Ragged Dick | Page 3

afraid he swore sometimes, and now and then
he played tricks upon unsophisticated boys from the country, or gave a
wrong direction to honest old gentlemen unused to the city. A
clergyman in search of the Cooper Institute he once directed to the
Tombs Prison, and, following him unobserved, was highly delighted
when the unsuspicious stranger walked up the front steps of the great
stone building on Centre Street, and tried to obtain admission.
"I guess he wouldn't want to stay long if he did get in," thought Ragged
Dick, hitching up his pants. "Leastways I shouldn't. They're so precious
glad to see you that they won't let you go, but board you gratooitous,
and never send in no bills."
Another of Dick's faults was his extravagance. Being always
wide-awake and ready for business, he earned enough to have
supported him comfortably and respectably. There were not a few
young clerks who employed Dick from time to time in his professional
capacity, who scarcely earned as much as he, greatly as their style and

dress exceeded his. But Dick was careless of his earnings. Where they
went he could hardly have told himself. However much he managed to
earn during the day, all was generally spent before morning. He was
fond of going to the Old Bowery Theatre, and to Tony Pastor's, and if
he had any money left afterwards, he would invite some of his friends
in somewhere to have an oyster-stew; so it seldom happened that he
commenced the day with a penny.
Then I am sorry to add that Dick had formed the habit of smoking. This
cost him considerable, for Dick was rather fastidious about his cigars,
and wouldn't smoke the cheapest. Besides, having a liberal nature, he
was generally ready to treat his companions. But of course the expense
was the smallest objection. No boy of fourteen can smoke without
being affected injuriously. Men are frequently injured by smoking, and
boys always. But large numbers of the newsboys and boot-blacks form
the habit. Exposed to the cold and wet they find that it warms them up,
and the self-indulgence grows upon them. It is not uncommon to see a
little boy, too young to be out of his mother's sight, smoking with all
the apparent satisfaction of a veteran smoker.
There was another way in which Dick sometimes lost money. There
was a noted gambling-house on Baxter Street, which in the evening
was sometimes crowded with these juvenile gamesters, who staked
their hard earnings, generally losing of course, and refreshing
themselves from time to time with a vile mixture of liquor at two cents
a glass. Sometimes Dick strayed in here, and played with the rest.
I have mentioned Dick's faults and defects, because I want it
understood, to begin with, that I don't consider him a model boy. But
there were some good points about him nevertheless. He was above
doing anything mean or dishonorable. He would not steal, or cheat, or
impose upon younger boys, but was frank and straight-forward, manly
and self-reliant. His nature was a noble one, and had saved him from all
mean faults. I hope my young readers will like him as I do, without
being blind to his faults. Perhaps, although he was only a boot-black,
they may find something in him to imitate.
And now, having fairly introduced Ragged Dick to my young readers, I

must refer them to the next chapter for his further adventures.
CHAPTER II
JOHNNY NOLAN
After Dick had finished polishing Mr. Greyson's boots he was fortunate
enough to secure three other customers, two of them reporters in the
Tribune establishment, which occupies the corner of Spruce Street and
Printing House Square.
When Dick had got through with his last customer the City Hall clock
indicated eight o'clock. He had been up an hour, and hard at work, and
naturally began to think of breakfast. He went up to the head of Spruce
Street, and turned into Nassau. Two blocks further, and he reached Ann
Street. On this street was a small, cheap restaurant, where for five cents
Dick could get a cup of coffee, and for ten cents more, a plate of
beefsteak with a plate of bread thrown in. These Dick ordered, and sat
down at a table.
It was a small apartment with a few plain tables unprovided with cloths,
for the class of customers who patronized it were not very particular.
Our hero's breakfast was soon before him. Neither the coffee nor the
steak were as good as can be bought at Delmonico's; but then it is very
doubtful whether, in the present state of his wardrobe, Dick would have
been received at that aristocratic restaurant, even if his means had
admitted of paying the high prices there charged.
Dick had