The Adventures of a Boy Reporter | Page 6

afternoon. His uncle was
there waiting for him, and was nearly beside himself with
apprehension.
"I was about to send out a general alarm for you, at the police station,"
he said. "How did you happen to go away?"
"Oh, I was so very tired of staying in the house," said Archie, "and I
felt sure that I could find my way back without getting lost at all. And

to-morrow I'm sure I can get along all right, Uncle Henry, so you
needn't bother with me at all, unless you want to."
And it so happened that Mr. Kirk was very busy the next day, and
would have found it quite impossible to show Archie about. So it was
fortunate that he was able to go everywhere alone, or he would have
had to return home without seeing anything at all of the city.
As it was, he went here, there, and everywhere, and saw a great deal of
the city, the people, and the way in which they lived. The entire place
had a strange fascination for him, and all the time he was thinking how
glad he would be to live where he could see all this rush of business,
this varied life, every day. And he fully determined to return some day
and get something to do, so that he might work himself up, and come to
own one of the handsome houses on the avenues, or drive one of the
elegant carriages on the boulevard. And he observed every boy who
passed him, and talked with several of them, trying to find out whether
positions were easy to secure, and whether they paid much when they
were secured.
So when they took the four o'clock train for home, and arrived at
Archie's house in time for supper, he told more about the city boys and
their work than about the tall buildings, the Brooklyn Bridge, or the
Central Park. He talked so much, in fact, about the delights of the city
boy, and the money he earned, that after he had gone to bed Mrs. Dunn
took her brother aside and talked with him concerning Archie's future.
And between them they definitely decided that Archie must not go to
the city to work.
CHAPTER III
.
ARCHIE DETERMINES TO GO TO THE CITY TO WORK--
LEAVING HOME AT NIGHT.
ARCHIE DUNN was not more ambitious than many other boys of his
age, but he possessed one quality which is not developed in every boy,
determination. Once Archie decided upon doing a thing, once he had
made up his mind that it was truly a good thing to do, nothing could
keep him from putting his plans into action, and making an effort, at
least, to accomplish his ends. Most boys of seventeen have not decided
what they want to become when they are men, and, until his visit to the

city, Archie was equally at sea concerning his future. He knew, of
course, that he wanted to be rich and famous, but when he tried to think
up some suitable profession which would bring him these possessions,
he was never able to decide.
The two days in the city with Uncle Henry had opened to his boyish
mind a new world, and when he returned to the humble home
surrounded by gardens, he felt that he would never be satisfied to live
and work in this small town. There was now no question in his mind
but what the city was the place for any one who wished to become
either rich or famous. It would certainly be impossible for him to make
a name for himself in this village, while in the city he would have every
opportunity for improving himself, and advancing himself in every way.
He wondered, indeed, that he had never thought of going to New York
before, and was disgusted with himself when he thought of the time he
had wasted here at home.
But there was no use in thinking of the past. The thing to do now was
to get to the city as quickly as possible, for to Archie every day seemed
precious, and each delay kept him further from the consummation of
his hopes. It never occurred to the boy that his mother might have
objections to his leaving home. She had always been very ambitious for
his future, and he supposed that she would be delighted at the idea of
having her boy in the great city, where he would have innumerable
chances for improving himself. So when they sat on the front porch,
one evening, and he told her of his plan, he was surprised to hear his
mother pleading with him to remain at home. "Archie," she said, "I am
almost sure you will come to