he was very careful in future -whom he attempted to bully. - - - - - CHAPTER XIII - GRANNY IS COMPELLED TO EARN HER OWN LIVING. - - -Leaving Tom in her new home, we return to Mrs. Walsh, which was the -proper designation of the old woman whom she called granny. Though Tom -had escaped from her clutches, granny had no idea that she intended to -stay away permanently. She did not consider that all the advantages of -the connection between them had been on her side, and that Tom had only -had the privilege of supporting them both. If she had not carried -matters so far our heroine would have been satisfied to remain; but now -she had fairly broken away, and would never come back unless brought by -force. - -When six o’clock came granny began to wonder why Tom did not come back. -She usually returned earlier, with whatever money she had managed to -obtain. - -“She’s afraid of a lickin’,” thought granny. “She’ll get a wuss one if -she stays away.” - -An hour passed, and granny became hungry; but unfortunately she was -penniless, and had nothing in the room except a crust of hard bread -which she intended for Tom’s supper. Hunger compelled her to eat this -herself, though it was not much to her taste. Every moment’s additional -delay irritated her the more with the rebellious Tom. - -“I wish I had her here,” soliloquized granny, spitefully. - -When it was half-past seven granny resolved to go out and hunt her up. -She might be on the sidewalk outside playing. Perhaps—but this was too -daring for belief—she might be spending her afternoon’s earnings on -another square meal. - -Granny went downstairs, and through the archway into the street. There -were plenty of children, living in neighboring tenement houses, gathered -in groups or playing about, but no Tom was visible. - -“Have you seen anything of my gal, Micky Murphy?” asked granny of a boy -whom she had often seen with Tom. - -“No,” said Micky. “I haven’t seen her.” - -“Haven’t any of you seen her?” demanded Mrs. Walsh, making the question -a general one. - -“I seen her sellin’ papers,” said one boy. - -“When was that?” asked granny, eagerly. - -“’Bout four o’clock.” - -“Where was she?” - -“Greenwich Street.” - -This was a clue at least, but a faint one. Tom had been seen at four -o’clock, and now it was nearly eight. Long before this she must have -sold her papers, and the unpleasant conviction dawned upon granny that -she must have spent her earnings upon herself. - -“If I could only get hold of her!” muttered granny, vengefully. - -She went as far as the City Hall, and followed along down by the Park -fence, looking about her in all directions, in the hope that she might -espy Tom. But the latter was at this time engaging lodgings for the -night, as we know, and in no danger of being caught. - -Unwilling to give up the pursuit, Mrs. Walsh wandered about for an hour -or more, occasionally resting on one of the seats in the City Hall Park, -till the unwonted exertion began to weary her, and she realized that she -was not likely to encounter Tom. - -There was one chance left. Tom might have got home while she had been in -search of her. Spurred by this hope, Mrs. Walsh hurried home, and -mounted to her lofty room. But it was as desolate as when she left it. -It was quite clear that Tom did not mean to come back that night. This -was provoking; but granny still was confident that she would return in -the course of the next day. So she threw herself on the bed,—not without -some silent imprecations upon her rebellious charge,—and slept till -morning. - -Morning brought her a new realization of her loss. She found her -situation by no means an agreeable one. Her appetite was excellent, but -she was without food or money to buy a supply. It was certainly -provoking to think that she must look out for herself. However, granny -was equal to the occasion. She did not propose to work for a living, but -decided that she would throw herself upon charity. To begin with, she -obtained some breakfast of a poor but charitable neighbor, and then -started on a walk up town. It was not till she got as far as Fourteenth -Street that she commenced her round of visits. - -The first house at which she stopped was an English basement house. -Granny rang the basement bell. - -“Is your mistress at home?” she asked. - -“Yes; what’s wanted?” - -“I’m a poor widder,” whined granny, in a lugubrious voice, “with five -small children. We haven’t got a bit of food in the house. Can’t you -give me a few pennies?” - -“I’ll speak to the missis, but I don’t think she’ll give any money.” - -She went upstairs, and soon returned. - -“She won’t give you any money, but here’s a loaf of bread.” - -Mrs. Walsh would much have preferred a small sum of money, but muttered -her thanks, and dropped the loaf into a bag she had brought with her. - -She went on to the next block, and intercepted a gentleman just starting -down town to his business. - -“I’m a poor widder,” she said, repeating her whine; “will you give me a -few pennies? and may the Lord bless you!” - -“Why don’t you work?” asked the gentleman, brusquely. - -“I’m too old and feeble,” she answered, bending over to assume the -appearance of infirmity. This did not escape the attention of the -gentleman, who answered unceremoniously, “You’re a humbug! You won’t get -anything from me! If I had my way, I’d have you arrested and locked up.” - -Granny trembled with passion, but did not think it politic to give vent -to her fury. - -Her next application was more successful, twenty-five cents being sent -to the door by a compassionate lady, who never doubted the story of the -five little children suffering at home for want of food. - -Granny’s eyes sparkled with joy as she hastily clutched the money. With -it she could buy drink and tobacco, while food was not an object of -barter. - -“The missis wants to know where you live,” said the servant. - -Mrs. Walsh gave a wrong address, not caring to receive charitable -callers, who would inevitably find out that her story was a false one, -and her children mythical. - -At the next house she got no money; but on declaring that she had eaten -nothing for twenty-four hours, was invited into the kitchen, where she -was offered a chair, and a plate of meat and bread was placed before -her. This invitation was rather an embarrassing one; for, thanks to her -charitable neighbor, granny had eaten quite a hearty breakfast not long -before. But, having declared that she had not tasted food for -twenty-four hours, she was compelled to keep up appearances, and eat -what was set before her. It was very hard work, and attracted the -attention of the servants, who had supposed her half famished. - -“You don’t seem very hungry,” said Annie, the cook. - -“It’s because I’m faint-like,” muttered granny. At this moment her bag, -containing the loaf of bread, tumbled on the floor. - -“What’s that?” asked the cook, suspiciously. - -“It’s some bread I’m goin’ to carry home to the childers,” said Mrs. -Walsh, a little confused. “They was crying for something to ate when I -come away.” - -“Then you’d better take it home as soon as you can,” said Annie, -surveying the old woman with some suspicion. - -Granny was forced to leave something on her plate, nature refusing the -double burden she sought to impose upon it, and went out with an -uncomfortable sense of fulness. Resuming her rounds, she was repulsed at -some places, at others referred to this or that charitable society, but -in the end succeeded in raising twenty-five cents more in money. Fifty -cents, a loaf of bread, and a little cold meat represented her gains of -the morning, and with these she felt tolerably well satisfied. She had -been compelled to walk up town, but now she had money and could afford -to ride. She entered a Sixth Avenue car, therefore, and in half an hour -or thereabouts reached the Astor House. She walked through the Park, -looking about her carefully, in the hope of seeing Tom, who would -certainly have fared badly if she had fallen into the clutches of the -angry old woman. But Tom was nowhere visible. - -So granny plodded home, and, mounting to her room, laid away the bread -and meat, and, throwing herself upon the bed, indulged in a pipe. Tom -was not at home, and granny began to have apprehensions that she meant -to stay away longer than she had at first supposed. - -“But I’ll come across her some day,” said granny, vindictively. “When I -do I’ll break every bone in her body.” - -The old woman lay on the bed two or three hours, and then went out, with -the double purpose of investing a part of her funds in a glass of -something strong, and in the hope that she might fall in with Tom. -Notwithstanding the desire of vengeance, she missed her. She had not the -slightest affection for the young girl who had been so long her charge, -but she was used to her companionship. It seemed lonely without her. -Besides, granny had one of those uncomfortable dispositions that feel -lost without some one to scold and tyrannize over, and, although Tom had -not been so yielding and submissive as many girls would have been under -the same circumstances, Mrs. Walsh had had the satisfaction of beating -her occasionally, and naturally longed for the presence of her customary -victim. - -So, after making the purchase she intended, granny made another visit to -the Park and Printing House Square, and inspected eagerly the crowds of -street children who haunt those localities as paper-venders, peddlers, -and boot-blacks. But Tom, as we know, was by this time an inmate of Mrs. -Merton’s boarding-house,—the home found for her by her friend, the -sea-captain. This was quite out of Mrs. Walsh’s beat. She had not -anticipated any such contingency, but supposed that Tom would be forced -to earn her living by some of those street trades by means of which so -many children are kept from starvation. It did not enter her -calculations that, so soon after parting from her, Tom had also ceased -to be a street Arab, and obtained a respectable home. Of course, -therefore, disappointment was again her portion, and she was forced to -return home and go to bed without the exquisite satisfaction of -“breaking every bone in Tom’s body.” - -Granny felt that she was ill-used, and that Tom was a monster of -ingratitude; but on that subject there may, perhaps, be a difference of -opinion. - - - - - CHAPTER XIV - TOM IS CAPTURED BY THE ENEMY. - - -We pass over two months, in which nothing of striking interest occurred -to our heroine, or her affectionate relative, who continued to mourn her -loss with more of anger than of sorrow. My readers may be interested to -know how far Tom has improved in this interval. I am glad to say that -she has considerably changed for the better, and is rather less of an -Arab than when she entered the house. Still Mrs. Merton, on more than -one occasion, had assured her intimate friend and gossip, Miss Betsy -Perkins, that Tom was “a great trial,” and nothing but her promise to -her brother induced her to keep her. - -Tom was, however, very quick and smart. She learned with great rapidity, -when she chose, and was able to be of considerable service in the house -before and after school. To be sure she was always getting into hot -water, and from time to time indulged in impish freaks, which betrayed -her street-training. At school, however, she learned very rapidly, and -had already been promoted into a class higher than that which she -entered. If there was one thing that Tom was ashamed of, it was to find -herself the largest and oldest girl in her class. She was ambitious to -stand as well as other girls of her own age, and, with this object in -view, studied with characteristic energy, and as a consequence improved -rapidly. - -She did not get along very well with Mary Merton. Mary was languid and -affected, and looked down scornfully upon her mother’s hired girl, as -she called her; though, as we know, money was paid for Tom’s board. Tom -did not care much for her taunts, being able to give as good as she -sent; but there was one subject on which Mary had it in her power to -annoy her. This was about her defective education. - -“You don’t know any more than a girl of eight,” said Mary, -contemptuously. - -“I haven’t been to school all my life as you have,” said Tom. - -“I know that,” said Mary. “You were nothing but a beggar, or rag-picker, -or something of that kind. I don’t see what made my uncle take you out -of the street. That was the best place for you.” - -“I wish you had to live with granny for a month,” retorted Tom. “It -would do you good to get a lickin’ now and then.” - -“Your grandmother must have been a very low person,” said Mary, -disdainfully. - -“That’s where you’re right,” said Tom, whose affection for granny was -not very great. - -“I’m glad I haven’t such a grandmother. I should be ashamed of it.” - -“She wasn’t my grandmother. She only called herself so,” said Tom. - -“I’ve no doubt she was,” said Mary, “and that you are just like her.” - -“Say that again, and I’ll punch your head,” said Tom, belligerently. - -As Mary knew that Tom was quite capable of doing what she threatened, -she prudently desisted, but instead taunted her once more with her -ignorance. - -“Never mind,” said Tom, “wait a while and I’ll catch up with you.” - -Mary laughed a spiteful little laugh. - -“Hear her talk!” she said. “Why, I’ve been ever so far in English; -besides, I am studying French.” - -“Can’t I study French too?” - -“That would be a great joke for a common street girl to study French! -You’ll be playing the piano next.” - -“Why not?” asked Tom, undauntedly. - -“Maybe your granny, as you call her, had a piano.” - -“Perhaps she did,” said Tom; “but it was to the blacksmith’s to be -mended, so I never saw it.” - -Tom was not in the least sensitive on the subject of granny, and however -severe reflections might be indulged in upon granny’s character and -position, she bore them with equanimity, not feeling any particular -interest in the old woman. - -Still she did occasionally feel a degree of curiosity as to how granny -was getting along in her absence. She enjoyed the thought that Mrs. -Walsh, no longer being able to rely upon her, would be compelled to -forage for herself. - -“I wonder what she’ll do,” thought Tom. “She’s such a lazy old woman -that I think she’ll go round beggin’. Work don’t agree with her -constitution.” - -It so happened that granny, though in her new vocation she made frequent -excursions up town, had never fallen in with Tom. This was partly -because Tom spent the hours from nine to two in school, and it was at -this time that granny always went on her rounds. But one Saturday -forenoon Tom was sent on an errand some half a mile distant. As she was -passing through Eighteenth Street her attention was drawn to a tall, -ill-dressed figure a few feet in advance of her. Though only her back -was visible, Tom remembered something peculiar in granny’s walk. - -“That’s granny,” soliloquized Tom, in excitement; “she’s out beggin’, -I’ll bet a hat.” - -The old woman carried a basket in one hand, for the reception of cold -victuals, for, though she preferred money, provisions were also -acceptable, and she had learned from experience that there were some who -refrained from giving money on principle, but would not refuse food. - -Tom was not anxious to fall into the old woman’s clutches. Still she -felt like following her up, and hearing what she had to say. - -She had not long to wait. - -Granny turned into the area of an English basement house, and rang the -basement bell. - -Tom paused, and leaned her back against the railing, in such a position -that she could hear what passed. - -A servant answered the bell. - -“What do you want?” she asked, not very ceremoniously. - -“I’m a poor widder,” whined granny, “with five small children. They -haven’t had anything to eat since yesterday. Can’t you give me -something? and may the Lord bless you!” - -“She knows how to lie,” thought Tom. “So she’s got five small children!” - -“You’re pretty old to have five small children,” said the servant, -suspiciously. - -“I aint so old as I look,” said Mrs. Walsh. “It’s bein’ poor and -destitoot that makes me look old before my time.” - -“Where’s your husband?” - -“He’s dead,” said granny. “He treated me bad; he used to drink, and then -bate me and the children.” - -“You look as if you drank, yourself.” - -“I’d scorn the action,” said granny, virtuously. “I never could bear -whiskey.” - -“Aint she doin’ it up brown?” thought Tom. “Haven’t I seen her pourin’ -it down though?” - -“Give me your basket,” said the servant. - -“Can’t you give me some money,” whined granny, “to help pay the rint?” - -“We never give money,” said the servant. - -She went into the kitchen, and Shortly returned with some cold meat and -bread. Granny opened it to see what it contained. - -“Haven’t you got any cold chicken?” she asked, rather dissatisfied. - -“She’s got cheek,” thought Tom. - -“If you’re not satisfied with what you’ve got, you needn’t come again.” - -“Yes,” said granny, “I’m satisfied; but my little girl is sick, and -can’t bear anything but chicken, or maybe turkey.” - -“Then you must ask for it somewhere else,” said the servant. “We haven’t -got any for you here.” - -Having obtained all she was likely to get, granny prepared to go. - -Tom felt that she, too, must start, for there might be danger of -identification. To be sure she was now well-dressed,—quite as well as -the average of girls of her age. The cap and jacket, indeed all that had -made her old name of “Tattered Tom” appropriate, had disappeared, and -she was very different in appearance from the young Arab whom we became -acquainted with in the first chapter. In other respects, as we know, Tom -had not altered quite so much. There was considerable of the Arab about -her still, though there was a prospect of her eventually becoming -entirely tamed. - -Granny just glanced at the young girl, whose back only was visible to -her, but never thought of identifying her with her lost grand-daughter. -Sometimes, however, she had obtained money from compassionate -school-girls, and it struck her that there might be a chance in this -quarter. - -She advanced, and tapped Tom on the shoulder. - -“Little gal,” she dolefully said, “I’m a poor widder with five small -children. Can’t you give me a few pennies? and may the Lord reward you!” - -Tom was a little startled, but quite amused, by this