[Illustration: JOHN WHOPPER IN CHINA, By the _Air-Line_ Route.]
[Illustration: JOHN WHOPPER AT THE NORTH POLE.]
JOHN WHOPPER
THE NEWSBOY.
WITH ILLUSTRATIONS.
BOSTON:
ROBERTS BROTHERS.
1871.
Entered according to Act of Congress, in the year 1870, by
ROBERTS BROTHERS,
In the office of the Librarian of Congress at Washington.
Stereotyped and Printed by
ALFRED MUDGE & SON,
Boston, Mass.
CHAPTER I.
HOW JOHN WHOPPER DISCOVERED THE AIR-LINE TO CHINA.
Two years ago last February, I think it was on a Tuesday morning, I
started as usual very early to distribute my papers. I had a large
bundle to dispose of that day, and thought that if I took a short cut
across the fields, instead of following the road from Roxbury to Jamaica
Plain, I could go my rounds in much less time. I do not care to tell
precisely where it was that I jumped over the fence; but it is a rough,
barren kind of spot, which nobody has ever done any thing to improve.
After walking about a third of a mile, I began to think that I had
better have kept to the turnpike; for I found that I was obliged to
clamber over an uneven, rocky place, among trees and bushes and shrubs,
that grew just thick enough to bother me, so that I hardly knew where to
put my feet. All at once I lost my balance, and felt that I was sliding
down the side of a smooth, steep rock; while underneath, to my horror, I
saw what looked like a circular cave, or well, some five or six feet in
diameter. I tried to grasp the rock with my hands, and ground my heels
as hard as I could against the surface, but it was of no use; down I
slipped, faster and faster, until at last I plunged, feet foremost, into
the dark hole below. For a moment I held my breath, expecting to be
dashed to pieces; and oh, how many things I thought of in that short
minute! It seemed as if every thing that I had ever done came back to
me, especially all the _bad_ things; and how I wished then that I had
lived a better life! I thought, too, of my poor mother and my little
brother and sister at home, and how they would wait breakfast for me
that morning; and how they would keep on waiting and waiting, hour after
hour and day after day; and how the neighbors would all turn out and
search for me; and how I should never be found, and nobody would ever
know what had become of me. And then I wondered whether Mr. Simpson,
who employed me to distribute the papers, would suppose that I had run
away somewhere, to sell them on my own account; and so I went on
thinking and wondering, until it seemed as if there was no end to the
time. And yet I didn't strike the bottom of the cave, but just went on
falling and falling, faster and faster, in the darkness, and sometimes
just grazing the sides, and still not so as to hurt me much. My great
trouble was to breathe; when it occurred to me to lay the sleeve of my
coat across my mouth: and then I found that I could breathe through the
cloth with tolerable ease. After a while, I recovered my senses; and
though I continued to fall on still faster and faster, I experienced no
great inconvenience. How long this continued, I cannot tell; it
appeared to be an age; and I must have been falling for several hours,
when I began to feel as though I was not sinking as fast as I had been;
and after a while, it seemed as if I were rising up, rather than
tumbling down. As I was now able to breathe much more freely than I had
done, I began to think calmly about my condition; and then the thought
flashed across my mind, that perhaps I had passed the centre of the
earth, and was gradually rising to the surface on the other side. This
gave me hope; and when I found that I continued to move slower and
slower, I tried to collect my faculties, so that I might know just what
it would be best to do, if I should be so fortunate as to reach the
other end of the hole into which I had tumbled. At last, looking down,
I saw a little speck of light, like a very faint star; and then, I tell
you, my heart bounded with joy. At this moment it suddenly occurred to
me that it would not do to come out of the hole _feet foremost_; and, by
a tremendous effort, I managed to turn a complete summersault,--what the
boys always called a _somerset_,--which, of course, brought me into the
right position. How thankful I felt that I had been taught to practise
gymnastic exercises at the school in Roxbury! In my present attitude I
couldn't see the bright spot any longer: but, before long, I perceived
that it was growing lighter around me; and I was confident that the time
of my release drew near. I had determined exactly what I would do when
I reached the surface of the earth again; and, accordingly, on the
instant that my head came out of the hole, I grasped the edge with all
my might, and, by another terrible effort, swung myself up into the air,
and leaped upon the ground.
It is impossible to describe the strange thrill that passed over me when
I thus found myself standing on what I knew must be the eastern side of
the globe. As soon as I had fairly recovered the use of my reason, I
began to speculate as to the region of the country into which I emerged.
If I had come directly through the centre of the earth, I knew, of
course, just where I ought to be; but this hardly seemed possible,
considering how short a time it had required for my journey. It then
occurred to me that I was really unable to form any accurate idea of
the number of hours that had elapsed since I left the soil of
Massachusetts; for, before I had fallen a hundred feet, a whole age
appeared to have passed. I knew that it was about six o'clock in the
morning when I started; and, on looking at my watch, I found that it had
stopped at 6.45, owing, as I afterwards ascertained, to the influence of
magnetic currents upon the hair-spring.
