THE FALL RIVER BOAT.
When Sam left Henry, somehow he felt in lower spirits than before. He
had become attached to his roommate in spite of the difference in
character between them, and Henry's reproaches seemed to throw a new
light upon his conduct. He felt it the more because he was about to
leave him.
"I did treat him mean," he admitted to himself, his conscience
touched, for the first time, perhaps, in years. "I'm glad they
wouldn't let me have any of his money at the bank. I won't act so mean
again."
It is not to be supposed that this repentant mood lasted long. As Sam
neared the wharf from which the Fall River line of steamers left for
Boston, his thoughts were on the journey he was about to take, and his
spirits rose.
The steamer was moored alongside the wharf, perhaps halfway down.
There was a confused mass of trunks, bales and baggage of various
kinds on the pier waiting to be stowed away on board. It was early,
but a few passengers were already on board, and others were passing
over the gang plank at intervals. Sam thought he would go on board,
too, and look about a little. He had never been on board one of these
steamers, and was curious to see the accommodations. He went upstairs,
and found himself in a long and elegantly furnished saloon, with lines
of staterooms on either side. Three passengers were seated on sofas or
in armchairs. Two were engaged in reading an afternoon paper, and the
third, a girl of about fifteen, had her attention absorbed by a bird
cage containing a canary.
She looked up as Sam passed, and asked pleasantly: "Is it almost time
for the boat to start, sir?"
It was the first time Sam had been addressed as "sir," and he felt
flattered.
"I guess not," he said. "There's only a few people on board. I don't
think it'll start for an hour."
"I wish it would go soon," said the girl. "I am in a hurry to get
home."
"Do you live in Boston?" asked Sam.
"Yes; I've been to visit my uncle in Brooklyn, and now I'm going back.
Are you going to Boston, too?"
"Yes," answered Sam.
"Do you live there?"
"No; I never was there."
"I suppose you've got relations there?" said the young lady, in an
inquiring tone.
"No; I'm going on to see if I can't get a place."
The young girl surveyed him with interest.
"Do you have to earn your own living?" she asked.
"Yes."
"You are young to do that."
"Oh, I've had to earn my living ever since I was eleven or twelve."
"You don't mean it. Why, what did you do?"
"I was clerk in a store on Pearl Street," said Sam, who did not care
to mention his previous experience as a bootblack and newsboy.
"Well, I hope you'll get a good place. I've got a brother almost as
old as you, but he'd never think he could earn his own living; his
name is Frank."
"What's his last name?" asked Sam, bluntly.
"Stockton--I am Julia Stockton."
"My name is Sam Barker," said Sam, thinking such confidence ought to
be requited.
"I've got a cousin Sam," Julia remarked, "but I never knew any one of
the name of Barker before."
"Is that your bird?" inquired Sam, by way of prolonging the
conversation.
"Yes; he sings sweetly, sometimes, but I guess he's frightened now.
I'm glad he's with me, it isn't quite so lonely. I never traveled
alone before. Are you used to traveling alone, Mr. Barker?"
"I never traveled much," answered Sam, trying to look dignified, on
first being addressed as Mr. Barker; "but I don't mind being alone."
"That's because you're a boy. Boys can take care of themselves better
than girls. Do you know what time we get to Boston?"
"No, I don't; but I'll inquire," said Sam. "Shall I find you here?"
"Oh, yes, I'll be here."
Sam went down below, and noticed that some were already procuring
tickets at the captain's office. It struck him that he might as well
obtain his. Accordingly he joined the line, and when his turn came
inquired for a ticket.
"Fall River or Boston?" asked the man in charge.
"Boston."
"Five dollars."
"That's pretty steep," thought Sam. "I shall have only twenty dollars
left."
A ticket was handed him, with 159 on it.
"What's that for?" asked Sam.
"It's the number of your berth."
"When will we get to Boston?"
"Between six and seven in the morning."
As Sam turned away he was accosted by a newsboy: "Papers, sir?"
An idea struck Sam. He would get a picture paper for his new
acquaintance. It was probably the first mark of attention he had ever
paid to a girl, but the idea pleased him, and he bought a _Harper's
Weekly_, and carried it upstairs.
He found Miss Julia Stockton sitting where he had left her. She smiled
pleasantly when she saw Sam.
"I bought you a picture paper," he said, feeling a little awkward. "I
thought you might like to read it."
"Oh, thank you. You are very kind. Did you find out when we would
reach Boston?"
"Yes, Miss Julia. We shall get there between six and seven in the
morning."
"That's pretty early. I hope papa will be at the depot waiting."
"At the depot? Does the boat go into a depot?" asked Sam.
Julia laughed. "Oh, no," she said. "Did you think we went all the way
by boat?"
"Yes, I thought so."
"We go the last fifty miles by cars--that is, from Fall River."
"All the better," said Sam. "That will give us a little variety."
Meanwhile, the passengers were pouring in, and the cabin was getting
full.
"I guess I'll go out on deck," said Sam; "I want to see the boat
start."
"I should like to, ever so much."
"Come with me, then. I'll take care of you," said Sam, manfully. "Let
me carry your cage. It's too heavy for you."
So the two went out on deck together.