THE NEWSBOYS' LODGING HOUSE.
When Mother Watson had turned the corner, Mark breathed a sigh of
relief.
"Don't you think she'll come back again?" he asked anxiously of Ben
Gibson.
"No," said Ben, "she's scared of the copp. If she ever catches you
alone, and tries to come any of her games, just call a copp, and she'll
be in a hurry to leave."
"Well," said Mark, "I guess I'll try to sell the rest of my matches. I
haven't got but a few."
"All right; I'll try for another shine, and then we'll go and have some
dinner. I'd like to get hold of another greeny."
Mark started with his few remaining matches. The feeling that he was
his own master, and had a little hoard of money for present expenses,
gave him courage, and he was no longer deterred by his usual timidity.
In an hour he had succeeded in getting rid of all his matches, and he
was now the possessor of two dollars and seventy-five cents, including
the money Ben Gibson owed him. Ben also was lucky enough to get two
ten-cent customers, which helped his receipts by twenty cents. Ben,
it may be remarked, was not an advocate of the one-price system.
He blacked boots for five cents when he could get no more. When he
thought there was a reasonable prospect of getting ten cents, that was
his price. Sometimes, as in the case of the young man from the rural
districts, he advanced his fee to twenty-five cents. I don't approve
Ben's system for my part. I think it savors considerably of sharp
practice, and that fair prices in the long run are the best for all
parties.
The boys met again at one o'clock, and adjourned to a cheap underground
restaurant on Nassau Street, where they obtained what seemed to them a
luxurious meal of beefsteak, with a potato, a small plate of bread, and
a cup of what went by the name of coffee. The steak was not quite up
to the same article at Delmonico's, and there might be some reasonable
doubts as to whether the coffee was a genuine article; but as neither
of the boys knew the difference, we may quote Ben's familiar phrase,
and say, "What's the odds?"
Indeed, the free and easy manner in which Ben threw himself back in his
chair, and the condescending manner in which he assured the waiter that
the steak was "a prime article," could hardly have been surpassed in
the most aristocratic circles.
"Well, Mark, have you had enough?" asked Ben.
"Yes," said Mark.
"Well, I haven't," said Ben. "I guess I'll have some puddin'. Look
here, Johnny," to the colored waiter, "just bring a feller a plate of
apple dump with both kinds of sauce."
After giving this liberal order Ben tilted his chair back, and began to
pick his teeth with his fork. He devoted himself with assiduity to the
consumption of the pudding, and concluded his expensive repast by the
purchase of a two-cent cigar, with which he ascended to the street.
"Better have a cigar, Mark," he said.
"No, thank you," said the match boy. "I think I'd rather not."
"Oh, you're feared of being sick. You'll come to it in time. All
business men smoke."
It is unnecessary to dwell upon the events of the afternoon. Mark was
satisfied with the result of his morning's work, and waited about with
Ben till the close of the afternoon, when the question came up, as to
where the night should be passed.
"I guess we'd better go to the Lodge," said Ben. "Were you ever there?"
"No," said Mark.
"Well, come along. They'll give us a jolly bed, all for six cents, and
there's a good, warm room to stay in. Then we can get breakfast in the
mornin' for six cents more."
"All right," said Mark. "We'll go."
The down-town Newsboys' Lodging House was at that time located at
the corner of Fulton and Nassau Streets. It occupied the fifth and
sixth stories of the building then known as the "Sun" building, owned
by Moses S. Beach, the publisher of that journal. In the year 1868
circumstances rendered it expedient to remove the Lodge to a building
in Park Place. It is to be hoped that at some day not far distant the
Children's Aid Society, who carry on this beneficent institution, will
be able to erect a building of their own in some eligible locality,
which can be permanently devoted to a purpose so praiseworthy.
Ben and Mark soon reached the entrance to the Lodge on Fulton Street.
They ascended several flights of narrow stairs till they reached the
top story. Then, opening a door at the left, they found themselves in
the main room of the Lodge. It was a low-studded room of considerable
dimensions, amply supplied with windows, looking out on Fulton and
Nassau Streets. At the side nearest the door was a low platform,
separated from the rest of the room by a railing. On this platform
were a table and two or three chairs. This was the place for the
superintendent, and for gentlemen who from time to time address the
boys.