The country around was in a high state of cultivation, except in the
immediate vicinity of the spot where I stood. This was rough and barren,
and so situated that the small cavity in the earth from which I had just
been released, would be very likely to escape observation. Thinking that
it might be important for me to be able hereafter to identify the
locality, I took a careful observation of its general bearings, and
twisted together a few of the twigs that grew near the hole, but in such
a manner as would not be likely to arrest attention.
Striking off now at random, I soon found myself in a low, marshy region,
covered with a species of grain unlike any thing I had ever seen before,
but which I concluded must be rice; and then the thought came to me,
that very probably I was in China. After walking for an hour or two, I
reached a rising ground, and saw in the distance an immense city on the
water's edge; which from its position, and resemblance to certain
pictures that I had once seen in Boston, I believed to be Canton.
Refreshing myself with some fruit that grew by the wayside, I started
off in haste, in order, if possible, to reach the city before nightfall.
Just as the sun was setting, I entered what appeared to be one of the
main streets; when, tired and hungry and footsore, I began to think
seriously what I should do to procure food and lodging. Here I was,--a
poor boy in a strange land, unable to address a word to the people
around me, and with only a few cents and two or three bits of paper
currency in my pocket, that could be of no value in that country. _What
was I to do?_ Just then I came to a large and respectable-looking
building; and over the door there was this sign, in good plain
characters:--
"ENGLISH AND AMERICAN COFFEE-HOUSE."
Tears of joy filled my eyes. In an instant, I said to myself, "Your
fortune is made, old fellow! Here you have thirty or forty Boston
newspapers, not twenty-four hours old, strapped around your neck; and I
rather think they will be in some demand in Canton."
With a light heart I now entered the office of the hotel, and threw down
my bundle, with a good, black-leather covering around the papers, so
that it looked like an ordinary piece of luggage, which gave me the
appearance of a regular traveller; then called for a room, and ordered
supper. It was true that I had very little money in my possession,--not
enough, certainly, to pay my bill at the hotel; but no questions were
asked, and I gave myself little concern as to the future. I had a
first-rate appetite, and ate voraciously.
After supper was over, I took my bundle in my hand, and strolled
leisurely into a pleasant and spacious room, where a number of
gentlemen--English and American--were sitting around in groups, some
chatting together, and others reading the London and New York and Boston
papers. Among them I recognized the face of a merchant whom I had seen
several times in State Street; and slinging the strap over my shoulder
in a careless, every-day sort of tone, just as any newsboy would have
done at home, I went up to him and said, "Have the morning papers,
Mister?--'morning papers?'--'Advertiser,' 'Journal,' 'Post,' 'Herald,'
last edition,--published this morning, _only five dollars_!" Everybody
in the room looked up, for I managed, as newsboys generally do, to speak
loud enough to drown every other sound; but no one uttered a word. It
was evident that they thought I was crazy, or something worse; and so I
just cried out again, "Have the morning paper, sir?" at the same time
thrusting a copy of "The Advertiser" into his hand. He looked like an
"Advertiser" kind of man,--well dressed and highly respectable.
Involuntarily his eye glanced at the date,--"Tuesday, Feb. 16, 1867";
and then, in an excited, quivering tone, he said, "Let me look at your
other papers." There was a long table in the centre of the room, which I
approached; and, slowly unfolding my bundle, I laid a few of the papers
wide open in front of the gentlemen, who crowded around in the highest
state of excitement. Still there was dead silence; when one of them
suddenly burst out with the exclamation, "Good heavens! Here is a notice
of the arrival of 'The Golconda' at New York, with a full account of the
cargo, and every thing else correct. Why, this must be genuine!"
One after another followed with a cry of surprise at some news which
they had found; until, in a few minutes, every gentleman in the room was
absorbed in reading the papers, appearing to have entirely forgotten all
about me, and not caring to ask how it was that I had brought them to
China in less than twenty-four hours. After I had stood there whistling
carelessly as long as I thought worth while, I spoke up in a loud
voice, and said, "Well, gentlemen, you seem to be enjoying the news
pretty well. I hope you don't mean to forget to pay for the
papers,--_only five dollars a copy_!"
At this speech every one of them looked at me with a strange expression,
as if they hardly knew whether I was a real human boy or something else;
when the Boston gentleman said, "How on earth did you get these papers
here?" To which I answered very carelessly, "I didn't get them here _on_
earth."
"What do you mean?"
"I will tell you what I mean, and answer your questions, after you have
paid me _five dollars each; and cheap at that, considering_."