application from -granny. She knew there was danger in answering; but there was a -fascination about danger, and she thought that, even if identified, she -could make her escape. - -“Where do you live?” she asked, trying to disguise her voice, and -looking down. - -“No. 417 Bleecker Street,” said granny, at random, intentionally giving -the wrong address. - -“I’ll get my aunt to come round to-morrow and see you,” said Tom. - -“Give me a few pennies now,” persisted granny, “to buy some bread for my -children.” - -“How many have you got?” - -“Five.” - -It was very imprudent, but Tom obeyed an irresistible impulse, and said, -“Isn’t one of them named Tom?” and she looked up in her old way. - -Granny bent over eagerly, and looked in her face. She had noticed -something familiar in the voice, but the dress had prevented her from -suspecting anything. Now it flashed upon her that the rebellious Tom was -in her clutches. - -“So it’s you, is it?” she said, with grim delight, clutching Tom by the -arm. “I’ve found you at last, you trollop! Come along with me! I’ll -break every bone in your body!” - -Tom saw that she had incautiously incurred a great peril; but she had no -idea of being dragged away unresisting. She was quick-witted, and saw -that, if she chose to deny all knowledge of the old woman, granny would -find it hard to substantiate her claims. - -“Stop that, old woman!” she said, without the least appearance of fear. -“If you don’t let go, I’ll have you arrested!” - -“You will, will you?” exclaimed granny, giving her a shake viciously. -“We’ll see about that. Where’d you get all them good clothes from? Come -along home.” - -“Let me alone!” said Tom. “You’ve got nothing to do with me.” - -“Got nothing to do with you? Aint I your granny?” - -“You must be crazy,” said Tom, coolly. “My grandmother don’t go round -the streets, begging for cold victuals.” - -“Do you mean to say I’m not your granny?” demanded the old woman, -astounded. - -“I don’t know what you mean,” said Tom, coolly. “You’d better go home to -your five small children in Bleecker Street.” - -“O you trollop!” muttered granny, giving her a violent shaking; which -reminded Tom of old times in not the most agreeable manner. - -“Come, old woman, that’s played out!” said Tom. “You’d better stop -that.” - -“You’re my gal, and I’ve a right to lick you,” said Mrs. Walsh. - -“I’ve got nothing to do with you.” - -“Come along!” said granny, attempting to drag Tom with her. - -But Tom made a vigorous resistance, and granny began to fear that she -had undertaken rather a hard task. The distance from Eighteenth Street -to the tenement house which she called home was two miles, probably, and -it would not be very easy to drag Tom that distance against her will. A -ride in the horse-cars was impracticable, since she had no money with -her. - -The struggle was still going on, when Tom all at once espied a policeman -coming around the corner. She did not hesitate to take advantage of his -opportune appearance. - -“Help! Police!” exclaimed Tom, in a loud voice. - -This sudden appeal startled granny, whose associations with the police -were not of the most agreeable nature, and she nearly released her hold. -She glared at Tom in speechless rage, foreseeing that trouble was -coming. - -“What’s the matter?” asked the officer, coming up, and regarding the two -attentively. - -“I think this woman must be crazy,” said Tom. “She came up and asked me -for a few pennies, and then grabbed me by the arm, saying she was my -granny. She is trying to drag me home with her.” - -“What have you to say to this?” demanded the policeman. - -“She’s my gal,” said granny, doggedly. - -[Illustration] - -“You hear her,” said Tom. “Do I look as if I belonged to her? She’s a -common beggar.” - -“O you ungrateful trollop!” shrieked granny, tightening her grip. - -“She hurts me,” said Tom. “Won’t you make her let go?” - -“Let her go!” said the policeman, authoritatively. - -“But she’s my gal.” - -“Let go, I tell you!” and granny was forced to obey. “Now where do you -live?” - -“340 Bleecker Street.” - -“You said it was 417 just now,” said Tom, “and that you had five small -children. Was I one of them?” - -Granny was cornered. She was afraid that Bleecker Street might be -visited, and her imposture discovered. It was hard to give up Tom, and -so have the girl, whom she now hated intensely, triumph over her. She -would make one more attempt. - -“She’s my gal. She run away from me two months ago.” - -“If you’ve got five small children at home, and have to beg for a -living,” said the officer, who did not believe a word of her story, “you -have all you can take care of. She’s better off where she is.” - -“Can’t I take her home, then?” asked granny, angrily. - -“You had better go away quietly,” said the policeman, “or I must take -you to the station-house.” - -Mrs. Walsh, compelled to abandon her designs upon Tom, moved off slowly. -She had got but a few steps, when Tom called out to her, “Give my love -to your five small children, granny!” - -The old woman, by way of reply, turned and shook her fist menacingly at -Tom, but the latter only laughed and went on her way. - -“Aint she mad, though!” soliloquized Tom. “She’d lick me awful if she -only got a chance. I’m glad I don’t live with her. Now I get square -meals every day. I’d like to see granny’s five small children;” and Tom -laughed heartily at what she thought a smart imposture. That Tom should -be very conscientious on the subject of truth could hardly be expected. -A street education, and such guardianship as she had received from -granny, were not likely to make her a model; but Tom is more favorably -situated now, and we may hope for gradual improvement. - - - - - CHAPTER XV - GRANNY READS SOMETHING TO HER ADVANTAGE. - - -After her unsuccessful attempt to gain possession of Tom, granny -returned home, not only angry but despondent. She had been deeply -incensed at Tom’s triumph over her. Besides, she was tired of earning -her own living, if begging from door to door can properly be called -earning one’s living. At any rate it required exertion, and to this Mrs. -Walsh was naturally indisposed. She sighed as she thought of the years -when she could stay quietly at home, and send out Tom to beg or earn -money for her. She would like, since Tom was not likely to return, to -adopt some boy or girl of suitable age, upon whom she could throw the -burden of the common support. But such were not easy to be met with, and -Mrs. Walsh was dimly aware that no sane child would voluntarily select -her as a guardian. - -So granny, in rather low spirits, sought her elevated room, and threw -herself upon the bed to sleep off her fatigue. - -On awaking, granny seated herself at the window, and picked up -mechanically the advertising sheet of the “Herald,” in which a loaf of -bread had been wrapped that had been given to her the day previous. It -was seldom that Mrs. Walsh indulged in reading, not possessing very -marked literary tastes; but to-day she was seized with an idle impulse, -which she obeyed, without anticipating that she would see anything that -concerned her. - -In glancing through the advertisements under the head “PERSONAL,” her -attention was drawn to the following:— - -/# “If Margaret Walsh, who left Philadelphia in the year 1855, will call -at No. — Wall Street, Room 8, she will hear of something to her -advantage.” #/ - -“Why, that’s me!” exclaimed granny, letting the paper fall from her lap -in surprise. “It’s my name, and I left Philadelphy that year. I wonder -what it’s about. Maybe it’s about Tom.” - -There were circumstances which led Mrs. Walsh to think it by no means -improbable that the inquiries to be made were about Tom, and this made -her regret more keenly that she had lost her. - -“If it is,” she soliloquized, “I’ll get hold of her somehow.” - -There was one part of the advertisement which particularly interested -granny,—that in which it was suggested that she would hear something to -her advantage. If there was any money to be made, granny was entirely -willing to make it. Considering the unpromising state of her prospects, -she felt that it was a piece of extraordinary good luck. - -Looking at the date of the paper, she found that it was a fortnight old, -and was troubled by the thought that it might be too late. At any rate -no time was to be lost. So, in spite of the fatigue of her morning -expedition, she put on her old cloak and bonnet, and, descending the -stairs, sallied out into the street. She made her way down Nassau Street -to Wall, and, carefully looking about her, found without difficulty the -number mentioned in the advertisement. It was a large building, -containing a considerable number of offices. No. 8 was on the third -floor. On the door was a tin sign bearing the name:— - - “EUGENE SELDEN, - _Attorney and Counsellor_.” - -Mrs. Walsh knocked at the door; but there was no response. She knocked -again, after a while, and then tried the door. But it was locked. - -“The office closes at three, ma’am,” said a young man, passing by. “You -will have to wait till to-morrow.” - -Mrs. Walsh was disappointed, being very anxious to ascertain what -advantage she was likely to receive. She presented herself the next -morning at nine, only to find herself too early. At last she found the -lawyer in. He looked up from his desk as she entered. - -“Have you business with me?” he asked. - -“Are you the man that advertised for Margaret Walsh?” asked granny. - -“Yes,” said Mr. Selden, laying down his pen, and regarding her with -interest. “Are you she?” - -“Yes, your honor,” said granny, thinking her extra politeness might -increase the advantage promised. - -“Did you ever live in Philadelphia?” - -“Yes, your honor.” - -“Were you in service?” - -Mrs. Walsh answered in the affirmative. - -“In what family?” - -“In the family of Mrs. Lindsay.” - -“What made you leave her?” asked the lawyer, fixing his eyes searchingly -upon Margaret. - -Granny looked a little uneasy. - -“I got tired of staying there,” she said. - -“When you left Philadelphia, did you come to New York?” - -“Yes, your honor.” - -“Did you know that Mrs. Lindsay’s only child disappeared at the time you -left the house?” inquired the lawyer. - -“If I tell the truth will it harm me?” asked granny, uneasily. - -“No; but if you conceal the truth it may.” - -“Then I took the child with me.” - -“What motive had you for doing this wicked thing? Do you know that Mrs. -Lindsay nearly broke her heart at the loss of the child?” - -“I was mad with her,” said granny, “that’s one reason.” - -“Then there was another reason?” - -“Yes, your honor.” - -“What was it?” - -“Young Mr. Lindsay hired me to do it. He offered me a thousand dollars.” - -“Are you ready to swear this?” - -“Yes,” said granny. “I hope you’ll pay me handsome for tellin’,” she -added. “I’m a poor—woman,” she was on the point of saying “widder with -five small children;” but it occurred to her that this would injure her -in the present instance. - -“You shall receive a suitable reward when the child is restored. It is -living, I suppose?” - -“Yes,” said granny. - -“With you?” - -“No, your honor. She ran away two months ago; but I saw her this -morning.” - -“Why should she run away? Didn’t you treat her well?” - -“Like as if she was my own child,” said granny. “I’ve often and often -gone without anything to eat, so that Tom might have enough. I took -great care of her, your honor, and would have brought her up as a leddy -if I hadn’t been so poor.” - -“I thought it was a girl.” - -“So it was, your honor.” - -“Then why do you call her Tom?” - -“’Cause she was more like a boy than a gal,—as sassy a child as I ever -see.” - -“So you have lost her?” - -“Yes, your honor. She ran away from me two months since.” - -“But you said you saw her yesterday. Why did you not take her back?” - -“She wouldn’t come. She told the policeman she didn’t know me,—me that -have took care of her since she was a little gal,—the ungrateful hussy!” - -Granny’s pathos, it will be perceived, terminated in anger. - -The lawyer looked thoughtful. - -“The child must be got back,” he said. “It is only recently that her -mother ascertained the treachery by which she was taken from her, and -now she is most anxious to recover her. If you will bring her to me, you -shall have a suitable reward.” - -“How much?” asked granny, with a cunning look. - -“I cannot promise in advance, but it will certainly be two hundred -dollars,—perhaps more. Mrs. Lindsay will be generous.” - -The old woman’s eyes sparkled. Such a sum promised an unlimited amount -of whiskey for a considerable time. The only disagreeable feature in the -case was that Tom would benefit by the restoration, since she would -obtain a comfortable home, and a parent whose ideas of the parental -relation differed somewhat from those of Mrs. Walsh. Still, two hundred -dollars were worth the winning, and granny determined to win them. She -suggested, however, that, in order to secure the co-operation of the -police, she needed to be more respectably dressed; otherwise her claim -would be scouted, provided Tom undertook to deny it. - -This appeared reasonable, and as the lawyer had authority to incur any -expense that he might consider likely to further the successful -prosecution of the search, he sent out some one, in whom he had -confidence, to purchase a respectable outfit for Mrs. Walsh. He further -agreed to allow her three dollars a week for the present, that she might -be able to devote all her time to hunting up Tom. This arrangement was -very satisfactory to Mrs. Walsh, who felt like a lady in easy -circumstances. Her return to the tenement house, in her greatly improved -dress, created quite a sensation. She did not deign to enlighten her -neighbors upon the cause of her improved fortunes, but dropped hints -that she had come into a legacy. - -From this time Mrs. Walsh began to frequent the up-town streets, -particularly Eighteenth Street, where she had before encountered Tom. -But as she still continued to make her rounds in the morning, it was -many days before she caught a glimpse of the object of her search. As -her expenses were paid in the mean time, she waited patiently, though -she anticipated with no little pleasure the moment which should place -Tom in her power. She resolved, before restoring her to her mother, to -inflict upon her late ward a suitable punishment for her rebellion and -flight, for which granny was not likely ever to forgive her. - -“I’ll give her something to remember me by,” muttered granny. “See if I -don’t!” - - - - - CHAPTER XVI - TOM IN TROUBLE. - - -The reader has already obtained some idea of the character of Mary -Merton. She was weak, vain, affected, and fond of dress. There was not -likely to be much love lost between her and Tom, who was in all respects -her opposite. Whatever might have been the defects of her street -education, it had at all events secured Tom from such faults as these. - -Mary sought the society of such of her companions as were wealthy or -fashionable, and was anxious to emulate them in dress. But unfortunately -her mother’s income was limited, and she could not gratify her tastes. -She was continually teasing Mrs. Merton for this and that article of -finery; but, though her mother spent more for her than she could well -afford, she was obliged in many cases to disappoint her. So it happened -that Mary was led into temptation. - -One morning she was going downstairs on her way to school. The door of -Mr. Holland’s room (who occupied the second floor front) chanced to be -open. It occurred to Mary that the large mirror in this room would -enable her to survey her figure to advantage, and, being fond of looking -in the glass, she entered. - -After satisfactorily accomplishing the object of her visit, Mary, in -glancing about, caught sight of a pocket-book on the bureau. Curiosity -led her to approach and open it. It proved to contain four five-dollar -bills and a small amount of change. - -“I wish the money was mine,” said Mary to herself. - -There was a particular object for which she wanted it. Two of her -companions had handsome gold pencils, which they wore suspended by a -cord around their necks. Mary had teased her mother to buy her one, but -Mrs. Merton had turned a deaf ear to her request. Finally she had given -up asking, finding that it would be of no avail. - -“If I only had this money, or half of it,” thought Mary, “I could buy a -pencil for myself, and tell mother it was given me by one of my -friends.” - -The temptation, to a vain girl like Mary, was a strong one. - -“Shall I take it?” she thought. - -The dishonesty of the act did not so much deter her as the fear of -detection. But the idea unluckily suggested itself that Tom would be far -more likely to be suspected than she. - -“Mr. Holland is rich,” she said to herself; “he won’t feel the loss.” - -She held the pocket-book irresolutely in her hand, uncertain whether to -take a part of the contents or the whole. Finally she opened it, drew -out the bills, amounting to twenty dollars, hastily thrust them into her -pocket, and, replacing the pocket-book on the bureau, went downstairs. - -She met her mother in the lower hall. - -“I am afraid you will be late to school, Mary,” she said. - -“I couldn’t find my shoes for a long time,” said Mary, flushing a little -at the thought of the money in her pocket. - -Mr. Holland’s room had already been attended to, and was not again -entered until half-past five in the afternoon, when Mr. Holland, who was -a clerk in a down-town office, returned home. - -He had missed the pocket-book shortly after leaving the house in the -morning, but, being expected at the office at a certain hour, had not -been able to return for it. He had borrowed money of a fellow-clerk to -pay for his lunch. - -As he entered the room, he saw his pocket-book lying on the bureau. - -“There it is, all safe,” he said to himself, quite relieved; for, though -in receipt of a handsome salary, no one would care to lose twenty -dollars. - -He was about to put the pocket-book into his pocket unexamined, when it -occurred to him to open it, and make sure that the contents were -untouched. He was startled on finding less than a dollar, where he -distinctly remembered that there had been nearly twenty-one dollars. - -“Some one has taken it,” he said to himself. “I must see Mrs. Merton -about this.” - -He did not get an opportunity of