The superintendent at that time was Mr. Charles O'Connor, who still
retains the office. Probably no one could be found better adapted to
the difficult task of managing the class of boys who avail themselves
of the good offices of the Newsboys' Home. His mild yet firm manner,
and more than all the conviction that he is their friend, and feels a
hearty interest in their welfare, secure a degree of decorum and good
behavior which could hardly be anticipated. Oaths and vulgar speech,
however common in the street, are rarely heard here, or, if heard, meet
with instant rebuke.
The superintendent was in the room when Ben and Mark entered.
"Well, Ben, what luck have you had to-day?" said Mr. O'Connor.
"Pretty good," said Ben.
"And who is that with you?"
"Mother Watson's nephew," said Ben, with a grimace.
"He's only joking, sir," said Mark. "My name is Mark Manton."
"I am glad to see you, Mark," said the superintendent. "What is your
business?"
"I sell matches, sir."
"Have you parents living?"
"No, sir; they are both dead."
"Where have you been living?"
"In Vandewater Street."
"With any one?"
"Yes, with a woman they call Mother Watson."
"Is she a relation of yours?"
"No, sir," said Mark, hastily.
"What sort of a woman is she?"
"Bad enough, sir. She gets drunk about every day and used to beat me
with a strap when I did not bring home as much money as she expected."
"So you have left her?"
"Yes, sir."
"Have you ever been up here before?"
"No, sir."
"I suppose you know the rules of the place."
"Yes, sir; Ben has told me."
"You had better go and wash. We shall have supper pretty quick. Have
you any money?"
"Yes, sir."
Mark took out his hoard of money, and showed it to the superintendent,
who was surprised at the amount.
"How did you get so much?" he asked.
"Part of it was given me," said Mark.
"What are you going to do with it? You don't need it all?"
"Will you keep it for me, sir?"
"I will put as much of it as you can spare into the bank for you. This
is our bank."
He pointed to a table beside the railing on the outside. The top of
it was pierced with narrow slits, each having a number attached. Each
compartment was assigned to any boy who desired it, and his daily
earnings were dropped in at the end of the day. Once a month the bank
was opened, and the depositor was at liberty to withdraw his savings if
he desired it. This is an excellent arrangement, as it has a tendency
to teach frugal habits to the young patrons of the Lodge. Extravagance
is one of their besetting sins. Many average a dollar and over as
daily earnings, yet are always ragged and out at elbows, and often are
unsupplied with the small price of a night's lodging at the Home. The
money is squandered on gambling, cigars, and theatre-going, while the
same sum would make them comfortable and independent of charity. The
disposition to save is generally the first encouraging symptom in a
street boy, and shows that he has really a desire to rise above his
circumstances, and gain a respectable position in the world.
Ben, who had long frequented the Lodging House off and on, led the
way to the washing-room, where Mark, to his satisfaction, was able to
cleanse himself from the dust and impurity of the street. At Mother
Watson's he had had no accommodations of the kind, as the old lady was
not partial to water either internally or externally. He was forced to
snatch such opportunities as he could find.
"Now," said Ben, "we'll go into the gymnasium."
A room opposite the main room had been fitted up with a few of the
principal appliances of a gymnasium, and these were already in use by
quite a number of boys.
Mark looked on, but did not participate, partly from bashfulness, and
partly because he did not very well understand the use of the different
appliances.
"How do you like it?" asked Ben.
"Very much," said Mark, with satisfaction. "I'm glad you brought me
here."
"I'll show you the beds by and by," said Ben.
The rooms on the floor below were used for lodging. Tiers of neat beds,
some like those in a steamboat or a hospital, filled a large room.
They were very neat in appearance, and looked comfortable. In order to
insure their continuing neat, the superintendent requires such as need
it to wash their feet before retiring to bed.
The supper was of course plain, but of good quality and sufficient
quantity.
About nine o'clock Mark got into the neat bed which was assigned
him, and felt that it was more satisfactory even than the cabin of a
Brooklyn ferry-boat. He slept peacefully except towards morning, when
he dreamed that his old persecutor, Mother Watson, was about to apply
the dreaded strap. He woke up terrified, but soon realized with deep
satisfaction that he was no longer in her clutches.