BROOKVILLE.
Though there was plenty of excitement and novelty attending the journey,
Julius and his companions looked forward with eager interest to the hour
when they would reach their destination. Where were they to live, and
what sort of homes would they obtain? These were questions which
naturally arose in the minds of all.
Hour after hour the train sped onward with its living freight. The boys
looked out upon the broad fields, smiling in the sunlight, and
bright-looking villages scattered along the route, and wondered if their
future homes would look anything like them.
At last the moment approached when their curiosity was to be gratified.
“Boys, the next town is Brookville,” said Mr. O’Connor, passing through
the cars.
“Are we goin’ to stop there?” asked Teddy.
“Yes; that is where we get out of the cars.”
Soon a large village came in sight. It was quite thickly settled, and
the streets were broad and regular. The boys could see various public
buildings, besides a large number of dwelling houses. The place looked
quite attractive, and the boys’ faces lighted up with pleasure.
“I say, Teddy,” said Julius, “Brookville’s a nice place.”
“Don’t look much like New York,” said Teddy, dubiously.
“Of course it don’t. The country ain’t like the city, stupid.”
“I guess it’s a pretty good place,” said Teddy. “I hope we’ll live near
each other.”
“I hope so, too; but maybe not. You may live somewhere else.”
“Shan’t we all live here?”
“No; I heard Mr. O’Connor say we’d be scattered around among the towns,
but I’m goin’ to live here.”
“How do you know you are?”
“‘Cause I’ve got a letter to Mr. Taylor’s nephew. He lives in
Brookville.”
“P’rhaps he’ll want two boys.”
“Maybe he will.”
“What’s that?” asked Teddy, as the sound of music was heard.
“It’s a band--don’t you see it?--on the platform. What a crowd of
people!”
“Boys,” said Mr. O’Connor, “that music is for you. The citizens have
come out to welcome you. Now I will tell you what you must do. You will
follow me out of the cars as soon as the train stops, form two by two
on the platform, and then you may swing your hats, and shout, ‘Three
cheers for Brookville!’ Will you do it?”
“All right, sir,” said the boys, eagerly.
They were already within a few rods of the station. Speed was already
slackened, and in a moment the cars had stopped.
“Now, boys, form in line after the other passengers have left the car,”
said the superintendent. “Then follow me.”
His directions were carefully followed, and in five minutes the little
company were drawn up on the platform. Many curious eyes were fixed upon
them by those who had come to meet them, and some were already selecting
those whom they desired to adopt.
“Now, boys,” said the superintendent, when order was obtained, “what
have you to say to the ladies and gentlemen who have been kind enough to
come here to meet you?”
“Three cheers for Brookville!” shouted Tim Shanter, who, it had been
agreed, should act as leader.
The cheers were given with a will, and with such emphasis that it was
clear none of the boys as yet was troubled with weak lungs.
Then the band struck up again, and after they had concluded, one of the
citizens came forward and addressed Mr. O’Connor.
“Mr. O’Connor, I presume?” he said.
“That is my name, sir. You were expecting us?”
“Yes; we received your telegram, and have made arrangements to receive
you. First, however, let me introduce myself. My name is Taylor.”
“Ephraim Taylor?”
“Yes,” said the other, in some surprise.
“You wonder that I know your name,” said Mr. O’Connor. “I met an uncle
of yours while traveling in the State of New York, and he gave one of
our boys a letter to you.”
“Indeed!”
“It was a boy,” exclaimed the superintendent, “who had an opportunity of
being of service to him.”
“In what way, may I ask?”
“He detected a pickpocket in the act of taking your uncle’s gold watch,
and warned him of it. Julius, come here!”
Julius stepped out of the ranks. Mr. Taylor looked at him earnestly.
“I hear that you fell in with my uncle,” he said.
“Yes, sir. He give me a letter for you.”
“Let me see it.”
Julius drew the letter from his pocket and handed it to Mr. Taylor.
The letter read as follows:
“MY DEAR NEPHEW: This will be handed to you by a boy who has done
me a service, the nature of which the superintendent will explain
to you. I do not know how you are situated, or whether you require
the services of a boy. If you do, I think you can’t do better than
to take this one. He is bright, sharp, and, as I have reason to
believe, honest. I shall be glad if he can secure a good home.
Your uncle,
“JOHN TAYLOR.”
Julius had already examined critically the personal appearance of Mr.
Taylor, whom he regarded as his future employer and guardian. His past
life had made him a good and quick observer of character. Street boys,
obliged to fight their way, and struggle for a livelihood, are by their
circumstances made preternaturally sharp. They acquire a judgment and
self-reliance beyond their years, however defective they may be in the
knowledge to be gained from books. Engaged in reading his uncle’s
letter, Mr. Taylor did not notice the keen glance with which Julius
regarded him. But the result was favorable.
“I guess I’ll like him,” said our hero to himself. “He looks like he
might be kind. I hope he’ll take me.”
Mr. Taylor looked up with a smile.
“My uncle wants me to take you, my lad,” he said.
“Will you?” asked Julius.
“What do you say, Mr. O’Connor?” said Mr. Taylor. “Will you intrust this
young man to me?”
“I shall be glad to do so,” said the superintendent. “I will ask you to
leave him with us till to-morrow, however, as applications will not
generally be accepted till then.”
“I have no objection to that. Now let me tell you what arrangements we
have made for your reception. How many children have you in your
company?”
“Fifty-two.”
“It is as I supposed. There are more than can be lodged at our hotel,
which is small. They could receive but twenty there, and the remainder
can be accommodated in a hall we have in the village.”
“I should prefer that they would not be separated. I would rather have
them all under my own eye for to-night,” said the superintendent.
“Very well; then perhaps it will be best for all to be accommodated in
the hall. There are two halls, in fact; and bedding can be placed on the
floor. It won’t be quite so comfortable as it would be at the hotel.”
“Our boys are used to roughing it,” said Mr. O’Connor. “Many a night in
the city they have slept out in old wagons or alleyways. It won’t hurt
them to sleep on the floor.”
“The hall is about half a mile distant. I will lead the way, and you may
get settled at once.”
“Thank you, sir.”
“Tim Shanter, see that the boys walk in line,” said the superintendent.
“I appoint you captain, Mr. Taylor, and I will go on ahead, and you will
follow us.”
So the procession moved through the village, attracting curious glances
from the inhabitants as it passed along. The boys on their side used
their eyes to advantage. They were delighted with the fields of grass,
the trees now in full leaf, the flower-plots in front of some of the
houses, and the singing of the birds. There was not one of them who did
not hope that he would find a home in Brookville.