speaking to the landlady until after -dinner, when he called her aside, and told her of his loss. - -“Are you quite sure, Mr. Holland,” she asked, considerably disturbed, -“there were twenty dollars in the pocket-book?” - -“Yes, Mrs. Merton. I remember distinctly having counted the money this -morning, before laying it on the bureau. It must have been taken by some -one in the house. Now, who was likely to enter the room? Which of your -servants makes the bed?” - -“It was Jenny,” said Mrs. Merton, with a sudden conviction that Tom was -the guilty party. - -“What, that bright little girl that I have seen about the house?” - -“Yes, Mr. Holland, I am afraid it is she,” said Mrs. Merton, shaking her -head. “She is not exactly a servant, but a child whom my brother took -out of the streets, and induced me to take charge of while he is away. -She has been very ill-trained, and I am not surprised to find her -dishonest. More than once I have regretted taking charge of her.” - -“I am sorry,” said Mr. Holland. “I have noticed that she is rather -different from most girls. I wish I had not exposed her to the -temptation.” - -“She must give up the money, or I won’t keep her in the house,” said -Mrs. Merton, who had become indignant at Tom’s ingratitude, as she -considered it. “My brother can’t expect me to harbor a thief in the -house, even for his sake. It would ruin the reputation of my house if -such a thing happened again.” - -“She will probably give it back when she finds herself detected,” said -Mr. Holland. - -“I will tax her with it at once,” said the landlady. “Stay here, Mr. -Holland, and I will call her.” - -Tom was called in. She looked from one to the other, and something in -the expression of each led her to see that she was to be blamed for -something, though what she could not conceive. - -“Jane,” said Mrs. Merton, sternly, “my brother will be very much grieved -when he learns how badly you have behaved to-day.” - -“What have I been doing?” asked Tom, looking up with a fearless glance, -not by any means like a girl conscious of theft. - -“You have taken twenty dollars belonging to Mr. Holland.” - -“Who says I did it?” demanded Tom. - -“It is useless to deny it. You cleared up his room this morning. His -pocket-book was on the bureau.” - -“I know it was,” said Tom. “I saw it there.” - -“You opened it, and took out twenty dollars.” - -“No, I didn’t,” said Tom. “I didn’t touch it.” - -“Do not add falsehood to theft. You must have done it. There was no one -else likely to do it.” - -“Wasn’t the door unlocked all day?” demanded Tom. “Why couldn’t some one -else go in and take it as well as I?” - -“I feel sure it was you.” - -“Why?” asked Tom, her eyes beginning to flash indignantly. - -“I have no doubt you have stolen before. My brother took you from the -street. You were brought up by a bad old woman, as you say yourself. I -ought not to be surprised at your yielding to temptation. If you will -restore the money to Mr. Holland, and promise not to steal again, I will -overlook your offence, and allow you to remain in the house, since it -was my brother’s wish.” - -“Mrs. Merton,” said Tom, proudly, “I didn’t take the money, and I can’t -give it back. I might have stolen when I lived with granny, for I didn’t -get enough to eat half the time, but I wouldn’t do it now.” - -“That sounds well,” said Mrs. Merton; “but somebody must have taken the -money.” - -“I don’t care who took it,” said Tom, “I didn’t.” - -“You are more likely to have taken it than any one else.” - -“You may search me if you want to,” said Tom, proudly. - -“Perhaps she didn’t take it,” said Mr. Holland, upon whom Tom’s fearless -bearing had made an impression. - -“I will inquire if any of the servants went into your room,” said Mrs. -Merton. “If not, I must conclude that Jane took it.” - -Inquiry was made, but it appeared evident that no servant had entered -the room. Tom had made the bed and attended to the chamber-work alone. -Mrs. Merton was therefore confirmed in her suspicions. She summoned Tom -once more, and offered to forgive her if she would make confession and -restitution. - -“I didn’t steal the money,” said Tom, indignantly. “I’ve told you that -before.” - -“Unless you give it up, I cannot consent to have you remain longer in my -house.” - -“All right!” said Tom, defiantly. “I don’t want to stay if that’s what -you think of me.” - -She turned and left Mrs. Merton. Five minutes later she was in the -street, going she knew not whither. She was so angry at the unfounded -suspicions which had been cast upon her, that she felt glad to go. But -after a while she began to think of the sudden change in her fortunes. -For three months she had possessed a comfortable home, been well fed and -lodged, and had been rapidly making up the deficiencies in her -education. She had really tried to soften the roughness and abruptness -of her manners, and become a good girl, hoping to win the approbation of -her good friend, the captain, when he should return from his voyage. Now -it was all over. She had lost her home, and must again wander about with -no home but the inhospitable street. - -“It isn’t my fault,” thought Tom, with a sigh. “I couldn’t give back the -money when I didn’t take it.” - - - - - CHAPTER XVII - THE GOLD PENCIL. - - -Mrs. Merton was taken by surprise when she found that Tom had actually -gone. Her conviction remained unshaken that she had stolen Mr. Holland’s -money, and she considered that she had been forbearing in not causing -her arrest. - -“Your uncle cannot blame me,” she said to Mary, “for sending her away. -He cannot expect me to keep a thief in my house.” - -“To be sure not,” said Mary, promptly. “I am glad she has gone. You -couldn’t expect much from a girl that was brought up in the streets.” - -“That is true. I don’t see, for my part, what your uncle saw in her.” - -“Nor I. She’s a rude, hateful thing.” - -“She denied taking the money.” - -“Of course,” said Mary. “She wouldn’t mind lying any more than -stealing.” - -Mary felt very much relieved at the way things had turned out. After -taking the money, she had become frightened lest in some way suspicion -might be directed towards herself. As she had hoped, her fault had been -laid to Tom, and now she felt comparatively safe. She had not yet dared -to use the money, but thought she might venture to do so soon. - -She went up to her bedroom, and, after locking the door, opened her -trunk. The four five-dollar bills were carefully laid away in one -corner, underneath a pile of clothes. Mary counted them over with an air -of satisfaction. Her conscience did not trouble her much as long as the -fear of detection was removed. - -“Mr. Holland won’t miss the money,” she thought, “and everybody’ll think -Jane took it.” - -The thought of her own meanness in depriving Tom of a good home, and -sending her out into the street without shelter or money, never -suggested itself to the selfish girl. She felt glad to be rid of her, -and did not trouble herself about any discomforts or privations that she -might experience. - -Three days later Mary felt that she might venture to buy the pencil -which she had so long coveted. Tom’s disappearance was accepted by all -in the house as a confirmation of the charge of theft, and no one else -was likely to be suspected. Not knowing how much the pencil was likely -to cost, Mary took the entire twenty dollars with her. She stopped on -her way from school at a jewelry store only a few blocks distant from -her mother’s house. She was unwise in not going farther away, since this -increased the chances of her detection. - -“Let me look at your gold pencils,” she asked, with an air of -importance. - -The salesman produced a variety of pencils, varying in price. - -Mary finally made choice of one that cost twelve dollars. - -She paid over the money with much satisfaction, for the pencil was -larger and handsomer than those belonging to her companions, which had -excited her envy. She also bought a silk chain, to which she attached -it, and then hung it round her neck. - -Though Mary was not aware of it, her entrance into the jewelry store had -been remarked by Mrs. Carver, a neighbor and acquaintance of her -mother’s. Mrs. Carver, like some others of her sex, was gifted with -curiosity, and wondered considerably what errand had carried Mary into -the jeweller’s. - -Bent upon finding out, she entered the store and approached the counter. - -“What did that young girl buy?” she asked. - -“You mean that one who just went out?” - -“Yes.” - -“A gold pencil-case.” - -“Indeed,” said Mrs. Carver, looking surprised. “How expensive a pencil -did she buy?” - -“She paid twelve dollars.” - -“Will you show me one like it?” - -A pencil, precisely similar, was shown Mrs. Carver, the clerk supposing -she wished to purchase. But she had obtained all the information she -desired. - -“I won’t decide to-day,” she said. “I will come in again.” - -“There’s some mystery about this,” said Mrs. Carver to herself. “I -wonder where Mary got so much money; surely, her mother could not have -given it to her. If she did, all I have to say is, that she is very -extravagant for a woman that keeps boarders for a living.” - -Mrs. Carver was one of those women who feel a very strong interest in -the business of others. The friends with whom she was most intimate were -most likely to incur her criticism. In the present instance she was -determined to fathom the mystery of the gold pencil. - -Mary went home with her treasure. Of course she knew that its possession -would excite surprise, and she had a story prepared to account for it. -She felt a little nervous, but had little doubt that her account would -be believed. - -As she anticipated, the pencil at once attracted her mother’s attention. - -“Whose pencil is that, Mary?” she asked. - -“Mine, mother.” - -“Yours? Where did you get it?” inquired her mother, in surprise. - -“Sue Cameron gave it to me. She’s my bosom friend, you know.” - -“Let me see it. It isn’t gold—is it?” - -“Yes, it’s solid gold,” said Mary, complacently. - -“But I don’t understand her giving you so expensive a present. It must -have cost a good deal.” - -“So it did. Sue said it cost twelve dollars.” - -“Then how came she to give it to you?” - -“Oh, her father’s awful rich! Besides, Sue has had another pencil given -to her, and she didn’t want but one; so she gave me this.” - -“It looks as if it were new.” - -“Yes, she has had it only a short time.” - -“When did she give it to you?” - -“This morning. She promised it to me a week ago,” said Mary, in a -matter-of-fact manner which quite deceived her mother. - -“She has certainly been very kind to you. She must like you very much.” - -“Yes, she does. She likes me better than any of the other girls.” - -“Why don’t you invite her to come and see you? You ought to be polite to -her, since she is so kind.” - -This suggestion was by no means pleasing to Mary. In the first place Sue -Cameron was by no means the intimate friend she represented, and in the -next, if she called and Mrs. Merton referred to the gift, it would at -once let the cat out of the bag, and Mary would be in trouble. Therefore -she said, “I’ll invite her, mother, but I don’t think she’ll come.” - -“Why not?” - -“She lives away up on Fifth Avenue, and is not allowed to make visits -without some one of the family. The Camerons are very rich, you know, -and stuck up. Only Sue is not.” - -“You’d better invite her, however, Mary, since she is such a friend of -yours.” - -“Yes, I will, only you must not be surprised if she does not come.” - -The next afternoon Mrs. Carver dropped in for a call. While she was -talking with Mrs. Merton, Mary came into the room. Her gold pencil was -ostentatiously displayed. - -“How do you do, Mary?” said the visitor. “What a handsome pencil-case -you have!” - -“One of her school friends gave it to her,” explained Mrs. Merton. - -“Indeed!” returned Mrs. Carver, with an emphasis which bespoke surprise. - -“Yes,” continued Mrs. Merton, unconsciously. “It was a Miss Cameron, -whose father lives on Fifth Avenue. Her father is very rich, and she is -very fond of Mary.” - -“I should think she was—uncommonly,” remarked Mrs. Carver. - -“There’s some secret here,” she thought. “I must find it out.” - -“Mary, my dear,” she said, aloud, “come here, and let me look at your -pencil.” - -Mary advanced reluctantly. There was something in the visitor’s tone -that made her feel uncomfortable. It was evident that Mrs. Carver did -not accept the account she had given as readily as her mother. - -“It is a very handsome pencil,” said Mrs. Carver, after examination. -“You are certainly very lucky, Mary. My Grace is not so fortunate. So -this Mrs. Cameron lives on Fifth Avenue?” - -“Yes, ma’am.” - -“And her father sends her to a public school. That’s rather -singular,—isn’t it?” - -“So it is,” said Mrs. Merton. “I didn’t think of that. And the family is -very proud too, you say, Mary?” - -Mary by this time was quite willing to leave the subject, but Mrs. -Carver was not disposed to do so. - -“I don’t know why it is,” said Mary. “I suppose they think she will -learn more at public schools.” - -“Now I think of it,” said Mrs. Carver, meditatively, “this pencil looks -very much like one I saw at Bennett’s the other day.” - -The color rushed to Mary’s face in alarm. Her mother did not observe it, -but Mrs. Carver did. But she quickly recovered herself. - -“Perhaps it was bought there,—I don’t know,” she said. - -“She carries it off well,” thought Mrs. Carver. “Never mind, I’ll find -out some time.” - -Mary made some excuse for leaving the room, and the visitor asked:— - -“How is that girl getting along whom your brother left with you?” - -Mrs. Merton shook her head. - -“She’s turned out badly,” she said. - -“What has she done?” - -“She stole twenty dollars from Mr. Holland’s room. He left his -pocket-book on the bureau, and she took out the money.” - -“Did she confess it?” - -“No, she stoutly denied it. I told her, if she would confess, I would -forgive her, and let her stay in the house. But she remained obstinate, -and went away.” - -“Are you convinced that she took it?” asked Mrs. Carver, who now -suspected where the gold pencil came from. - -“It could have been no one else. She was in the room, making the beds, -and sweeping, in the morning. - -“Still, she may have been innocent.” - -“Then who could have taken the money?” - -“Somebody that wanted a gold pencil,” returned Mrs. Carver, nodding -significantly. - -“What!” exclaimed Mrs. Merton, aghast. “You don’t mean to hint that Mary -took it?” - -“I mean this, that she bought the pencil herself at Bennett’s, as I -happen to know. Where she got the money from, you can tell better than I -can.” - -“I can’t believe it,” said Mrs. Merton, very much perturbed. - -“Didn’t you see how she flushed up when I said I had seen a pencil like -it at Bennett’s? However, you can ask her.” - -Mrs. Merton could not rest now till she had ascertained the truth. Mary -was called, and, after an attempt at denial, finally made confession in -a flood of tears. - -“How could you let me send Jane away on account of your fault?” asked -her mother, much disturbed. - -“I didn’t dare to own it. You won’t tell, mother?” - -“I must return the money to Mr. Holland.” - -“You can tell him that it was accidentally found.” - -This Mrs. Merton finally agreed to do, not wishing to expose her own -child. She was really a kind-hearted woman, and was very sorry for her -injustice to Tom. - -“What will your uncle say?” she inquired, after Mrs. Carver had gone. - -“Don’t tell him,” said Mary. “It’s better for Jane to go, or he would be -making her his heiress. Now I shall stand some chance. You can tell him -that Jane went away of her own accord.” - -Mrs. Merton was human. She thought it only fair that one of her -daughters should inherit their uncle’s money in preference to a girl -taken from the streets, and silently acquiesced. So the money was -restored to Mr. Holland, and he was led to think that Tom had left it -behind her, while the real perpetrator of the theft retained her gold -pencil, and escaped exposure. - - - - - CHAPTER XVIII - IN SEARCH OF A PLACE. - - -Tom went out into the street angry, and justly so, at the unfounded -charge which had been made against her. The change in her circumstances -had been so sudden, that she hardly realized, as she walked along, that -she must return to her old street life. When she did realize it, it was -with a feeling of disappointment, not unmixed with apprehension. - -Tom had only been living at Mrs. Merton’s for three months, but this -short time had wrought a considerable change in her. She was no longer -the wild, untamed girl who once swept the crossing. She had begun to -feel the advantages of respectability, and had become ambitious of -acquiring a good education. This feeling originated in the desire of -surprising Captain Barnes with her improvement; but she soon began to -feel an interest in learning for its own sake. She was still spirited -and independent, but in a different way. Her old life looked far less -attractive, since she had acquired such different tastes. Now to be -suddenly thrust back into it seemed rather hard to Tom. - -One thing at least could be said, she was no longer “Tattered Tom.” Her -old rags had been cast aside, and she was now dressed as well as most -school-girls. She no longer looked like a child having no home but the -street, but would be supposed by any who noticed her to belong to some -family in good circumstances. Now, good clothes exert more influence -upon the wearer than we may at first suppose. So it was with Tom. When -she wore her old tatters she was quite ready to engage in a fight with -any boy who jeered at her, provided he was not too large. Now she would -hesitate before doing it, having an undefined idea that her respectable -dress would make such a scene unbecoming. - -There was one question that presented itself to Tom as she walked along, -and demanded her earnest attention. This was, “How was she to live?” - -She could no longer sweep the crossing; she was too well-dressed for -that. Indeed she was likely to attract attention if she engaged in any -of the street occupations to which she had in former times been -accustomed. But something must be done. Her whole stock of money -consisted of five cents, and this was not likely to last very long. It -was far too little to buy such a meal as she got at Mrs. Merton’s. It -was doubtful, Tom reflected with a sigh, when she would get another -square meal. - -Suddenly the thought came to Tom, could she not hire out to do -chamber-work? She had learned to do this at Mrs. Merton’s. It would be a -great deal better than sweeping the crossing, or selling papers. - -Tom did not know how such situations were obtained, but it occurred to -her that she could go from one house to another, and apply. - -With this plan in her mind, she turned round, and walked up town again. -When she reached Twenty-First Street she decided to try her luck. -Accordingly she went up to the front door of a handsome house with a -brown stone front, and rang the bell. - -The door was opened by a servant, who waited respectfully for her to -announce her errand, supposing her to be a school-mate of one of the -children of the family. Her neat dress favored this mistake. - -“Is the lady of the house at home?” inquired Tom. - -“Who shall I say wishes to see her?” asked the servant, doubtfully. - -“Does she want to hire a girl to do chamber-work?” continued Tom. - -“Who wants the place?” - -“I do,” said Tom. - -“Then, she don’t want any,” said the girl, preparing to shut the door, -with an entire change of manner. “Don’t you know better than to come to -the front door? There’s the basement door below.” - -“One door’s as good as another,” said Tom, independently. - -“Both are too good for you,” said the servant, angry that under the -influence of a mistake she had at first treated Tom with the respect due -to a visitor. - -“How much are you paid extra for your politeness?” asked Tom. - -“Never you mind! You needn’t call again.” - -Such was the result of Tom’s first application. However, she was not -discouraged. She reflected that there were a good many streets in the -city, and a good many houses in each street. So she walked on, and rang -the bell at the next house. She concluded to take the hint which had -excited her indignation, and rang the basement bell. - -“Do you want a girl to do chamber-work?” she asked. - -Now it so happened that a chamber-maid was wanted here, and an order had -been sent to an intelligence office for one. It was naturally supposed -that Tom had come in answer to the application. - -“Come in,” said the servant. “I’ll tell the missis that you are here.” - -She went upstairs, and shortly reappeared. - -“You’re to come up,” she said. - -Tom followed her upstairs, and took a seat in the hall. - -Soon a lady came downstairs, with a languid step. - -“Are you the girl that has applied to do chamberwork?” she said. - -“Yes, ma’am,” answered Tom. - -“You seem very young. How old are you?” - -“Twelve,” answered Tom. - -“Only twelve? I am surprised that so young a girl should have been sent -to me. Have you any experience?” - -“Yes, ma’am.” - -“Where have you lived?” - -“At Mrs. Merton’s, No. — Sixteenth Street.” - -“How long were you there?” - -“Three months.” - -“Have you a recommendation from her?” - -“No,” answered Tom. - -“Why did you leave?” asked the lady, suspiciously. - -“Because she said I took some money, when I didn’t,” replied Tom, -promptly. - -A change came over the lady’s face,—a change that betokened little -encouragement to Tom. - -“I shall not be able to take you,” she said. “I wonder they should have -sent you from the intelligence office.” - -“They didn’t send me.” - -“You were not sent from the office? How did you know I wanted a -chamber-maid?” - -“I didn’t know,” said Tom. “I thought you might.” - -“If I had known that, I should have refused you at once. You can go -downstairs, and the servants will let you out at the basement door,—down -those stairs.” - -“All right,” said Tom. “I can find the way; you needn’t come with me.” - -This last remark led the lady to stare at Tom, uncertain whether she -meant to be impudent or not. But Tom looked so unconscious of having -said anything out of the way that she passed it over in silence. - -Tom made two more applications, which proved equally unsuccessful. She -began to think it would be more difficult to obtain a situation than she -had supposed. At any rate, she resolved to defer further applications -till the morrow. Something might turn up then, she reflected with -something of her old philosophy. - - - - - CHAPTER XIX - THE OLD APPLE-WOMAN. - - -When Tom had got through her unsuccessful applications for a place, it -was already nearly five o’clock. She started on her way down town. Her -old street life had been spent in the neighborhood of the City Hall -Park. The offices of the leading daily and weekly papers may be found -within a radius of a furlong from it. It is within this limit that -hundreds of homeless young Arabs swarm, and struggle for a precarious -living. In returning to her old life, Tom was drawn, as by a magnet, to -this centre. - -She walked down Fourth Avenue, and afterwards down the Bowery. It was -three months since she had been in this street, which had once been so -familiar to her. As she drew near the scene of her old life, she began -to see familiar faces. She passed boot-blacks and newsboys whom she had -once known and still remembered; but none of them appeared to recognize -her. This surprised Tom at first, until she remembered what a change -there was in her dress. Neatly dressed, she looked very different from -the Tom who had roamed the streets in rags and tatters. She seemed to -have cut adrift from her former life and from the sympathies of her old -companions. This was not a pleasant thought, since she must now go back -to it. Poor Tom began to regret that she had experienced anything -better, since it seemed doubtful whether she would ever again be -satisfied with a street life. - -She did not make herself known to any of her old acquaintances, but -walked slowly along till she reached the City Hall Park. She entered the -inclosure and sat down on a seat. By this time she felt hungry as well -as tired. She therefore purchased, before sitting down, two apples for -three cents, thus diminishing her cash capital to two. The apples were -large, and satisfied her appetite tolerably well. Still it was not like -the dinner she would have got at Mrs. Merton’s. - -Supper was provided, but it would soon be night, and she must lodge -somewhere. Tom had more than once slept out, like hundreds of other -street children, and not minded it; but now, after being accustomed to a -good chamber and a comfortable bed, she did not feel like doing this. -Besides, her clothes would be spoiled, and Tom wanted to look -respectable as long as she could. - -She might go back to granny, but had no disposition to do that. Whatever -she might be called upon to suffer, she felt that she should be better -off alone than in the power of the bad old woman who had so maltreated -her. - -“I wish I could earn a few pennies,” said Tom to herself. “I might buy -some papers if I only had money enough.” - -While she was thinking, a boot-black had been surveying her curiously. -It was Mike Murphy, an old acquaintance of Tom’s. He thought he -recognized her face, but her dress puzzled him. Where could Tattered Tom -have procured such a stunning outfit? That was the mystery, and it made -him uncertain of her identity. However, the face looked so familiar that -he determined to speak. - -“Is that you, Tom?” he asked. - -Tom looked up, and recognised Mike at once. It seemed good to speak to -an old acquaintance. - -“Yes, Mike, it’s me,” said Tom, whose grammar was not yet quite -faultless. - -“Where’d you get them clo’es? You aint going to be married, be you?” - -“Not that I know of,” said Tom. - -“Where’ve you been this long time? I haven’t seen you round anywhere.” - -“I’ve been livin’ up in Sixteenth Street,” said Tom. “A sailor-man took -me to his sister’s, and got her to keep me.” - -“Did you like it?” - -“Yes,” said Tom. “I had three square meals every day. I went to school -too.” - -“Did he buy you them clo’es?” - -“Yes.” - -“Are you there now?” - -“No, I left to-day.” - -“What for?” - -“The old woman said I stole some money, and told me I must give it back -or leave the house.” - -“How much did you steal?” asked Mike. - -“Look here, Mike Murphy,” said Tom, indignantly, “don’t you say that -again!” - -“Didn’t you take anything then?” - -“Of course I didn’t.” - -“What made her think so?” - -“I don’t know. Somebody took it, I s’pose, and she thought it was me.” - -“So you had to leave?” - -“Yes.” - -“What are you goin’ to do now?” - -“I don’t know,” said Tom. “I haven’t got but two cents, and I don’t know -where to sleep.” - -“Where’s the old woman you used to live with?” - -“I shan’t go back to her,” said Tom, firmly. “I hate her.” - -“You’ve got some good clo’es,” said Mike. “I didn’t know you, at first. -I thought you was a young lady.” - -“Did you?” asked Tom, rather pleased. - -The time had been when she did not want to look like a young lady,—when -she would have preferred to be a boy. But her tastes had changed -considerably since then. Something of the instinct of her sex had sprung -up in her, as she was brought to a closer knowledge of more refined ways -of life. She was no longer a young Arab in her feelings, as before. -Three months had wrought a great change in Tom. - -“If you haven’t any place to sleep, Tom,” said Mike, “you can come along -of me.” - -“Can I?” asked Tom. “What’ll your mother say?” - -“Oh, she won’t mind. Only you’ll maybe have to sleep on the floor.” - -“I don’t mind,” said Tom. “It’ll be better than sleeping in the street. -Where do you live?” - -“In Mulberry Street.” - -“I guess I’ll get something to do to-morrow,” said Tom. - -“What did you use to do?” - -“Sweep the crossings sometimes. I won’t do that again. It’s too dirty.” - -“It would sp’ile them nice clo’es of yours.” - -“Yes,” said Tom. “Besides, I wouldn’t want Mrs. Merton, or Mary, to see -me doin’ that.” - -“Who’s Mary?” - -“It’s her child.” - -“Did you like her?” - -“No, I didn’t. She hated me too.” - -“Well, I’m goin’ home. Come along, Tom.” - -Tom got up from her seat with alacrity, and prepared to accompany Mike. -It was a great burden off her mind to think she was likely to have a -shelter for the night. Perhaps something would turn up for her the next -day. This thought brought back some of her old courage and confidence. - -Mike Murphy’s home was neither elegant nor spacious. Mulberry Street is -not an aristocratic locality, and its residents do not in general move -in fashionable society. Mrs. Murphy was a retail merchant, being the -proprietor of an apple-stand on Nassau, near Spruce Street. Several -years’ exposure to the weather had made her face nearly as red as the -apples she dealt in, and a sedentary life had enlarged her proportions -till she weighed close upon two hundred pounds. In nearly all weathers -she was to be found at her post, sometimes sheltered by a huge cotton -umbrella, whose original color had been changed by the sun to a pale -brown. Though she had not yet been able to retire from trade upon a -competence, she had earned enough, with Mike’s assistance, to support a -family of six children,—in Mulberry Street style, to be sure, but they -had never been obliged to go to bed hungry, and the younger children had -been kept at the public school. - -When Mike entered, his mother was already at home. She usually closed up -her business about five o’clock, and went home to get supper. - -She looked up as Mike entered, and regarded his companion with some -surprise. - -“What young leddy have you got with you, Mike?” asked Mrs. Murphy. - -“She thinks you are a young lady, Tom,” said Mike, laughing. - -“Don’t you know me, Mrs. Murphy?” asked Tom, who had known Mike’s mother -for several years. - -“By the powers, if it aint Tom. Shure and you’ve had a rise in the -world, I’m thinkin’. Why, you’re dressed like a princess!” - -“Maybe I am,” said Tom; “but if I was one I’d be richer’n I am now.” - -“Tom was took up by a lady,” explained Mike; “but she’s sent her away, -and she’s got nothing barrin’ her clo’es. I told her you’d let her sleep -here to-night, mother.” - -“To be sure I will,” said the kind-hearted woman. “It isn’t much of a -bed I can offer you, Tom, but it’s better than sleepin’ out.” - -“I can lie on the floor,” said Tom. “I don’t mind that.” - -“But why did the leddy turn you out?” inquired the apple-merchant. - -Tom told her story, which Mrs. Murphy never thought of doubting. - -“She’s a hard, cruel woman. I’ll say that for her, Tom dear,” said Mrs. -Murphy. “But never you mind. You’re welcome to stay here, though it’s a -poor place. We’re going to have some supper directly, and you must take -some with us.” - -“I’ve eaten supper,” said Tom. - -“What did you have?” - -“Two apples.” - -“I don’t say nothin’ ag’in’ apples, for it’s them I live by, but tay and -toast is better for supper. Biddy, toast the bread, and I’ll set the -table. When a body’s tired, a cup of tay goes to the right spot, and -you’ll find it so, Tom dear.” - -The good-hearted woman bustled about, and set the table, while Biddy, a -girl of ten, toasted a large number of slices of bread, for the young -Murphys were all blessed with good appetites. The tea soon diffused a -fragrant aroma about the little room. Mrs. Murphy, humble as were her -means, indulged in one solitary extravagance. She always purchased the -best quality of “tay,” as she called it, no matter what might be the -price. - -“It’s a dale chaper than whiskey,” she used to say, in extenuation of -her extravagance. “It’s mate and drink to me both, and warms me up -besides, when I’ve got chilled by rason of stayin’ out all day.” - -There was a plate of cold meat placed on the table. This, with the tea -and toast, constituted Mrs. Murphy’s evening repast. - -“You can sit by me, Tom dear,” she said, her face beaming with -hospitality. “It isn’t much I’ve got, but you are heartily welcome to -what there is. Children, set up to the table, all of you. Mike, see that -Tom has enough to ate. There’s one thing I can give you, and that’s a -cup of illigant tay, that a quane might not turn up her nose at.” - -In spite of the two apples, Tom made room for a fair share of Mrs. -Murphy’s supper. Once more she felt that she had a home, humble enough, -to be sure, but made attractive by kindness. - -“I wish I could stay here,” thought Tom; and it occurred to her that she -might be able to make such an arrangement with the old apple-woman, on -condition of paying a certain sum towards the family expenses. - - - - - CHAPTER XX - TOM SPECULATES IN GOLD. - - -During the evening some of the neighbors came in, and received a hearty -greeting from Mrs. Murphy. - -“And who is this young leddy?” asked Mrs. O’Brien, looking at Tom. - -“It’s a friend of mine,” said Mrs. Murphy. - -“Don’t you know me?” asked Tom, who, in the days of her rags and -tatters, had known Mrs. O’Brien. - -“Shure and it isn’t Tom?” said Mrs. O’Brien, in surprise. - -“Did ye iver see such a change?” said Mrs. Murphy. “Shure and I didn’t -know her meself when she came in wid my Mike.” - -“It’s mighty fine you’re dressed, Tom,” said Mrs. O’Brien. “Your granny -aint come into a fortun’, has she?” - -“I don’t live with granny now,” answered Tom. “She’s a bad old woman, -and she isn’t my granny either.” - -“It was only yesterday I saw her, and fine she was dressed too, wid a -nice shawl to her back, and quite the leddy, barrin’ a red nose. She -says she’s come into some money.” - -Tom opened wide her eyes in astonishment. She had speculated more than -once on granny’s circumstances, but it had never entered her thoughts -that she had taken a step upwards in respectability. - -“Where did you see her?” asked Tom. - -“She was gettin’ out of a Third Avenue car. She said she had just come -from up town.” - -“She was lookin’ after me, it’s likely,” said Tom. - -“Where did she get her new clothes from?” Tom wondered. - -“Maybe she’s been adopted by a rich family in Fifth Avenoo,” remarked -Mike,—a sally which nearly convulsed his mother with laughter. - -“Shure, Mike, and you’ll be the death of me some time,” she said. - -“She’d make an interestin’ young orphan,” continued Mike. - -“Hadn’t you better marry her, Mike? and then you’d be my grandfather,” -suggested Tom. - -“Such a beauty aint for the likes of me,” answered Mike. “Besides, -mother wouldn’t want her for a daughter-in-law. She’d likely get jealous -of her good looks.” - -“O Mike, you’re a case!” said Mrs. Murphy, with a smile on her broad, -good-humored face. - -So the evening passed, enlivened with remarks, not very intellectual or -refined, it is true, but good-natured, and at times droll. Tom enjoyed -it. She had a home-feeling, which she had never had at Mrs. Merton’s; -and above all she was cheered by the thought that she was welcome, -though the home was humble enough. - -By and by the callers departed, and the family made preparations for -bed. - -“I can’t give you a very nice bed, Tom,” said Mrs. Murphy, “but I’ll fix -you up a place to slape on the floor wid my Biddy.” - -“That’ll be jolly,” said Tom. “If it wasn’t for you, I’d have to sleep -out in the street.” - -“That would be a pity, entirely, as long as I have a roof over me. -There’s room enough for you, Tom, and it won’t be robbin’ any of us.” - -Tom slept comfortably. Her bed was not one of the softest; but she had -never been used to beds of down, sleeping on a hard straw bed even at -Mrs. Merton’s. She woke, feeling refreshed, and in much better spirits -than when she set out from Mrs. Merton’s. - -When breakfast was over, Mrs. Murphy set out for her place of business, -and Mike for his daily occupation. Biddy remained at home to take charge -of the younger children. With the rest Tom went too. - -“Come back to-night, Tom,” said Mrs. Murphy. - -“I should like to,” said Tom, “if you’ll let me pay for my board.” - -“Shure we won’t quarrel about that. And what are you goin’ to do, Tom, -the day?” - -“I don’t know,” said Tom. “If I had any money I’d buy some papers.” - -“How much wud you want?” - -“Twenty-five cents would give me a start.” - -Mrs. Murphy dived into the recesses of a capacious pocket, and drew out -a handful of currency. - -“I’ll lind it to you,” she said. “Why didn’t you ask me before?” - -“Thank you,” said Tom. “I’ll bring it back to-night. You’re very kind to -me, Mrs. Murphy,” she added, gratefully. - -“It’s the poor that knows how to feel for the poor,” said the -apple-woman. “It’s I that’ll trust you, Tom, dear.” - -Three months before Tom would have told