"Indeed it is, for me at least," said one of the gentlemen. "What I have
learned from this paper is worth to me, in a business way, thousands of
dollars"; and with that he came forward and put a hundred into my hand,
in the good, solid form of gold-pieces. His example had its effect upon
the others. Instead of the two hundred which I had hoped to receive for
my forty newspapers, I was actually in possession of not less
than--well, I don't care to tell exactly how much, on account of the
income-tax.
"Come, now," said the gentlemen, almost in one breath, "tell us how
these papers came to China."
"I brought them myself."
"When did you leave America?"
"The morning when these papers were printed: but how long ago that was,
I really don't know, as my watch stopped while I was on my voyage; only
I thought it was just as well to call out, as I always used to do at
home, 'Morning paper!' although, perhaps, for all I can tell, they may
be two or perhaps three days old; anyhow, I guess you find them a good
deal fresher than the rest you have got on hand."
Having delivered myself of this somewhat protracted speech, I began
moving towards the door with the air of one who had said every thing
that could reasonably be expected, in reply to the curious inquiries of
my liberal patrons, when the Boston merchant motioned for me to stop,
saying with some severity, "Did you not promise that you would inform
the company how these papers came from America to China in such an
incredibly short period of time, whenever you should have received your
pay for the same?"
"Yes, sir; and I just told you that I brought them over--not exactly
_over_--but--in short, I brought them here."
"You say, 'not exactly _over_'; do you mean by that phrase to be
understood to say that you did not come over land?"
"Your honor has hit my meaning precisely."
"You don't pretend to say that you came by water?"
"Far from it, sir."
"How then, _under the heavens_, did you come?"
"I didn't come under the heavens at all."
"I don't believe," said the irritated gentleman, turning to his
companions, "that the fellow came at all; he must be lying."
All the answer that he received was the rustling of forty newspapers,
bearing the imprint, "February 16, 1867, Boston." There was no getting
over this.
After a pause of several minutes, during which a bright idea entered my
mind, I came forward into the circle, and said, "Well, gentlemen, I want
to see if I can make a good bargain with you; and when that is settled,
I will tell you how I came over--I mean, I will tell you how I got here;
that is, I will tell you _the route_ that I took. If I can arrange for
the delivery in Canton of the New York and Boston daily papers, within
thirty-six hours of the time when they are issued in those cities, will
you all promise to give me your generous patronage?"
"Of course we will," they cried all together.
"Very well; then I pledge myself to appear again in this place one week
from this day, ready to carry out my part of the bargain. And now, in
bidding you good-night, allow me to inform you that I came from America
to China by the _air-line_."
With this I retired at once to my room, and was soon sleeping soundly.
I knew that I should be watched so closely the next day as to make it
impossible for me to escape without detection; and accordingly I got up
an hour or two before daylight; and, having laid upon the table in my
room an amount of money which I supposed would be considered a fair
compensation for my supper and lodging, I tied the sheets together, and
lowered myself down into the then silent and deserted street. It was not
long before I found myself once more in the open country; and looking
carefully for the twisted twigs that I had tied together the afternoon
before, I soon discovered the chasm through which I had made my
remarkable trip to the eastern hemisphere. Taking the precaution to tie
a handkerchief over my mouth in order that I might economize my breath,
I summoned all my courage, and leaped into the hole. My experiences were
precisely the same as they had been in the previous journey; and in
course of a few hours, I found myself standing once more in the
familiar outskirts of Roxbury, and gazing tenderly upon the solemn dome
of Boston State House. As fast as my legs would take me, I rushed to my
poor mother's humble abode, longing to relieve the bitter agony to which
I knew she and my brother and sister must have been subjected during my
absence. It is not worth while for me to describe at length the scene
that ensued when I stood once more in the family circle, with my
mother's arms around my neck, and the young folks bellowing with joy. To
the frantic inquiries that were showered upon me as to what had
happened,--where I had been,--had I had any thing to eat? I coolly
replied that I had not had much to eat; and, if they would give me a
good, substantial supper, I would endeavor to relieve their minds.
"Supper, indeed!" cried my good mother; "why, it's just after sunrise!
You haven't lost your senses, I hope."
"I beg your pardon; but it was about sunrise hours and hours ago, when
I--when I"--and here I faltered, not caring just then to let the whole
family into my secret.
"When you what?" said my mother, looking very anxious.
"Why, when I left Canton," I now answered, very promptly.
"You don't say that you have been to Canton?" she replied, but without
any such show of astonishment as might have been expected.
"Yes, I have, mother. It occurred to me that I could sell my papers to
better advantage there than I could about here; and, indeed, I did, as
you may see." Whereupon I laid in her good old hand such a sum of money
as she had not clasped for many a day.
"Did you get all this money by selling papers in Canton?"
"I did, and a great deal more; which I am going to deposit by and by in
the Savings Bank to your credit."
