BEN TRANSFORMED.
Ben worked away steadily at his double occupation, saving money as well
as he could; but he met with no more profitable adventures. His earnings
were gradual. Some weeks he laid by as much as a dollar and a half, or
even two dollars, but other weeks he barely reached a dollar. So the end
of March came before he was able to carry out the object which he had in
view.
One morning about this time Ben carefully counted up his deposits, and
found they amounted to fifty dollars and thirty-seven cents. It was a
joyful moment, which he had long looked forward to. He had been tempted
to rest satisfied with forty when he had reached that sum, but he
resisted the temptation.
"I aint goin' to do things by halves," he said to himself. "I can't do
it for less'n fifty dollars. I must wait awhile."
But the moment had arrived when he could accomplish his purpose. As Ben
looked down at his ragged attire, which was in a considerably worse
condition then when he was first presented to the reader, he felt that
it was high time he got a new suit.
The first thing to be done was to get his money. He made his way to the
savings-bank, and presented himself at the counter.
"I want all of my money," he said.
"I hope you're not going to spend it all," said the bank officer, who by
this time had come to feel acquainted with Ben, from his frequent calls
to make deposits.
"I'm goin' to buy some new clothes," said Ben. "Don't I look as if I
needed some?"
"Yes, you are rather out at elbows, I must admit. But new clothes won't
cost all the money you have in the bank."
"I'm goin' home to my friends," said Ben, "after I've got dressed
decently."
"That's a good resolution, my boy; I hope you'll stick to it."
"It's what I've been workin' for, for a long time," said Ben.
He filled out the order for the money, and it was delivered to him.
The next thing was to buy a new suit of clothes. Usually Ben had
procured his outfit in Chatham Street, but he soared higher now. He made
his way to a large ready-made clothing warehouse on Broadway, and
entered. The main apartment was spacious, the counters were heaped with
articles of dress, and numerous clerks were ready to wait upon
customers.
"Well, what's wanted?" asked one, glancing superciliously at the ragged
boy entering.
"Have you got any clothes that will fit me?" asked Ben.
"I guess you've lost your way, Johnny, haven't you?"
"What makes you think so?" asked Ben.
"This isn't Chatham Street."
"Thank you for the information," said Ben. "I thought it was when I saw
you here."
There was a laugh, at the clerk's expense, among those who heard the
retort.
"What are you here for, any way?" demanded the clerk, with an air of
insulted majesty.
"To buy some clothes," said Ben; "but you needn't show 'em to me. I'll
go to somebody else."
"Have you got any money?"
"You'll know soon enough."
He went to another part of the store, and applied to a salesman whose
appearance he liked better. After some hesitation, Ben made choice of a
suit of substantial warm cloth, a dark mixed sack-coat, vest of the same
material, and a pair of pants of neat pattern.
"I won't trouble you to send 'em," said Ben, "as my house is closed for
the season."
The bundle was made up, and handed to him. The price of the entire suit
was twenty dollars, which was a good price for those days. Ben took the
bundle under his arm and went out.
His purchases were not yet all made. He went next to a furnishing store,
and bought three shirts, three pairs of stockings, some collars, and a
necktie, finishing up with a pair of gloves. These cost him eight
dollars. A neat felt hat and a pair of shoes, which he procured
elsewhere, completed his outfit. On counting up, Ben found that he had
expended thirty-six dollars, leaving in his hands a balance of fourteen
dollars and thirty-seven cents.
Before putting on his new purchases, Ben felt that he must go through a
process of purification. He went, therefore, to a barber's basement
shop, with which baths were connected, and, going down the steps, said
to the barber's assistant, who happened to be alone at the time, "I want
a warm bath."
"Pay in advance," said the young man, surveying the ragged figure before
him with some hesitation.
"All right," said Ben. "How much is it?"
"Twenty-five cents."
"Here it is," said Ben, producing the exact amount from his vest-pocket.
Such ragged customers were not usual; but there seemed to be no good
excuse for refusing Ben, as he had the money to pay. In five minutes the
bath was declared to be ready, and Ben, entering the small room assigned
to him, joyfully divested himself of the ragged garments which he was
never again to put on, and got into the tub. It probably will not excite
surprise when I say that Ben stood in need of a bath. His street life
had not been particularly favorable to cleanliness, nor had he been
provided with such facilities for attending to his toilet as are usual
in well-regulated families. However, he was quite aware of his
deficiencies in this way, and spared neither pains nor soap to remedy
them. It was a work of time; but finally he felt satisfied with the
result of his efforts, and, after drying himself, proceeded to put on
his new clothes. They proved to fit excellently. Indeed, they wrought
such a change in our hero's appearance that he could hardly believe in
his own identity when he stood before the glass, and saw reflected the
form of a well-dressed boy, in place of the ragged figure which he saw
on entering. The only thing which marred his good appearance was his
hair, which had grown to undue length. He determined to have it cut
before he left the barber's shop.
He tied up the clothes he had taken off in the paper which had contained
his new suit, and, opening the door, went out into the main room with
the bundle under his arm.
Meanwhile the proprietor of the shop had returned.
"Who is taking a bath?" he asked of his assistant.
"A ragged street boy," said the latter.
"What did you let him in for?"
"He paid in advance."
"I don't care about such customers any way," said the barber. "Remember
next time."
"All right."
At this moment Ben made his appearance; but that appearance was so much
altered that the young man looked at him in astonishment. He looked
thoroughly well dressed, and might have passed readily for the scion of
a wealthy family.
"Were two bath-rooms occupied?" asked the proprietor.
"No."
"I thought you said--"
"I was never so surprised in my life," said the assistant. "Did you get
changed in the bath?" he asked of Ben.
"Yes," said Ben.
"What made you wear such a ragged suit?"
"I was in disguise," said Ben; "but I've got tired of it, and thrown it
off. I think I'll have my hair cut."
"Take a seat," said the proprietor. "I'll cut your hair myself. How will
you have it cut?"
"I want to be in the fashion," said Ben. "Make it look as well as you
can."
He took his seat, and the task commenced. The barber was skilful in his
art, and he saw at once what style would become Ben best. He exerted
himself to the utmost, and when at the end of half an hour he withdrew
the cloth from around our hero's neck, he had effected a change almost
marvellous in Ben's appearance.
I have already said that Ben was naturally good-looking. But even good
looks need fair play, and rags and neglect are apt to obscure the gifts
of nature. So Ben had never looked his best till now. But when his hair
was cut and arranged, and he looked in the mirror to observe the
effect, he was himself surprised. It was some like the change that
transformed Cinderella into a princess.
"I shan't be ashamed to tell my cousin who I am now," he said.