Mrs. Murphy that she was a -trump; but though some of her street phrases clung to her, she was -beginning to use less of the slang which she had picked up during her -long apprenticeship to a street life. Though her position, even at Mrs. -Merton’s, had not been as favorable as it might have been elsewhere, the -influences were far better than in the home (if it deserved the name) in -which she had been reared, and the association of the school which she -attended had, likewise, been of advantage to her. I do not wish it to be -understood that Tom had in three months changed from a young Arab into a -refined young lady. That would be hardly possible; but she had begun to -change, and she could never again be quite the wild, reckless girl whose -acquaintance we made at the street-crossing. - -Tom went out with Mrs. Murphy, helping her to carry her basket of -apples. Leaving her at her accustomed stand, she went to the newspaper -offices, and laid in a small supply. With these she went to Fulton -Ferry, partly because she fancied that there was no danger of granny’s -coming there in pursuit of her. Even if the encounter did take place she -was resolved not to go back. Still it was better to avoid it altogether. - -Tom was rather late in the field. Most of her competitors had been -selling papers for an hour, and some had already sold quite a number. -However, not being in the least bashful, she managed to obtain her share -of the trade that remained. The boats came in at frequent intervals, -loaded down with passengers,—clerks, shop-boys, merchants, bankers, -book-keepers, operatives, who made a home in Brooklyn, but spent the day -in the busy metropolis. - -“Morning papers, sir?” asked Tom, to a rather portly gentleman, who did -business in Wall Street. - -“Yes; give me the ‘Herald.’” - -He drew a coin from his pocket, and handed to Tom. - -“Never mind about the change,” he said. - -Tom was about to put it in her pocket, supposing from the size that it -was a five-cent piece; but, chancing to glance at it more particularly, -she saw that it was a five-dollar gold piece. - -Her eyes sparkled with joy. To her it was an immense fortune. She had -never, in all her life, had so much money before. “But did he mean to -give her so much?” was the question that suggested itself to her -immediately. He had, to be sure, told her to keep the change, but Tom -knew too much of human nature and the ways of the world to think it -likely that anybody would pay five dollars in gold for a morning paper, -without asking for a return of the change. - -Now I am quite aware that in three cases out of four the lucky -news-vender would have profited by the mistake, and never thought of -offering to correct it. Indeed, I am inclined to think that Tom herself -would have done the same three months before. Even now she was strongly -tempted to do so. But she remembered the false charge that had been made -against her by Mrs. Merton the day before, and the indignation she felt. - -“If I keep this, and it’s ever found out, she’ll be sure I took the -twenty dollars,” thought Tom. “I won’t do it. I won’t let her call me a -thief. I’ll give it back.” - -The purchaser of the paper was already half through Fulton Market before -Tom made up her mind to return the money. She started on a run, afraid -her resolution might give way if she stopped to consider. - -She easily recognized the man who had paid her the money. - -“Mister,” said Tom, touching him to attract his attention. - -“What’s wanted?” he inquired, looking at our heroine. - -“Did you mean to give me this?” and Tom displayed the gold piece. - -“Did I give it to you?” - -“Yes, you bought a ‘Herald,’ you know, and told me to keep the change.” - -“Well, why didn’t you?” he asked, in some curiosity. - -“I thought you made a mistake.” - -“I shouldn’t have found it out. Didn’t you want to keep it?” - -“Yes,” said Tom, unhesitatingly. - -“Why didn’t you?” - -“I thought it would be stealing.” - -“You’re a natural phenomenon!” - -“Is that a bad name?” demanded Tom. - -“No, not in this case. So I told you to keep the change, did I?” - -“Yes, sir.” - -“Then you’d better do it.” - -“Do you mean it?” asked Tom, astonished. - -“To be sure. I never break my word.” - -“Then I’ll do it,” said Tom. “Aint I in luck this morning, though?” - -“Yes, I think you are. As I probably know more of business than you, my -young friend, will you permit me to give you a piece of advice?” - -“All right,” said Tom. - -“Then, as gold is at a premium, you had better sell that gold piece, and -take the value in currency.” - -“Where can I sell it?” asked Tom. - -“I don’t, in general, solicit business, but, if you have confidence in -my integrity, you may call at my office, No. — Wall Street, any time -to-day, and I will give you the market value of the gold.” - -“I don’t understand all them big words,” said Tom, rather puzzled, “but -I’ll go as soon as I have sold my papers.” - -“Very good. You may ask for Mr. Dunbar. Can you remember the name?” - -Tom said she could, repeating it two or three times, to become familiar -with it. - -An hour later she entered the broker’s office, looking about her for her -acquaintance of the morning. - -“Ah, there you are,” said the broker, recognizing her. - -“So you want to sell your gold?” - -“Yes, sir.” - -“Gold sells at 141 to-day. Will that be satisfactory?” - -“Yes, sir.” - -“Mr. Johnson,” said Mr. Dunbar, addressing a clerk, “give that young -lady value in currency for five dollars in gold.” - -Tom handed in the gold, and received in return seven dollars and five -cents. She could hardly credit her good luck, not being familiar with -the mysteries of banking. - -“Thank you, sir,” said she gratefully, to the broker. - -“I hope you will favor us with any future business you may have in our -line,” said Mr. Dunbar, with a friendly smile. - -“Yes, sir,” answered Tom, rather mystified by his manner, but mentally -deciding that he was one of the jolliest gentlemen she had ever met. - -When Tom emerged from the office, and was once more in the hurry and -bustle of Wall Street, it is very doubtful whether, in that street of -millionnaires and men striving to become such, there was a single one -who felt so fabulously wealthy as she. - - - - - CHAPTER XXI - TOM FALLS INTO THE ENEMY’S HANDS. - - -Tom found herself the possessor of seven dollars and fifty cents, -including the quarter which she owed to Mrs. Murphy for money advanced. -It was not yet eleven o’clock. She decided to call on Mrs. Murphy, pay -back the loan, and inform her of her good luck. - -Mrs. Murphy was seated at her stand, keeping a sharp lookout for -customers, when she espied Tom approaching. - -“Have you sold your papers, Tom?” she asked. - -“Yes, Mrs. Murphy. Here’s the money I borrowed of you.” - -“Keep it longer; you’ll maybe nade it. I aint afraid to trust you.” - -“I don’t need it. I have been lucky. See there!” and Tom displayed a -roll of bills. - -“Where’d ye get all them?” asked the apple-woman, in amazement. - -“A gentleman paid me a gold piece for a ‘Herald,’ and wouldn’t take any -change.” - -“Is it truth you’re tellin’, Tom?” - -“Of course it is. Do you think I’d tell you a lie?” - -“Tell me all about it, Tom.” - -Tom did so, to the intense interest of Mrs. Murphy, who, after -ejaculations as to Tom’s luck, added, “I wish he’d buy some apples of -me, and trate me in the same way. And what are you goin’ to do wid your -money, Tom, dear?” - -“I’m going to get a square meal pretty soon, Mrs. Murphy. If you’ll come -along, I’ll treat you.” - -“Thank you, Tom, all the same, but I can’t lave my business. You’d -better put it in the savings-bank, where it’ll be safe. Maybe you might -lose it.” - -“Have you got any money in the savings-bank?” - -“No, Tom, dear. It takes all I earn for the rint, and atin’ for the -childers.” - -“I want to live with you, Mrs. Murphy, if you’ll take me.” - -“Shure and I’d be glad to have you, Tom, if you’ll put up wid my poor -room.” - -“I’d rather be there than at Mrs. Merton’s,” said Tom. - -After some negotiation, Mrs. Murphy agreed to take Tom as a boarder, -furnishing her with lodging, breakfast and supper, for a dollar and a -half a week. It seemed a small sum, but it would be a welcome addition -to the apple-woman’s weekly income, while it would take Tom from the -streets, and give her a cheerful and social home. - -“I’ll pay you now for a week,” said Tom. “Then I’ll be all right even if -I lose the money.” - -After some persuasion, Mrs. Murphy was induced to accept the payment in -advance. - -“Now I’ll go and get some dinner,” said Tom. - -Tom directed her steps to the Belmont House Restaurant, on Fulton -Street. It has two rooms,—one for ladies, the other for gentlemen; and -is well-patronized by a very respectable class, chiefly clerks and -business men. It was of a higher grade than the restaurants which those -in Tom’s line of business were accustomed to frequent. Her dress, -however, prevented any surprise being felt at her entrance. She sat down -at a table, and looked over a bill of fare. She observed that roast -turkey was marked forty cents. This was rather a large price for one in -her circumstances to pay. However, she had been in luck, and felt that -she could afford an unusual outlay. - -“Roast turkey and a cup of coffee!” ordered Tom, as the waiter -approached the table. - -“All right, miss,” said that functionary. - -Soon the turkey was set before her, with a small dish of cranberry -sauce, and a plate of bread and butter. Two potatoes and the cup of -coffee made up Tom’s dinner. She surveyed it with satisfaction, and set -to with an appetite. - -“I should like to live this way every day,” thought Tom; “but I can’t -afford it.” - -The waiter brought a check, and laid it beside her plate. It was marked -45 cents. - -Tom walked up to the desk near the door, and paid her bill in an -independent manner, as if she were accustomed to dine there every day. -In making the payment she had drawn out her whole stock of money, and -still held it in her hand as she stood on the sidewalk outside. She -little guessed the risk she ran in doing so, or that the enemy she most -dreaded was close at hand. For just at the moment Tom stood with her -face towards Broadway, granny turned the corner of Nassau and Fulton -Streets, and bore down upon her, her eyes sparkling with joy and -anticipated triumph. She was not alone. With her was a man of -thirty-five, bold and reckless in expression, but otherwise with the -dress and appearance of a gentleman. - -“There’s the gal now!” said granny, in excitement. - -“Where?” said her companion, sharing her excitement. - -“There, in front of that eating-house.” - -“The one with her back towards us?” - -“Yes. Don’t say a word, and I’ll creep up and get hold of her.” - -Tom was about to put back her money in her pocket, when she felt her arm -seized in a firm grasp. Turning in startled surprise, she met the -triumphant glance of her old granny. - -“Let me alone!” said Tom, fiercely, trying to snatch away her arm. - -“I’ve got you, have I?” said granny. “I knowed I’d get hold of you at -last, you young trollop! Come home with me, right off!” - -“I won’t go with you,” said Tom, resolutely. “I don’t want to have -anything to do with you. You haven’t got anything to do with me.” - -“Haven’t I, I should like to know? Aint I your granny?” - -“No, you aint.” - -“What do you mean by that?” demanded Mrs. Walsh, rather taken aback. - -“You aint any relation of mine. I don’t know where you got hold of me; -but I won’t own such an old drunkard for a granny.” - -“Come along!” said granny, fiercely. “You’ll pay for this, miss.” - -“Help!” exclaimed Tom, finding that she was likely to be carried away -against her will, at the same time struggling violently. - -“What’s the matter?” asked a gentleman, who had just come out of the -restaurant. - -“It’s my grand-child, sir,” said Mrs. Walsh, obsequiously. “She run away -from me, and now she don’t want to go back.” - -“She hasn’t got anything to do with me,” said Tom. “Help!” - -This last exclamation was intended to attract the attention of a -policeman who was approaching. - -“What’s the trouble?” he demanded, authoritatively. - -Mrs. Walsh repeated her story. - -“What is the child’s name?” asked the policeman. - -“Jane,” answered the old woman, who was at first on the point of saying -“Tom.” - -“How long has she lived with you?” - -“Ever since she was born, till a few weeks ago.” - -“What do you say to this?” asked the officer. - -“I did live with her; but she beat me, so I left her. She says she is my -granny, but she isn’t.” - -“Where do you live now?” - -“With Mrs. Murphy, in Mulberry Street.” - -This intelligence rather astonished granny, who heard it for the first -time. - -“Is the child related to you?” asked the officer. - -“She’s my grandchild, but she’s always been a wild, troublesome child. -Many’s the time I have kept awake all night thinkin’ of her bad ways,” -said granny, virtuously. “It was only yesterday,” she added, with a -sudden thought suggested by the sight of the money which she had seen -Tom counting, “that she came to my room, and stole some money. She’s got -it in her pocket now.” - -“Have you taken any money from your grandmother?” demanded the -policeman. - -“No, I haven’t,” said Tom, boldly. - -“I saw her put it in her pocket,” said granny. - -“Show me what you have in your pocket.” - -“I’ve got some money,” said Tom, feeling in rather a tight place; “but -it was given me this morning by a gentleman at Fulton Ferry.” - -“Show it,” said the officer, authoritatively. - -Tom was reluctantly compelled to draw out the money she had left,—a -little over five dollars. Granny’s eyes sparkled as she saw it. - -“It’s the money I lost,” said she. “Give it to me;” and she clutched -Tom’s hand. - -“Not for Joe!” said Tom, emphatically. “It’s mine, and I’ll keep it.” - -“Will you make her give it up?” asked granny, appealing to the -policeman. “It’s some of my hard earnings, which that wicked girl took -from me.” - -“That’s a lie!” retorted Tom. “You never saw the money. There was a -gentleman down to Fulton Ferry that give it to me this morning.” - -“That’s a likely story,” said granny, scornfully. - -“If you don’t believe it you can ask him. He’s got an office on Wall -Street, No. —, and his name is Mr. Dunbar. Take me round there, and see -if he don’t say so.” - -“Don’t believe her,” said granny. “She can lie as fast as she can talk.” - -“Ask Mrs. Murphy then. She keeps an apple-stand corner of Nassau and -Spruce Streets.” - -“You are sure she took this money from you?” inquired the policeman. - -“Yes,” said Mrs. Walsh. “I put it in my drawer yesterday forenoon, and -when I come to look for it it was gone. Mrs. Molloy, that lives on the -next floor, told me she saw Tom, I mean Jane, come in about three -o’clock, when I was out to work. It was then that she took it.” - -If granny had been dressed in her old fashion, she would have inspired -less confidence; but it must be remembered that, through money advanced -by the lawyer, she was now, in outward appearance, a very respectable -old woman; and appearances go a considerable way. The officer was, -therefore, disposed to believe her. If he had any doubt on the subject -it was settled by the interference of Mr. Lindsay, who had hitherto kept -aloof, but who now advanced, saying, “I know this woman, Mr. Officer, -and I can assure you that her story is correct. The child has been wild -and rebellious, and stolen money. But her grandmother does not wish to -have her arrested, as she might rightfully do. She prefers to take her -back, and do what she can to redeem her.” - -Mr. Lindsay was in outward appearance a gentleman. His manner was quiet, -and calculated to inspire confidence. - -“That is sufficient,” said the officer, respectfully. “Hark you,” he -added, addressing Tom, “you had better go away quietly with your -grandmother, or I shall advise her to give you in charge for theft.” - -Granny had conquered. Tom saw that further immediate resistance would be -unavailing; without a word, therefore, she allowed herself to be led -away, mentally resolving, however, that her stay with granny would be -brief. - - - - - CHAPTER XXII - THE LAWYER AND HIS CLIENT. - - -Mr. Selwyn, the lawyer who has already been introduced to the reader, -sat in his office with a pile of papers before him, when a knock was -heard at the door. His clerk being absent, he arose and opened it. A -lady stood before him. - -“Will you enter, madam?” he said. - -“Is this Mr. Selwyn?” she asked. - -“That is my name, madam.” - -“My name will probably be familiar to you. I am Mrs. Lindsay.” - -“I am glad to see you, madam. Will you be seated?” - -She sat down, and the lawyer regarded with interest the client whom he -now saw for the first time. She was still young, less than forty -probably, and, though her face bore the impress of sorrow, she was still -beautiful. - -“I suppose you have no news for me,” she said. - -“I am sorry to say that I have as yet no trace of the child. Margaret -Walsh is on the lookout for her, and, as you have made it worth her -while, I do not doubt that she will eventually find her for you.” - -“Do you think my child is still in the city?” asked Mrs. Lindsay, -anxiously. - -“I have no doubt of it. A child, bred as she has been, does not often -leave the city voluntarily, unless in the case of those children who are -from time to time carried away to homes in the West, through the agency -of the Children’s Aid Society.” - -“But may she not be of the number of these?” - -“I thought it possible, and have accordingly inquired particularly of -the officers of the society whether any child answering to her -description has been under their charge, and I am assured that this is -not the case. She is probably earning a living for herself somewhere in -the streets, though we cannot tell in what way, or in what part of the -city. Having run away from Mrs. Walsh, whom I suspect she did not like, -she probably keeps out of the way, to avoid falling again into her -hands.” - -“It is terrible to think that my dear child is compelled to wander about -the streets homeless, and no doubt often suffering severe privations,” -said Mrs. Lindsay, with a sigh. - -“Have good courage, madam,” said the lawyer. “I am convinced that we -shall find her very soon.” - -“I hope indeed that your anticipations may be realized,” said the -mother. “But I have