"There must be an awful demand for papers in Canton."
"There is, mother; and they pay such high prices there, that I am
thinking of setting up a news establishment in the place."
"And did you _walk_ all the way to Canton day before yesterday, my
boy?"
"Then it was day before yesterday morning when I left home? I thought it
was longer ago than that."
"Longer ago! Oh, dear, dear! you are not out of your head, my son?"
"My good mother, I am as sound as you are. Only you know that sometimes,
when we are very much occupied, the time passes quickly; and I have been
quite busy since I left you."
"And did you say that you walked to Canton?"
"No, mother, I didn't walk a step."
"Then you took the Providence cars?"
"Well, mother, it was a kind of a providence car."
[John's statement at once relieved the old lady's mind; but those of our
readers who are not intimately acquainted with the geography of
Massachusetts, may be somewhat puzzled at this. For the information of
foreigners and uneducated people in general, we must mention that there
is a thriving village on the Boston and Providence railroad, about ten
miles from Roxbury, which rejoices in the name of Canton.
It may here be observed, that the young man's mind had got into a kind
of chronological muddle, and the days and nights were mixed up together
in the most miscellaneous manner. We, who are competent to solve any
ordinary problem, furnish our young readers with this explanation. John
left our American soil on Tuesday morning, at or about six o'clock. He
is twelve hours--there or thereabouts--passing through the earth. This
brings him to China also in the morning, as every thing is topsy-turvy
on the other side of the globe. His walk to Canton fills up most of the
day,--_Tuesday night here_. He sleeps in Canton one night. _Wednesday
here_; leaves Canton, _via_ Air-Line, the next morning,--_Wednesday
night here_; and arrives at Jamaica Plain on Thursday morning. Absent
from home forty-eight hours; twenty-four consumed in travelling _via_
Air-Line; twelve in pedestrian excursion through the Kwangtung country
in China; and twelve in pecuniary negotiations and sleep at the British
and American Coffee-House, Canton. This makes every thing clear and
consistent. We would simply remark, that, when John first told us his
singular tale of adventure, we remarked that he seemed to have had a
very small allowance of food, as he ate but one good meal in the whole
forty-eight hours. To which he replied in a rather lofty manner, which
repressed all further comment on our part, that, when the mind was
filled with great thoughts, it didn't require much to sustain the body.
We should like to take John as a boarder. But he is now on his feet
again, and we let him speak for himself.]
"As soon as I found myself alone with my young brother Bob,--a bright
fellow he was, and quick at a bargain,--I told him in strict confidence
the whole story of my adventures, and then laid before him my plans for
the future, in carrying out which plans I should need his co-operation.
"I am now going," said I, "to Mr. Simpson's office, and shall pay him
handsomely for the papers I have sold. I then propose to contract with
him for the New York and Boston daily papers, paying for six months in
advance, to be delivered to you every morning at half-past five o'clock
precisely. At six o'clock you will drop the bundle, carefully made up
and nicely secured, as I shall direct Mr. Simpson, right through the
centre of the hole, to which I will direct you by and by,--always being
very careful to let it fall from your hand at a height of four feet
above the surface of the earth; in which case it will, of course, rise
just four feet _above_ the surface on the other side, and I shall be
able to secure it without difficulty. I will pay you fifteen per cent on
the net profits of the enterprise for the first six months, which ought
to be regarded as a liberal compensation for the small amount of time
that you will be obliged to give to the work.
"Now, Bob, listen to what I am about to say with strict attention. On
every Saturday morning you must delay dropping your bundle for half an
hour; and between six and half-past six o'clock, be on the careful
lookout for a bundle _which I shall send to you_ from the other side.
This will contain my remittance for the week, which I wish you to
deposit to mother's credit in three places, the names of which I give
you on paper. She can then draw from time to time such sums as she may
need.
"I shall remain at home for a few days and arrange to be in China next
Monday evening. On Tuesday morning you will forward the bundle of
papers."
"Are you going to tell mother and sister all about this?" said Bob.
"No: it would only worry them. I shall merely say that I have a great
opening for making money, and shall be obliged to be absent from home
for several months."
"I think," said Bob, chuckling,--Bob labored under the delusion that he
was a wag,--"that it _is_ a great opening, or rather, I might say, a
_lengthy_ opening."
Every thing was duly arranged according to the programme; and, on the
following Monday, I bade adieu for a while to the sweet light of day,--I
don't mean that I said exactly these words as I stood on the edge of the
hole--but that is the way in which it would be expressed in a
book,--and jumped boldly into the dark abyss. In due time I arrived
safely in China, and took lodgings in a small country inn about two
miles off, as I did not care to show myself at the Canton Coffee-House
until I had the papers in my possession.
It was with a somewhat anxious heart that I went to my Air-Line Station,
as I had taken a fancy to call it, on Tuesday evening.