Ragged Dick Part 24

"Some bread and b.u.t.ter."

"Why don't you get a cup o' coffee?"

"Why," said Fosd.i.c.k, reluctantly, "I haven't got money enough to-night."

"Never mind," said d.i.c.k; "I'm in luck to-day, I'll stand treat."

"That's kind in you," said Fosd.i.c.k, gratefully.

"Oh, never mind that," said d.i.c.k.

Accordingly he ordered a cup of coffee, and a plate of beefsteak, and was gratified to see that his young companion partook of both with evident relish. When the repast was over, the boys went out into the street together, d.i.c.k pausing at the desk to settle for both suppers.

"Where are you going to sleep to-night, Fosd.i.c.k?" asked d.i.c.k, as they stood on the sidewalk.

"I don't know," said Fosd.i.c.k, a little sadly. "In some doorway, I expect. But I'm afraid the police will find me out, and make me move on."

"I'll tell you what," said d.i.c.k, "you must go home with me. I guess my bed will hold two."

"Have you got a room?" asked the other, in surprise.

"Yes," said d.i.c.k, rather proudly, and with a little excusable exultation. "I've got a room over in Mott Street; there I can receive my friends. That'll be better than sleepin' in a door-way,--won't it?"

"Yes, indeed it will," said Fosd.i.c.k. "How lucky I was to come across you! It comes hard to me living as I do. When my father was alive I had every comfort."

"That's more'n I ever had," said d.i.c.k. "But I'm goin' to try to live comfortable now. Is your father dead?"

"Yes," said Fosd.i.c.k, sadly. "He was a printer; but he was drowned one dark night from a Fulton ferry-boat, and, as I had no relations in the city, and no money, I was obliged to go to work as quick as I could. But I don't get on very well."

"Didn't you have no brothers nor sisters?" asked d.i.c.k.

"No," said Fosd.i.c.k; "father and I used to live alone. He was always so much company to me that I feel very lonesome without him. There's a man out West somewhere that owes him two thousand dollars. He used to live in the city, and father lent him all his money to help him go into business; but he failed, or pretended to, and went off. If father hadn't lost that money he would have left me well off; but no money would have made up his loss to me."

"What's the man's name that went off with your father's money?"

"His name is Hiram Bates."

"P'r'aps you'll get the money again, sometime."

"There isn't much chance of it," said Fosd.i.c.k. "I'd sell out my chances of that for five dollars."

"Maybe I'll buy you out sometime," said d.i.c.k. "Now, come round and see what sort of a room I've got. I used to go to the theatre evenings, when I had money; but now I'd rather go to bed early, and have a good sleep."

"I don't care much about theatres," said Fosd.i.c.k. "Father didn't use to let me go very often. He said it wasn't good for boys."

"I like to go to the Old Bowery sometimes. They have tip-top plays there. Can you read and write well?" he asked, as a sudden thought came to him.

"Yes," said Fosd.i.c.k. "Father always kept me at school when he was alive, and I stood pretty well in my cla.s.ses. I was expecting to enter at the Free Academy* next year."

* Now the college of the city of New York.

"Then I'll tell you what," said d.i.c.k; "I'll make a bargain with you.

I can't read much more'n a pig; and my writin' looks like hens'

tracks. I don't want to grow up knowin' no more'n a four-year-old boy. If you'll teach me readin' and writin' evenin's, you shall sleep in my room every night. That'll be better'n door-steps or old boxes, where I've slept many a time."

"Are you in earnest?" said Fosd.i.c.k, his face lighting up hopefully.

"In course I am," said d.i.c.k. "It's fashionable for young gentlemen to have private tootors to introduct 'em into the flower-beds of literatoor and science, and why shouldn't I foller the fashion? You shall be my perfessor; only you must promise not to be very hard if my writin' looks like a rail-fence on a bender."

"I'll try not to be too severe," said Fosd.i.c.k, laughing. "I shall be thankful for such a chance to get a place to sleep. Have you got anything to read out of?"

"No," said d.i.c.k. "My extensive and well-selected library was lost overboard in a storm, when I was sailin' from the Sandwich Islands to the desert of Sahara. But I'll buy a paper. That'll do me a long time."

Accordingly d.i.c.k stopped at a paper-stand, and bought a copy of a weekly paper, filled with the usual variety of reading matter,--stories, sketches, poems, etc.

They soon arrived at d.i.c.k's lodging-house. Our hero, procuring a lamp from the landlady, led the way into his apartment, which he entered with the proud air of a proprietor.

"Well, how do you like it, Fosd.i.c.k?" he asked, complacently.

The time was when Fosd.i.c.k would have thought it untidy and not particularly attractive. But he had served a severe apprenticeship in the streets, and it was pleasant to feel himself under shelter, and he was not disposed to be critical.

"It looks very comfortable, d.i.c.k," he said.

"The bed aint very large," said d.i.c.k; "but I guess we can get along."

"Oh, yes," said Fosd.i.c.k, cheerfully. "I don't take up much room."

"Then that's all right. There's two chairs, you see, one for you and one for me. In case the mayor comes in to spend the evenin'

socially, he can sit on the bed."

The boys seated themselves, and five minutes later, under the guidance of his young tutor, d.i.c.k had commenced his studies.

CHAPTER XVI

THE FIRST LESSON

Fortunately for d.i.c.k, his young tutor was well qualified to instruct him. Henry Fosd.i.c.k, though only twelve years old, knew as much as many boys of fourteen. He had always been studious and ambitious to excel. His father, being a printer, employed in an office where books were printed, often brought home new books in sheets, which Henry was always glad to read. Mr. Fosd.i.c.k had been, besides, a subscriber to the Mechanics' Apprentices' Library, which contains many thousands of well-selected and instructive books. Thus Henry had acquired an amount of general information, unusual in a boy of his age. Perhaps he had devoted too much time to study, for he was not naturally robust. All this, however, fitted him admirably for the office to which d.i.c.k had appointed him,--that of his private instructor.

The two boys drew up their chairs to the rickety table, and spread out the paper before them.

"The exercises generally Commence with ringin' the bell," said d.i.c.k; "but as I aint got none, we'll have to do without."

"And the teacher is generally provided with a rod," said Fosd.i.c.k.

"Isn't there a poker handy, that I can use in case my scholar doesn't behave well?"