not yet told you what brings me to New York at this -time.” - -Mr. Selwyn bowed and assumed an air of attention. - -“It is not pleasant,” said Mrs. Lindsay, after a slight pause, “to speak -ill of a relative; but I am obliged to tell you that the worst foe I -have is my brother-in-law, a younger brother of my late husband. It was -he who in the first place contrived the abduction of the child, and, -though he witnessed my distress, he has never relented, though it was -doubtless in his power, at any time, to restore her to me.” - -“How lately have you become aware of his connection with the affair?” - -“Only a few months since. One day I opened a desk belonging to him, in -search of an envelope, when I accidentally came upon a letter from -Margaret Walsh, written some years since, giving an account of her -arrival in New York with my dear child, and claiming from him a sum of -money which it appears he had promised as a compensation for her -services. This discovery astounded me. It was the first intimation I had -of my brother-in-law’s perfidy. He had always offered me such a delicate -and unobtrusive sympathy, and appeared to share so sincerely in my -sorrow, that I could scarcely believe the testimony of my senses. I read -the letter three times before I could realize his treachery. Of course I -did not make known to him the discovery I had made, but, calling on a -lawyer, I asked him to recommend to me some trustworthy gentleman in his -profession in this city. Your name was suggested, and I at once -authorized him to communicate with you, and employ you in the matter.” - -“I trust I shall prove worthy of the recommendation,” said the lawyer, -inclining his head. - -“There is one question which I should like to ask,” he continued. “In -what manner would your brother-in-law be likely to derive advantage from -your child’s disappearance?” - -“My husband left a large property,” said Mrs. Lindsay. “Half of this was -bequeathed to me, the remaining half I was to hold in trust for my -child. If, however, she should die before reaching her majority, my -brother-in-law, Mr. James Lindsay, was to receive my child’s portion.” - -“That constitutes a very powerful motive,” said the lawyer. “The love of -money is the root of all evil, you know.” - -“I do not like to suspect my brother-in-law of such baseness,” said Mrs. -Lindsay, “but I fear I must.” - -“How are his own means? Has he considerable property?” - -“He had. Both my husband and himself inherited a large property; but I -have reason to think that, at the time I speak of, he had lost large -sums by gambling. He had passed two years abroad, and I heard from -acquaintances, who met him there, that he played for high stakes at -Baden Baden and other German gambling resorts, and lost very heavily. I -suspect that he must have reduced his means very much in this way.” - -“You are probably correct, and this supplies what we lawyers always -seek—the motive. I can quite understand that to a man so situated a -hundred thousand dollars must have been a powerful temptation. I must -ask you another question. Has Mr. James Lindsay derived any advantage -from your child’s property thus far?” - -“He has, though it was legally decided that he could not come into -absolute possession, since my child’s death was not definitely -ascertained; at least, until such time as, if living, she would have -attained her majority, it was decreed that the income derived from the -property should be paid to him, this payment to cease only in case of -Jenny’s restoration.” - -“And has this been done?” - -“It has.” - -“Then Mr. James Lindsay has for the last six years received the income -of a hundred thousand dollars.” - -Mrs. Lindsay inclined her head. - -“And you never suspected his agency in the affair, in spite of all -this?” - -“Never. I knew James profited by my dear child’s loss, but I was not -prepared to suspect him of such baseness.” - -“I should have thought of it at once; but then we lawyers see so much of -the bad side of human nature that we are prone to suspect evil.” - -“Then I should not wish to be a lawyer. It pains me to think ill of -others.” - -“I respect you for the sentiment, madam, though in my profession I am -compelled to repudiate it. May I inquire whether your brother-in-law yet -suspects that you have discovered his complicity in the plot against -your child?” - -“It is that which brings me to see you to-day. I feel sure that in some -way he has gained a knowledge of my secret, though I endeavored to -conceal it from him.” - -“That is not surprising. He might accidentally have seen the -advertisement for Margaret Walsh, which, under your directions, I -inserted in the leading New York daily papers.” - -“He must have found out in this way.” - -“He will now doubtless do what he can to prevent your recovering -possession of her.” - -“I fear he has already commenced. Three days since, he told me that he -was about to go to Washington, and possibly further south for a few -weeks. He added that, having much business to occupy him, he doubted if -he should be able to write often. I supposed this to be true, until -yesterday I heard that, instead of taking the cars to Baltimore, he had -bought a ticket for New York. This attempt to deceive me convinces me -that he has penetrated my secret.” - -“Do you know where he is staying in New York?” - -“No, I do not. I only reached the city to-day, and came at once to your -office to inform you of the new danger which menaced our cause.” - -“The information is important, Mrs. Lindsay,” said the lawyer, -thoughtfully. “I must endeavor to guard against his machinations. No -doubt he will first try to find out Margaret Walsh, and when he has -found her will seek to buy her over to his interest. From what I know of -the woman, he will have no difficulty in succeeding.” - -“What can we do?” asked Mrs. Lindsay, anxiously. - -“I don’t care to bid against him, for, having such large interests at -stake, he will take care to go as high as we. We must do what we can to -keep them apart.” - -“Will that be possible?” - -“We can at least try. I must have time to think what methods are to be -used.” - -“When shall you see Margaret?” - -“To-morrow, probably. That is the day on which she has been accustomed -to come for her weekly allowance, and I must do her the justice to say -that she has never yet failed to present herself punctually. You will -remain in New York?” - -“Yes,” said Mrs. Lindsay. “In my present state of mind I could not be -contented away from here.” - -“What will be your address?” - -“I have not thought.” - -“Let me advise you not to stop at a hotel. Your arrival would in that -way become known to Mr. James Lindsay, as it would probably be published -in the ‘Evening Express.’” - -“Can you recommend me a good boarding-house, Mr. Selwyn?” - -“I know an excellent one on West Twenty-Fifth Street, where you will -have a fine room and every comfort. I will, if you desire it, give you a -letter to Mrs. Thurston, with whom I once boarded myself.” - -“I shall feel much indebted to you, Mr. Selwyn, if you will do so.” - -The lawyer turned to his desk, and wrote a brief note, which he handed -to his client. She took it, and rose from her seat, saying, “May I hope -to see you this evening, Mr. Selwyn? I am sorry to trespass upon your -time to such an extent, but you will appreciate a mother’s anxiety.” - -“I can and I do,” said the lawyer; “and you may rest assured that my -best energies shall be devoted to your service.” - -Within two hours Mrs. Lindsay found herself installed in a handsome -apartment at Mrs. Thurston’s boarding-house. - -“I shall feel better,” she reflected, “now that I am in the city where -my child in all probability is leading a life of poverty and privation. -God grant that she may be restored to me, and that I may be able to make -up to her the care of which she has so cruelly been deprived for six -long years!” - - - - - CHAPTER XXIII - HOW GRANNY AND TOM BECAME SEPARATED. - - -It will be understood why Mr. Lindsay had visited New York, and opened -communication with Margaret Walsh. The knowledge that his sister-in-law -had discovered his agency in the disappearance of her child, and the -fear that she might recover her, and so deprive him of the large -property for which he had intrigued, alarmed him, and led him to exert -himself to frustrate, if possible, his sister’s plans. - -Only two days after reaching the city, he had met Margaret in the -street. He recognized her at once, and discovered without much -difficulty the steps Mrs. Lindsay had this far taken. He at once offered -Margaret double the reward if she would serve his interests; and granny -consented, nothing loth. The first object was still to get possession of -Tom. How that was effected has already been told. We will now resume our -story where we left it at the end of the twenty-first chapter. - -Tom walked quietly away with granny, feeling that there was no chance of -immediate escape. She meant to bide her time, and break away as soon as -she could. Mr. Lindsay walked on the other side of granny until they -reached the Astor House. - -“Stop here a minute,” he said, “I will go in and inquire when the next -train starts on the Erie Road.” - -The old woman did as directed. Tom could not help wondering how there -should be an acquaintance between granny and a well-dressed gentleman -like Mr. Lindsay. It seemed strange, yet there was an evident -understanding between them. - -Mr. Lindsay came out in less than five minutes. - -“A train starts in an hour,” he said. “We had better go to the depot at -once.” - -Granny made some objection to the short notice, but he overruled it. - -“It must be done,” he said, decidedly. “It is the only safe way.” - -“I aint used to travellin’,” said Margaret. - -“You’ve got a tongue in your head,” he said roughly. “All you’ve got to -do is to inquire when you are in doubt. I will go to the depot with you, -and buy your tickets.” - -Mrs. Walsh made no further objection, and they took their way to the -depot. - -“I wonder what’s up,” thought Tom. - -They reached the depot and went into the reception-room. Mr. Lindsay -went out, and returned shortly with two strips of tickets, which he gave -to granny, explaining in what way they would be called for. He then took -out a roll of bills, and gave her. Then ensued a whispered conversation, -of which Tom only heard detached words, from which she was unable to -gather a definite idea. Then they entered the cars, and Mr. Lindsay left -them, with a last injunction, “Mind she don’t escape.” - -“I’ll take care,” nodded granny. - -Soon the cars were on their way. It was the first time within her -remembrance that Tom had ridden in the cars, and she looked out of the -window with great interest, enjoying the rapid motion and the changing -views. At last, yielding to curiosity, she turned and addressed the old -woman. - -“Where are we goin’, granny?” - -“Never you mind!” said granny. - -“But I do mind. Are we goin’ far?” - -“None of your business!” - -“Who was that man that gave you money? Has he got anything to do with -me?” - -“No,” said granny. - -“Why did he give you money?” - -“Because he’s a relation of mine,” said granny. “He’s my nephew.” - -Tom was not in the least deceived. She knew that, if granny had a -nephew, he would be a far different man from Mr. Lindsay. However, she -had a curiosity to hear what granny would say, and continued asking -questions. - -“Then he’s a relation of mine,” said Tom. - -“No he isn’t,” said granny, sharply. - -“Why isn’t he? Aint you my granny?” - -Mrs. Walsh could not gainsay this argument. “He’s a little of a relation -to you,” she said. “He’s give me some money, so I can live with you out -West. You won’t have to sweep streets no longer.” - -The mystery seemed to deepen. What truth there might be in granny’s -representations Tom could not tell. One thing was clear, however. -Relation or not, this man had given granny money, and would probably -give her more. Probably, if Tom remained with her, she would not fare as -hard as formerly; but this she did not intend to do. She had come to -dislike granny, who, she felt instinctively, was not really her -relation, and still cherished the intention of running away as soon as -there was a good opportunity. - -Meanwhile the cars sped on till seventy-five miles separated them from -the city. Broad fields extended on either side the railway track. To -Tom, who was a true child of the city, who had rarely seen green grass, -since the round of her life had been spent within a short distance of -City Hall Park, it seemed strange. She wondered how it would seem to -live in the country, and rather thought she should not like it. - -At length they came to a station where supper was to be obtained. Granny -was hungry and rose with alacrity. - -“Shall I go with you?” asked Tom. - -“No,” said Mrs. Walsh, “set right here. I’ll go and buy something for -you.” - -They were so far away from the city now that granny had no fear of Tom’s -escaping, particularly as she had no money. - -Tom retained her seat, therefore, and granny entered the station-house, -where some of her fellow-passengers were already hurrying down their -suppers. - -She stepped up to the counter, and soon was engaged in a similar way. - -“Will you have a cup of coffee, ma’am?” inquired the waiter. - -“Haven’t you got some whiskey?” inquired the old woman. - -“No, we don’t keep it.” - -Granny looked disappointed. She was very fond of whiskey, and, having -plenty of money, saw no reason why she should be deprived of her -favorite beverage. - -“Aint there any to be got near by?” she asked. - -“There’s a saloon a few rods up the road,” was the reply. - -“Could I find it easy?” - -“Yes, there’s a sign outside. It’s a small one-story building. You can’t -miss it.” - -Mrs. Walsh hastily bought a couple of cakes for Tom, and hurried out of -the building. There stood the cars, liable to start at any time. It was -the part of prudence to get in, and granny hesitated. But the desire for -a dram was strong within her, and she thought she could run over and get -a glass, and be back in time. The train stopped ten minutes for -refreshments, and she had not consumed more than five. The temptation -proved too strong for her to resist. - -She reached the saloon, and, entering, said, “Give me a glass of -whiskey, quick. I’m going right off in the train.” - -The whiskey was poured out, and granny drank it with a sense of -exquisite enjoyment. - -“Give me another,” she said. - -Another was poured out, and she had half drunk it, when the whistle was -heard. This recalled the old woman to the risk she incurred of being -left by the train. Setting down the glass hastily, she was hurrying out -of the saloon, when she was stopped by the bar-tender. - -“You haven’t paid for your drinks, ma’am,” he said bluntly. - -Granny saw the train just beginning to move. - -“I can’t stop,” she said desperately. “I shall be left.” - -“That don’t go down!” said the bar-tender, roughly; “you must pay for -your drinks.” - -“I’ll send it to you,” said granny, trying to break away. - -“That trick won’t work,” said the man, and he clutched the old woman by -the arm. - -“I’ve got a gal aboard,” screamed granny, desperately, trying at the -same time to break away. - -“I don’t care if you’ve got forty gals aboard, you must pay.” - -Mrs. Walsh drew a bill from her pocket, and, throwing it down, rushed -for the train without waiting for the change. But too much time had -already been lost. The cars were now speeding along at a rate which made -it quite impossible for her to catch them, and get aboard. - -“Stop!” she shrieked frantically, running with a degree of speed of -which she would have been thought incapable. “I’ve got a gal aboard. I -shall lose her.” - -Some of the passengers saw her from the windows, and were inclined to -laugh rather than sympathize with her evident distress. - -“Serves her right!” said a grouty old fellow. “Why didn’t she come back -in time?” - -“There’s a woman left behind,” said another passenger to the conductor. - -He shrugged his shoulders, and said, indifferently, “That’s her lookout. -If she didn’t choose to come to time, she must take the consequences.” - -“Couldn’t you stop the train?” asked a kind-hearted little woman. - -“No ma’am. Quite impossible. We’re behind time already.” - -So the train sped on, leaving granny frantic and despairing, waving her -arms and screaming hoarsely, “Stop! I’ve got a gal aboard!” - -“What would Mr. Lindsay say?” she could not help thinking. Only four -hours had passed since Tom had been placed in her charge, and they were -separated. She cared little or nothing for Tom, or her welfare, but for -her own interests, which were likely to be seriously affected, she cared -a great deal. She was to have a comfortable annuity as long as she kept -Tom safe in custody, and that was at an end unless she could manage to -get her back. - -She went into the station-house, and inquired when the next train would -leave. She learned that several hours must elapse. Having plenty of -time, therefore, she went back to the saloon, and recovered the change -due her, taking an additional glass of whiskey, to drown her chagrin and -disappointment. - - - - - CHAPTER XXIV - TOM’S ADVENTURES. - - -Among those who looked out of the window, and witnessed granny’s frantic -gesticulations was Tom. - -“Aint that rich?” she uttered, in high delight. - -“What’s the matter?” asked an old lady, who sat just in front, bending -over and speaking to Tom. - -“It’s my granny,” said Tom, laughing afresh. “She’s left behind. You -ought to see her shakin’ her fist at the cars.” - -“Are you laughing at your grandmother’s disappointment?” asked the old -lady’s daughter, a prim-visaged maiden lady. “For shame, child!” - -“I’m glad to get rid of her,” said Tom, coolly. “She aint my granny; she -only pretends to be.” - -“Hasn’t she had the care of you?” - -“No,” said Tom. “I’ve had the care of her. She took all the money I -earned, and spent it for rum.” - -“What are you going to do?” inquired the old maid. - -“I don’t know,” said Tom, her attention being now first called to the -embarrassment of her situation. She was nearly eighty miles from New -York, and this distance was fast increasing. She had no railway ticket -and no money. What was she to do? - -“Have you had any supper, child?” asked the old lady. - -“No,” answered Tom. “Granny went