A DAY'S PLEASURING.
As may be supposed, Paul's good-fortune in finding his father was the
topic of conversation during the forenoon following that happy event,
and there was even more excitement regarding it in the news-selling
world than there had been when the fact was first circulated that Ben
and Johnny had embarked in a theatrical enterprise.
Of course the good-fortune that had come to the firm through Paul was
known as soon as the other, and whenever one of the partners passed a
group of merchants in his same line of business, he was sure to be
pointed out as one of the boys who were the happy possessors of a
clear hundred dollars.
As it was quite likely that Paul and his father would come down town
during the day, no one of the merchants knowing of the facts went very
far from the City Hall, lest they should miss the chance of seeing
him. There was a great deal of pride manifested because they had had a
rich man's son among their number, even though it had only been for a
few days; and those who had tried to drive him away during the first
of his attempts to sell papers now tried to show how often they had
befriended him.
Some even allowed such flights to their imaginations that they came to
believe Paul's father would give them money enough to make them all
rich, and they came to think of the five cents which they had spent
for a theatre ticket as just so much money given directly to Paul. But
the boys who had actually received money from Mr. Weston were so much
excited by the wealth which had so suddenly become theirs that they
could do no business at all that day. From the time they had reached
home with the hundred dollars in their pockets they had been in
earnest discussion as to what they should do with their money.
Mopsey had used every argument he could think of to show that it was
not only wise but proper for them to invest it all in their theatre;
and so earnest was he in his attempts to have it so expended that he
took upon himself the excessive labor of figuring the cash result of
ten performances at the same amount of receipts as those of the
previous Saturday, showing that they would receive in return the
amount of their investment and considerably more. But he was unable to
give any reason as to why they should not have as liberal patronage if
they continued their efforts in the same place without any further
outlay of money.
Ben was willing that a small portion of the amount should be spent for
the purchase of a curtain, and for more secure foot-lights; but he
insisted that the greater portion of it should be invested where it
would be safe.
Dickey was of the same opinion as Ben; and he further proposed, since
Mopsey was so anxious to carry out his ideas, that rather than spend
it all on their theatre they should divide the money, so that each
could do with his share as he thought best.
Johnny advised buying or starting a news-stand in some good location,
and this Mrs. Green seemed to think was the most sensible plan of all.
Of course the boys knew that she and Nelly each had a share in the
money, and her advice had great weight with them. But they had come to
no decision when they went to bed that night, and the morning found
them quite as divided in opinion as to what should be done with their
great wealth.
None of the boys, not even Mopsey, had been able to go to work that
day, and the greater portion of the forenoon was spent in City Hall
Square, trying to come to some understanding about their money. As a
matter of course, they remembered what Mr. Weston had said about
rewarding them still further because of what they had done for Paul;
but since it was Ben and Johnny who had really cared for the boy when
he did not know where to go or what to do, they would be the only ones
who would probably be benefited, although Mopsey felt that there was a
great deal yet due him for the theatrical education which he had
bestowed.
While they were still engaged in argument, and with no more prospect
of coming to any agreement in the matter, Mr. Weston and Paul stood
before them, having approached unobserved, because of the exciting
discussion which had occupied their attention to the exclusion of
everything else. Mr. Weston had heard enough of the conversation to
know that the question of what should be done with the money he had
given them was under discussion, and after seating himself on one of
the benches, with the boys all around him, he succeeded in gaining
their confidence so far that they talked unreservedly before him.
When each one had advanced his views on the matter, Mr. Weston agreed
with Dickey that it was better for them to divide it equally, and Paul
figured out to them what each one of the six would have as his
portion.
Then Mr. Weston startled them by an invitation which almost took their
breath away. He said that he could not keep his appointment with them
that evening, because of business matters which would require his
attention, but, instead, he would invite them, as well as Mrs. Green
and Nelly, to go to Coney Island with himself and Paul for a holiday.
Of course there was but one answer to such a proposal, and they
accepted it with the greatest pleasure, agreeing to meet him at the
pier on the following morning.
Then Mr. Weston and Paul went to the steamship office to engage
passage to Europe for the coming Saturday, and the partners went to
startle Mrs. Green and her daughter with the wonderful news. To their
great surprise Mrs. Green, even though she did own one-sixth of the
hundred dollars, decided that she could not afford to close up her
basket-store for the day, even when she had been invited to make one
of the pleasure-party; but she was willing and anxious for Nelly to
go, which was, perhaps, just as well.
Nine o'clock was the time when Mr. Weston had said that he and Paul
would meet the party at the pier; but they, fearing lest they might be
late, had arrived there a little before eight on the following
morning, as full of pleasure as any five children that could have been
found in New York City.
Ben and Johnny presented very nearly the same gorgeous appearance they
had on the night when they first called on Mrs. Green, while Dickey
and Mopsey were attired in costumes that were models of their own idea
of fashion. Nelly, who looked very sweet and modest in her clean
gingham dress, had tried in vain to persuade her friends to go in
their usual working-clothes, rather than put on such a striking array
as they did; but each one of the boys indignantly repelled the idea of
showing so little regard for the gentleman who was to give them so
much pleasure, by not making themselves look as beautiful as possible,
and she could not persuade them to do differently.