out to get some.” - -“Priscilla,” said the old lady, “haven’t you got some of them cookies -left?” - -“Yes, ma,” said the daughter. - -“You’d better give some of them to the child.” - -The younger lady took several hard seed-cakes from a paper bag, and -offered them to Tom, who accepted and ate them with avidity. - -Meanwhile she was considering what was best to be done. She wanted to -get back to New York, where she felt at home. Then she could go back to -Mrs. Murphy’s, whom she had paid for a week’s board in advance. She had -no money, for granny had forcibly taken from her what she had left after -paying for her dinner. How she was to get back seemed rather a problem. -One thing, however, appeared evident: every moment carried her farther -away from the city. So Tom concluded that the sooner she got off, the -better. - -When the cars reached the next stopping-place, Tom got up and went to -the door. - -“Where are you going?” asked the old lady. - -“I’m going to look out,” answered Tom, fearing that some impediment -might be placed in her way. - -“Don’t you get off, or you may get lost too.” - -“All right.” - -Tom stepped on the platform, and, quietly jumping from the cars, ran -round the depot, to escape notice. The stop was a short one, and -directly she heard the noise of the departing train. When it was fairly -on the way, Tom began to look around her and consider her situation. - -It was a small station, and there was scarcely a house near the depot. -It was already twilight, and to Tom, who was accustomed to the crowded -city, it appeared very lonely and desolate. She knew not where she -should pass the night. She had often been in that position in the city, -and it did not trouble her. Here, however, she was rather startled at -the unwonted solitude. Besides, being wholly ignorant of the country, it -occurred to her that she might meet some wild animal prowling around. - -Just as this thought came into her mind, she saw advancing towards her a -cow, followed by a farmer’s boy, about two years older than herself. Now -Tom was brave enough constitutionally, but this was the first cow she -had ever seen, and the branching horns led her to suppose it fierce and -dangerous, like a lion, for example. - -She rushed with headlong speed to a stone wall and climbed over. - -“Ho! ho!” laughed the boy; “are you afraid of a cow?” - -“Won’t she kill me?” asked Tom, a little reassured. - -“She wouldn’t kill a fly. Didn’t you ever see a cow afore?” - -“No, I didn’t,” said Tom. “I thought it was something like a lion.” - -“Where’ve you lived all your life?” asked the boy, astonished at Tom’s -greenness, as he considered it. - -“In New York.” - -“I thought everybody’d seen cows. Where are you going?” - -“I don’t know,” answered Tom. - -“You aint stoppin’ to Doctor Simpson’s, be you?” - -“I’m stoppin’ on this fence,” said Tom, rather humorously. - -“Taint a fence; it’s a stone wall.” - -“What’s the odds?” - -“How did you come here?” - -“By the cars,” said Tom. “I got left.” - -“You did? Where are you going to sleep to-night?” - -“I don’t know.” - -“There’s a tavern in the village.” - -“What’s that?” - -“A tavern. Don’t you know? A hotel.” - -“I haven’t got any money.” - -“That’s queer,” said the boy, staring. “Where are you goin’ to sleep?” - -“On the grass,” said Tom; “only I’m afraid of the wild animals.” - -“Pooh! there aint no wild animals round here. But you mustn’t sleep -out-doors. You’ll catch cold. If you’ll come home with me, mother’ll let -you sleep in our house.” - -“Thank you,” said Tom. “You’re a brick.” - -“You talk queer for a girl. What’s your name?” - -“Tom.” - -“Tom? That’s a boy’s name.” - -“They call me so. My right name is Jane.” - -“Well, Jane, come along, and I’ll show you where we live.” - -The two walked together, soon becoming sociable. The boy, James Hooper, -was amazed at Tom’s ignorance of the most common things pertaining to -country life, but found that in other ways she was sharp enough. - -“You talk just like a boy,” he said. - -“Do I?” said Tom. “I used to wish I was a boy, but I don’t know now. I -think I’d like to grow up a lady,—a tip-top one, you know,—and dress -fine.” - -“Are all the girls in New York like you?” asked James, curiously. - -“No,” said Tom. “There’s Mary Merton, she isn’t a bit like me. This is -the way she walks,” and Tom imitated Mary’s languid, mincing gait. - -“I like you best,” said John. “But here we are. Do you see that house -down the lane?” - -“Yes,” said Tom. - -“That’s where we live.” - -It was a large, square, comfortable farm-house, such as we often see in -farming towns. The farmer’s wife, a stout, comely woman, stood at the -door. - -“Who’ve you got with you, James?” she asked. - -“It’s a girl that got left by the train,” said James. “She’s got no -money to pay for her lodging. I told her you would let her sleep here.” - -“Of course I will. Come right in, child. How did you get left?” - -“I just got out a minute,” said Tom, “and the cars went off and left -me.” - -“What a pity! Who was travelling with you?” - -“My granny,” answered Tom. - -“What’ll she do? She’ll be very much frightened.” - -“I expect she will,” said Tom, who had made up her mind not to tell too -much. - -“Were you going back to the city?” - -Tom answered in the affirmative. I do not mean to defend the lie, for a -lie it was, but I have not represented Tom as perfect in any respect. In -the future she will improve, I hope, when placed under more favorable -circumstances. Her object in saying what she did was to prevent any -opposition being made to her return to the city. - -“You haven’t had any supper, have you?” asked Mrs. Hooper. - -“I ate a few cakes,” answered Tom. - -“That isn’t hearty enough for a growing girl,” said the good woman. “You -must take some supper with us.” - -The family supper had been eaten, but a tempting array of dishes was -soon set before Tom, whose appetite was always ready to answer any -reasonable demands upon it. - -In the evening Tom’s best course was discussed. She expressed a strong -desire to return at once to the city, saying she would be all right -there. - -“If your grandmother would not feel anxious about you,” said Mrs. -Hooper, “we should be glad to have you stop with us a day or two.” - -“I guess I’d better go back,” said Tom, for, knowing that granny had -been left by the cars only five miles away, she was under some -apprehensions that she might find her way thither. - -“You can take the nine-o’clock train to-morrow morning,” said James, -“and get to the city before night.” - -“Before night? She’ll get there by one o’clock,” said his mother. - -“I haven’t got any money to buy a ticket,” said Tom. - -“We will lend you the necessary amount,” said the farmer, “and your -grandmother can pay it back whenever it is convenient.” - -Tom felt a little reluctant to accept this money, for she knew that -there was no hope of repayment by granny; but she determined to accept -it, and work hard till she could herself save up money enough to pay the -debt incurred. She felt grateful to the farmer’s family for their -kindness, and was resolved that they should not suffer by it. - -In the evening they gathered in the plain sitting-room, covered with a -rag-carpet. Tom helped James make a kite. She was ignorant, but learned -readily. In her interest, she occasionally let slip some street phrases -which rather surprised James, who was led to wonder whether Tom was a -fair specimen of New York girls. He had always fancied that he should -feel bashful in their society; but with Tom he felt perfectly at home. - -In the morning he accompanied Tom to the depot, and paid for her ticket, -being supplied with money for the purpose by his mother. - -“Good-by,” he said, shaking her hand as she entered the cars. - -“Good-by, old fellow,” said Tom. “I’ll pay you back that money if granny -don’t.” - -The train started and was soon whirling along at the rate of twenty -miles an hour. Half-way between this and the next station they passed a -train bound in an opposite direction. Looking through the window on the -side towards the other train, Tom caught a glimpse of granny’s face. The -old woman had been compelled to stop till morning, and had taken the -first train bound westward. She did not see Tom, who quickly moved her -head from the window. - -“Sold again!” thought Tom, in high delight. “When granny catches me -again, she’ll know it.” - - - - - CHAPTER XXV - TOM FINDS HER MOTHER. - - -Tom sat back in her seat and enjoyed the prospect from the windows, as -the train sped along. She felt in unusually good spirits, knowing that -she had put granny entirely off the track, and that there was no -immediate chance of her recapture. - -“If I only had that money granny took from me, I’d be all right,” she -said to herself. However, her board and lodging were paid at Mrs. -Murphy’s for a week in advance, and that was something. - -About forty miles from New York a number of passengers got into the -cars. The seats were mostly occupied, but the one beside Tom was -untaken. A gentleman advanced up the aisle with a lady, looking about -him for a seat. - -“Is this seat engaged?” he inquired of Tom. - -“No,” answered Tom. - -“Then you had better sit here, Rebecca,” said the gentleman. “I think -you will have no trouble. You won’t forget where you are to go,—Mrs. -Thurston’s, West Twenty-Fifth Street. I can’t recall the number, but a -glance in the Directory will settle that.” - -“I wish you knew the number,” said the lady. - -“It was very careless of me to lose it, I confess. Still, I think you -will have no trouble. But good-by, I must hurry out, or I shall be -left.” - -“Good-by. Let me see you soon.” - -The gentleman got out, and the lady settled down into her seat, and -looked about her. Finally her glance rested on her young companion. She -was inclined to be social, and accordingly opened a conversation with -Tom. - -“Are you going to New York?” she inquired. - -“Yes, ma’am.” - -“I suppose you live there?” - -“Yes.” - -“I have never been there, and know nothing at all about the city.” - -“It’s a big place,” remarked Tom. - -“Yes, I suppose so. I have always lived in the country, and I am afraid -I shan’t feel at home there. But my sister, who is boarding with a Mrs. -Thurston, who keeps a large boarding-house on West Twenty-Fifth Street, -has invited me to come up and spend a few weeks, and so I have got -started.” - -“I guess you’ll like it,” said Tom. - -“Do you live anywhere near West Twenty-Fifth Street?” - -“Not now,” said Tom. “I did live in West Sixteenth Street, but I don’t -now.” - -“Are you travelling alone?” - -“Yes,” said Tom. - -“I suppose you live with your father and mother?” - -“I haven’t got any,” answered Tom, laconically. - -“I suppose you are well acquainted with the city?” - -“Yes,” said Tom. “I know it like a book.” - -The fact was, that Tom knew it a great deal better than a book, for her -book-knowledge, as we very well know, was by no means extensive. - -“Do you board?” - -“Yes,” said Tom. “I board with Mrs. Murphy, in Mulberry Street.” - -It struck the lady that Murphy was an Irish name, but the name of the -street suggested nothing to her. She judged from Tom’s appearance that -she belonged to a family in comfortable circumstances. - -“I wish I knew the number of Mrs. Thurston’s house,” said the lady -rather anxiously. “I’m so afraid I shan’t find it.” - -“I’ll tell you what,” said Tom, “I’ll go with you, if you want me to.” - -“I wish you would,” said the lady, much relieved. “It would be a great -favor.” - -“I s’pose you won’t mind givin’ me a quarter,” added Tom, with a sharp -eye to the main chance; not unreasonably, since she was penniless. - -“I’ll give you double that amount,” said the lady, “and thank you into -the bargain. I’m not much used to travelling, and feel as helpless as a -child.” - -“I’ll take care of you,” said Tom, confidently. “I’ll take you to Mrs. -Thurston’s right side up with care.” - -“She talks rather singularly,” thought the lady; but Tom’s confident -tone inspired her with corresponding confidence, and she enjoyed the -rest of her journey much more than she would otherwise have done. Tom’s -request for compensation did not surprise her, for she reflected that -children have always a use for money. - -At length they reached the city, and Tom and her companion got out of -the cars. - -“Come right along,” said Tom, taking the lady by the hand as if she were -a child. - -“Carriage, ma’am?” asked several hackmen. - -“Perhaps I’d better take a carriage,” said the lady, whose name, by the -way, was Mrs. Parmenter. - -“Just as you say,” said Tom. - -“I’ve got a nice carriage, ma’am. This way, please,” said a burly -driver. - -“Look here, mister, what are you going to charge?” demanded Tom. - -“Where do you want to go?” - -“To Mrs. Thurston’s, West Twenty-Fifth street.” - -“Whereabouts in the street? What number?” - -“The lady don’t know.” - -“Then how am I to carry you there?” - -“Look into the Directory,” said Tom. “If it’s too much trouble for you, -we’ll take another man.” - -The hackman made no further objections, but resolved to increase his -charge to compensate for the extra trouble. But here again Tom defeated -him, compelling him to agree to a price considerably less than he at -first demanded. - -“Young lady,” said he, paying an involuntary tribute to Tom’s -shrewdness, “you’re about as sharp as they make ’em.” - -“That’s so,” said Tom. “You’re right the first time.” - -Mrs. Parmenter and Tom entered the carriage, and the driver mounted his -box. - -“I don’t see how you dared to talk to that man so,” said the lady. “I -should have paid him whatever he asked.” - -“Then you’d have got awfully cheated,” said Tom. “I know their tricks.” - -“I’m sure I’m much obliged to you. I don’t know how I should have got -along without you.” - -“I’ve always lived in the city,” said Tom; “so I’ve got my eye-teeth -cut. They can’t cheat me easy.” - -“I’m afraid I’m selfish in taking you with me,” said Mrs. Parmenter. “I -hope your friends won’t be alarmed at your coming home late.” - -“I don’t think they will,” said Tom, laughing. - -“You said you had no relatives living in the city?” - -“Not now. My granny’s just left New York. She’s travellin’ for her -health,” added Tom, with a burst of merriment, at which Mrs. Parmenter -was rather surprised. - -“Where has she gone?” - -“Out West. I went a little way with her, just to oblige. She was awful -sorry to part with me, granny was;” and Tom laughed again in a manner -that quite puzzled her companion, who mentally decided that Tom was a -very odd girl indeed. - -“After we get to Mrs. Thurston’s,” said Mrs. Parmenter, “I’ll tell the -driver to carry you home. Shall I?” - -Tom fancied the sensation she would produce in Mulberry Street, if she -should drive up to the door of the humble tenement house in which she -boarded, and declined the offer. She might have accepted, for the joke -of it, but she saw that the hackman took her for a young lady, and she -did not wish to let him discover the unfashionable locality in which she -made her home. - -“Never mind,” said Tom. “I’d just as lieves ride in the cars.” - -They stopped at a drug-store, and the driver, going in, ascertained -without difficulty, by an examination of the Directory, the number of -Mrs. Thurston’s boarding-house. A few minutes later, he drew up in front -of a very good-looking house, and, jumping from the box, opened the -door. - -“Is this Mrs. Thurston’s?” asked Mrs. Parmenter. - -“Yes, ma’am; it’s the number that’s put down in the Directory.” - -“I’ll ring the bell and see,” said Tom. - -She ran up the steps, and rang a loud peal, which was quickly answered. - -“Is this Mrs. Thurston’s?” she asked. - -“Yes.” - -“Then here’s a lady that’s coming in,” said Tom. “It’s the right place,” -she added, going back to the carriage where Mrs. Parmenter was engaged -in paying the driver. - -“Now, my dear,” said Mrs. Parmenter, “I hope you’ll accept this for your -kindness in guiding me.” - -She drew a dollar from her purse, and handed it to Tom. - -“Thank you,” said Tom, quite elated. “I’m glad I come with you.” - -Mrs. Parmenter was about to enter the house, when another lady descended -the steps. It was Mrs. Lindsay, who had been recommended to this house, -as the reader may remember, by the Wall Street lawyer. She no sooner saw -Tom than she became excited, and grasped the balustrade for support. - -“Child,” she said, eagerly, “what is your name?” - -“Tom,” answered our heroine, surprised. - -“Tom?” - -“That’s what they call me. Jane is my real name.” - -“Do you know a woman named Margaret Walsh?” continued Mrs. Lindsay, her -emotion increasing. - -“Why, that’s my granny,” said Tom, surprised. - -There was no more room for doubt. Mrs. Lindsay opened her arms. - -“Found at last!” she exclaimed. “My dear, dear child!” - -“Are you my mother?” asked Tom, in amazement. - -“Yes, Jenny, your own mother, never again, I hope, to be separated from -you;” and Mrs. Lindsay clasped the astonished girl to her arms. - -“You don’t look a bit like granny,” she said, scanning the refined and -beautiful features of her mother. - -“You mean Margaret,” said Mrs. Lindsay, with a shudder. “She is a wicked -woman. It was she who stole you away from me years ago.” - -“I played such a trick on her,” said Tom, laughing. “She wanted to carry -me off out West; but I left her, and she’s goin’ on alone.” - -“Come in, my darling,” said Mrs. Lindsay. “Your home is with your mother -henceforth. You have much to tell me. I want to know how you have passed -all these years of cruel separation.” - -She took Tom up to her own chamber, and drew from her the whole story. -Many parts gave her pain, as Tom recounted her privations and -ill-treatment; but deep thankfulness came at the end, because the child -so long-lost was at last restored. - -“To-morrow I must buy you some new clothes,” said she. “Are these all -you have?” - -“Yes,” said Tom, “they are a good deal nicer than I used to wear.” - -“You shall have better still. I will try to make up to you for your past -privations.” - -“I want to go out a little while,” said Tom. “I’d like to tell Mrs. -Murphy what’s happened to me. You see, I paid her for a week’s board, -and she’ll wonder where I am.” - -“I can’t trust you out of my sight,” said Mrs. Lindsay; “but I’ll go -with you if you wish it.” - -“Yes, I should like that.” - -Great was the astonishment of worthy Mrs. Murphy, when Tom