It was hardly more than half-past eight when they began to express
their doubts as to whether Mr. Weston would arrive in time to take the
steamer he had designated, and they were fearing lest they should be
disappointed after all, when Paul and his father arrived.
Mopsey was in favor of giving Mr. Weston three cheers as a mark of
their appreciation and admiration, when that gentleman appeared at the
head of the pier, and, finding that his companions objected to it,
would have done all the cheering himself if Ben had not forcibly
prevented him by holding his hand firmly over his mouth.
Paul greeted his friends as warmly as if he had been separated from
them for weeks instead of hours, and then the party went on board the
steamer, feeling that they were justly the observed of all observers.
Mopsey explained everything they saw with a reckless disregard of
accuracy; and if his companions had not known to the contrary, they
would have thought that all his life had been spent on the steamers
running from New York to Coney Island.
It was not until Mr. Weston asked him some question about the theatre
that he laid aside the duties of guide and historian, to launch out in
glowing details of their temple of histrionic art, which must one day
be the resort of the general public. The others quietly enjoyed the
sail, drinking in deep draughts of pleasure from everything around
them excepting Mopsey's loud boasting.
Johnny seemed plunged in an ecstasy of delight, from which he emerged
but once; and then it was to express the wish that he might always be
a passenger on one of these steamers, with no other object than to
enjoy the continual sail.
Nelly and Dickey sat side by side, speaking only at rare intervals,
while Paul and Ben discussed the latter's prospects in life, or spoke
of the wonderful journey which the former was to make in order to
rejoin his mother and sister. As for Mr. Weston, he appeared to find
as much enjoyment in the delight and wonder of his guests as they did
in the sail, and there was every prospect that the holiday would be a
remarkably pleasant one to all.
[Illustration: AT CONEY ISLAND.]
When they landed, and were in the very midst of the pleasure-seeking
crowd, which appeared to have no other aim than enjoyment, their
delight and bewilderment were so great that even Mopsey was silenced,
and could hardly have been induced to talk even if he had been
directly approached on the subject of the theatre, or the new play he
was supposed to be preparing.
After leading the way to one of the hotels, Mr. Weston, thinking that
perhaps his presence was some check upon the full enjoyment of his
guests, told them that they had all better go off by themselves to see
what was new or wonderful, while he remained there until they should
return, cautioning them, however, to come back by dinner-time.
It would be almost impossible to describe all they did or what they
said during that forenoon, when they were indulging in such a day of
pleasure as they never had had before. As Ben afterwards expressed it,
they "saw about everything there was to be seen, an' they scooped in
about as much fun as ever anybody did who went to Coney Island."
Owing to Paul's watchfulness, they were back at the hotel at the time
Mr. Weston had said they would have dinner, and Dickey asked,
wonderingly, as they entered, and Paul looked around for his father,
"Are we goin' to eat here, jest as if we was reg'lar folks?"
"Of course we are," said Paul, decidedly; "we're all going to sit
down to the table with father, and have just as good a dinner as we
can get."
Dickey had nothing more to say; he was overwhelmed with the idea of
acting like "reg'lar folks," and after that nothing could have
astonished him.
Mr. Weston had engaged a private dining-room, in order that his guests
might feel more at their ease if they were alone than if they went
into the public dining-room. The boys and Nelly seated themselves at
the table with as much solemnity as if they were participating in some
very important ceremony, opening their eyes wide with astonishment as
the waiter brought on the different courses, but never neglecting to
do full justice to everything that was set before them.
Mr. Weston did all he could to make the dinner seem less formal; but
he did not succeed until after the roast chickens were put on the
table and the servant left the room. Then, when they were alone, and
with three whole chickens before them, their tongues seemed suddenly
to have been loosened, and they talked as fast as the most fun-loving
host could have asked for, until each one's plate was piled high with
chicken and vegetables, when they relapsed again into silent activity.
That visit, and more especially that dinner, was a new experience in
their lives, and one which they could never forget. They ate until it
seemed impossible they could eat any more, and even then Dickey
succeeded in disposing of an extra piece of pie, together with some
nuts and raisins. After the meal was ended, and before they started
out again to take one more look at all that was strange around them,
Mr. Weston said, as he handed Dickey and Mopsey each five dollars, and
Nelly ten,
"I want to return to some of you the money you paid for Paul's
railroad ticket. Nelly has her mother's share as well as her own."
"But we didn't pay so much as this," said Dickey, in evident
perplexity. "It only cost fourteen dollars in all."
"That comes near enough to the amount," replied Mr. Weston, "and you
will oblige me by thinking that you have simply had returned to you
the money you paid out. As for Ben and Johnny, who took charge of Paul
when he was sadly in need of some one's care, I have got what I hope
will be a pleasant surprise in store for them; and if they will come
to the hotel at nine o'clock in the morning, Paul and I will show them
what it is."
There was very little opportunity for any one to make a reply, for as
Mr. Weston spoke he arose from the table, and then added,
"Now go and see all that you can until five o'clock, and then we will
start for home."
It was a tired party who landed in New York quite early that evening,
some going to Mrs. Green's and two to the hotel; but they were quite
as happy as they were weary, and had had such a day of enjoyment as
they had never even dreamed of before, which could be set down to the
credit of the kind act of befriending a homeless boy.