came up to -her stand with a handsomely dressed and stylish lady, whom she -introduced as her mother. I will not attempt to repeat the ejaculations -in which she indulged, nor her delight when Mrs. Lindsay bought one of -her apples for Tom, and paid for it with a ten-dollar bill, refusing -change. - -“Shure, your mother’s a rale leddy, Tom dear,” she said; “and it’s I -that’s glad of it, for your sake.” - -Mrs. Lindsay ordered dinner for herself and Tom in her own room, not -wishing to introduce her to her fellow-boarders until she had supplied -her with a more suitable wardrobe, for Tom’s dress was by this time -soiled and dirty. When the lawyer came up in the evening, his surprise -was great to find the child, whom he had exhausted his legal skill to -discover, already restored to her mother. He offered his sincere -congratulations, and, it may here be remarked, was handsomely paid for -the trouble he had taken in the matter. - -By the next post, at Tom’s request, a letter was sent by Mrs. Lindsay to -the farmer’s wife who had sheltered Tom, enclosing the amount of money -paid for the railroad ticket, and thanking her earnestly for the -kindness shown to her child. Much to Tom’s delight, an extra ten dollars -was enclosed as a present to James Hooper from her. - - - - - CHAPTER XXVI - CONCLUSION. - - -When Tom was suitably dressed, it was easy to perceive a strong -resemblance between her mother and herself. This resemblance was -affected, to be sure, by a careless, independent expression produced by -the strange life she had led as a street Arab. No doubt her new life -would soften and refine her manners, and make her more like girls of her -own age. - -Having no further occasion to remain in New York, Mrs. Lindsay took the -train for Philadelphia the next day, where Tom, whom we must now call -Jane Lindsay, found herself in an elegant home, surrounded by all that -wealth could supply. Her mother lost no time in supplying her with -teachers, that the defects of her education might be remedied. These -were great, as we know, but Jane—I had nearly said Tom—was quick, and -her ambition was excited, so that the progress which she made was indeed -remarkable. At the end of the year she was as far advanced as most girls -of her age. - -At first our heroine found the change in her life not altogether -agreeable. She missed the free life of the streets, which, in spite of -all its privations and discomforts, is not without a charm to the -homeless young Arabs that swarm about the streets. But in a short time -she acquired new tastes, never, however, losing that fresh and buoyant -spirit, and sturdy independence, which had enabled her to fight her way -when she was compelled to do so. It was evident that Jane, whether from -her natural tendencies or her past experiences, was not likely to settle -down into one of those average, stereotyped, uninteresting young ladies -that abound in our modern society. Nature was sure to assert itself in a -certain piquancy and freshness of manner, which, added to her personal -attraction, will, I think, eventually make Tom—the name slipped from my -pen unintentionally—a great favorite in society. Her faults, at some of -which I have hinted, she did not at once get rid of; but the influence -of an excellent mother will, I am convinced, in time eradicate most of -them. - -When James Lindsay learned that his sister-in-law had recovered her -child, he went abroad without seeing her, being ashamed no doubt to meet -one whom he had so deeply injured, and there was no difficulty in -reclaiming the property, the income of which had for some years been -wrongly diverted to his use. - -Such of my readers as have conceived an admiration for granny may be -interested to learn that she kept on in her western journey, hoping to -come upon Tom somewhere; but of course she was disappointed. She arrived -at length in Chicago, and, having a considerable sum of money in her -possession, decided to stay there. She did not venture to open -communication with James Lindsay, lest he should take from her the money -she had at present, on account of her careless guardianship. Hiring a -room, she gave herself up to the delights of drinking and smoking. The -last habit proved fatal, when, one afternoon, she lay down with her -lighted pipe in her mouth. Falling asleep, the pipe fell upon the bed, -setting on fire the bedclothes, and next the clothing of Margaret -herself. Whether she was suffocated before awakening, or whether she -awoke too late for rescue, was never ascertained. Certain it is, -however, that when the smell of smoke called in the neighbors, granny -was quite dead, expiating by her tragical end the sins of her miserable -career. - -I must sketch one more scene, and then this chronicle of Tom’s -adventurous life will close. - -Fifteen months after Tom made the acquaintance of Captain Barnes, that -worthy officer returned to New York. He at once repaired to the house of -his sister, Mrs. Merton, expecting to find Tom. He had thought of her -very often while at sea, and pictured with pleasure the improvement -which she would exhibit after a year’s training and education. - -“I have no child. I probably shall never have one,” he said to himself. -“If Jenny has become such a girl as I hope, I will formally adopt her, -and when I have become too old to go to sea, we will make a pleasant and -cosey little home together, and she shall cheer my declining years.” - -Such thoughts as these warmed the heart of the sailor, and made him -anxious for the voyage to close. He had heard nothing from his sister -since he left, and was, therefore, ignorant of the fact that Tom was no -longer in her charge. - -When he reached his sister’s house, and had kissed her and his nieces, -he inquired eagerly:— - -“Where’s Jane? Has she improved?” - -“Then you haven’t heard, Albert,” said his sister, not without -embarrassment, for she was about to deceive him. - -“Heard! What is there to hear?” he said impatiently. - -“Jane has not been with me for a year.” - -“What has become of her?” - -“Indeed I don’t know. She remained with me three months after you left, -and then suddenly disappeared. She must have got tired of a life so -different from that she had been accustomed to lead, and determined to -go back to her street life.” - -“I am deeply grieved to hear it,” said Captain Barnes. “I have -anticipated meeting her with so much pleasure. And have you never seen -her since?” - -“Never.” - -“I thought you might accidentally have met her in the street.” - -“No.” - -“Had she improved while she did stay?” - -“Yes,” said Mrs. Merton, with hesitation, “that is, a little. She was -not quite so wild and rude as at first; but I don’t think she would ever -have made up the deficiencies of her early training.” - -Captain Barnes paced the floor, deeply disturbed. His disappointment was -a great one. - -“I shall try to trace her,” he said at length. “I will apply to the -police for help.” - -“That’s the best thing to do, uncle,” said Mary, with a sneer. “Very -likely you’ll find her at Blackwell’s Island.” - -“For shame, niece,” said her uncle, sternly. “You might have a little -more charity for a poor girl who has not had your advantages.” - -Mary was abashed, and regretted that she had spoken so unguardedly, for -she hoped to produce a favorable impression upon her uncle, in the hope -of becoming his heiress. - -The silence was broken by the stopping of a carriage before the door. -Mary flew to the window. - -“O mother,” she said, “there’s a beautiful carriage at the door, with a -coachman in livery, and there’s a lady and a young girl, elegantly -dressed, getting out.” - -Quite a sensation was produced by the intelligence. - -A moment later, and the servant brought in the cards of Mrs. Lindsay and -Miss Lindsay. - -“I don’t remember the name,” said Mrs. Merton, “but you may show the -ladies in, Hannah.” - -Directly afterwards Mrs. Lindsay and our heroine entered the room. They -were visiting friends in New York, and Jane had induced her mother to -call at the house where she had learned her first lessons in -civilization. She was very different now from the young Arab of fifteen -months since. She was now a young lady in manners, and her handsome -dress set off a face which had always been attractive. Neither Mrs. -Merton nor Mary dreamed of associating this brilliant young lady with -the girl whom they had driven from the house by a false charge. - -“Good-morning, Mrs. Lindsay,” said Mrs. Merton, deferentially. “Won’t -you and the young lady take seats?” - -“You are no doubt surprised to see me,” said Mrs. Lindsay, “but my -daughter wished me to call. She was for three months, she tells me, a -member of your family.” - -“Indeed,” said Mrs. Merton, in surprise, “I think there must be some -mistake. I don’t remember that Miss Lindsay ever boarded with me.” - -“Don’t you remember Tom?” asked Jane, looking up, and addressing Mrs. -Merton in something of her old tone. - -“Good gracious! You don’t mean to say—” ejaculated the landlady, while -Mary opened wide her eyes in astonishment and dismay. - -“For years,” explained Mrs. Lindsay, “my daughter was lost to me through -the cruel schemes of one whom I deemed a faithful friend; but, thank -God, she was restored to me within a week after she left your house.” - -“Was that the reason of your leaving, Jane?” asked Captain Barnes. - -“Mother,” said Jane, cordially grasping the hand of the captain, “this -is the kind gentleman who first found me in the street, and provided me -with a home.” - -“Accept a mother’s gratitude,” said Mrs. Lindsay, simply, but with deep -feeling. - -“I was sure you would turn out right, Jane,” said the captain, his face -glowing with pleasure. “Then you left my sister, because you found your -mother?” - -“No, that was not the reason,” said Jane, looking significantly at Mrs. -Merton, who, knowing that she had suspected her of what was really her -daughter’s fault, felt confused and embarrassed. - -“There was a—a little misunderstanding,” she stammered, “for which I -hope Miss Lindsay will excuse me. I found out my mistake afterwards.” - -No further explanation was then given, but Captain Barnes required and -obtained an explanation afterwards. He blamed his sister severely, and -Mary even more, and that young lady’s prospects of becoming her uncle’s -heiress are now very slender. - -“I hope, Captain Barnes,” said Mrs. Lindsay, “you will come to -Philadelphia and pass a few days at my house. Nothing would please my -daughter more, nor myself.” - -The good captain finally accepted this invitation, though with -diffidence, and henceforth never arrived in port without visiting his -former protegée, where he always found a warm welcome. - -And so my story ends. My heroine is now a young lady, not at all like -the “Tattered Tom” whose acquaintance we first made at the -street-crossing. For her sake, her mother loses no opportunity of -succoring those homeless waifs, who, like her own daughter, are exposed -to the discomforts and privations of the street, and through her -liberality and active benevolence more than one young Arab has been -reclaimed, and is likely to fill a respectable place in society. - - - - -The next story of this series will be - - PAUL, THE PEDDLER; - - OR, - - THE FORTUNES OF A YOUNG STREET MERCHANT. - - - - ------------------------------------------------------------------------- - - The Breakwater Series. - - BY VIRGINIA F. TOWNSEND. - - Price $1.00 per Volume. - -_I._ _=JOANNA DARLING=; or, The Home at Breakwater._ - -The story of a little orphan girl of twelve, told in so touching a -manner as to never fade from your memory. - -_II._ =_THE BOY FROM BRAMLEY._= - -The story of a shy, ill-treated orphan boy of twelve, whose whole life -is changed by a few kind words, and a small gift from a benevolent -gentleman. As a newsboy on a railroad train he does a heroic act in a -collision, and you rejoice in his upward steps to position and fortune. - -_III._ _=HOPE DARROW.= A Little Girl’s Story._ - -Hope, a little girl of nine, and her big brother Lewis, are orphans -living in an isolated farm-house, all in all to each other. A railroad -accident to a city lad introduces them to a wider circle, and no story -written is more touching. - -_IV._ _=MAX MEREDITH’S MILLENNIUM.=_ - -A manly lad of twelve is the hero of this the best story for boys you -ever read. Try the opening chapter, and you won’t close the book till -the end is reached. - -Miss Townsend has a great reputation as a writer of mature books, and -this series for boys and girls from ten upward has won her a host of -readers. Each of these books are “Heart Stories,” that move you -strangely, and make everything from her pen eagerly sought after. - -Sunday-school librarians say these books wear out in service, they are -such favorites. - - VERONICA; - =Or, the Light House Keeper.= - -Handsome cloth. Price, 75 cents. - -Veronica’s father was lost at sea. She lived with her grandparents, on -the English coast. - -The fairy story of a Magic Horn, if heard at sea, would banish all -sorrow, so impressed her that she got into a boat and fell asleep -listening for this welcome sound. She drifted from the English to the -French Coast, was picked up by a Light House Keeper, and long years -elapsed before she was found and restored, with her lost father, to the -mourning ones at home. - -A prettier story for a little boy or girl is not published. - - ---------- - - COUNTESS KATE. - - =By MISS YONGE.= - - Author of “The Heir of Redcliffe,” etc. - -Handsome cloth binding. 2 Illustrations. Price, $1.25. - -Girls, from ten upward, will thank this gifted English authoress for -another story as good as “The Heir of Redcliffe,” which won for her the -foremost place in the hearts of every reader of books in America. - -The evil and discomforts of _pride_ is the lesson of this lovely story. -As soon as it gets known, thousands of copies will be sold, and every -home or Sunday-School library will find it among the books most read. It -is second only to “Faith Gartney.” - - ---------- - - THE BOYS AT CHEQUASSET. - - By MRS. A. D. T. WHITNEY. Author of “Faith Gartney’s Girlhood.” - -Handsome cloth. Price, $1.25. - -This is the book which first won for this distinguished authoress her -great reputation. It is written for boys from ten upward. - -A city boy moves into the country, and enters whole-souled into the -freedom and novelty this life offers him. - -Great projects are undertaken, but a lack of _perseverance_ and _order_ -proves a serious drawback to his enjoyment. - -The mania for collecting birds’ eggs seizes him, and the necessity of -order to preserve what he won by such hard labor is “the little leaven” -which in time “leavened the whole lump.” - - ---------- - - THE FRENCH ROBINSON CRUSOE; - - =JEAN BELIN.= - - A COMPANION TO SWISS FAMILY ROBINSON. - - 4 Illustrations. Handsome Cloth. Price, $1.25. - -One of the most fascinating, and one of the best Juvenile Books written. - -It tells the story of a little waif picked up in Paris streets, cared -for by a kind family, employed in a factory, joining a colony of -emigrants, wrecked on the African coast, his Crusoe life and adventures -there, held by savages, and, at last, return to Paris, bringing wealth, -and gaining what to him was still higher. Every boy praises it. - - ---------- - - MILLY; - - Or, The Hidden Cross. - - A Story of School-Girl Life. - Handsome Cloth binding. Price $1.00. - -BOARDING-SCHOOL LIFE! - -In this book we have a perfect photograph of a bevy of lovely, positive -girls, enthusiastic, jolly, jealous, cliquish, true to their favorites, -preparing and participating in the closing examination and public -exhibition. The picture is perfect. MILLY, the heroine of this book, is -a noble character, pure, lovely, religious,—a leader. She wore a “hidden -cross,” which was once, through anger and jealousy of one of her -companions, rudely exposed and jeered at, wounding her to the quick. She -bore a “hidden cross” unknown to all, even to her widowed mother, till -in death’s cold clasp she revealed it, and through the “Cross” she won -immortal glory, leaving behind her a memory so sweet, an influence no -one of her companions ever forgot. - -Every school-girl in the land should read this lovely story. - - ---------- - - JUDGE NOT; or, Hester Powers’ Girlhood. - - Handsome Cloth binding. Price, $1.00. - -In the lovely English village of “West Oakland,” a costly monument -bearing this inscription, “JUDGE NOT,” arrests the attention, and -excites the curiosity of every summer tourist. Hester Powers, a village -beauty, is the heroine, and this striking monument, with its simple yet -eloquent inscription, is the atonement made by her high-born companion -for the hasty judgment that crushed her. Don’t fail to read it. - - ---------- - ------------------------------------------------------------------------- - - Transcriber’s Note - -Errors deemed most likely to be the printer’s have been corrected, and -are noted here. The references are to the page and line in the original. -The following issues should be noted, along with the resolutions. - - 75.5 and licked him.[”] Added. - - 149.13 “I’[ll] get my aunt to come round to-morrow Restored. - - 153.11 “340 Bleecker Street.[”] Added. - - 194.11 down those stairs.[”] Added. - - 256.6 “I like you best,” said [John]. _sic_: - James. - - 258.16 farmer,[” / “]and your grandmother can pay it Replaced. - back - - - - - -End of the Project Gutenberg EBook of Tattered Tom, by Horatio Alger Jr. - -*** END OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK TATTERED TOM *** - -***** This file should be named 54006-0.txt or 54006-0.zip ***** -This and all associated files of various formats will be found in: - http://www.gutenberg.org/5/4/0/0/54006/ - -Produced by KD Weeks, David Edwards and the Online -Distributed Proofreading Team at http://www.pgdp.net (This -book was produced from scanned images of public domain -material from the Google Books project.) - -Updated editions will replace the previous one--the old editions will -be renamed. - -Creating the works from print editions not protected by U.S. copyright -law means that no one owns a United States copyright in these works, -so the Foundation (and you!) can copy and distribute it in the United -States without permission and without paying copyright -royalties. 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