We and the World, Part II

We and the World, Part II. (of
II.), by

Juliana Horatia Ewing This eBook is for the use of anyone anywhere at
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Title: We and the World,
Part II. (of II.)
A Book for Boys
Author: Juliana Horatia Ewing
Release Date: April 12, 2006 [EBook #18156]
Language: English
Character set encoding: ISO-8859-1
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THE WORLD,
PART II. ***

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WE AND THE WORLD:
A BOOK FOR BOYS.

PART II.
BY JULIANA HORATIA EWING.

SOCIETY FOR PROMOTING CHRISTIAN KNOWLEDGE,
LONDON: NORTHUMBERLAND AVENUE, W.C. BRIGHTON:
129, NORTH STREET. NEW YORK: E. & J.B. YOUNG & CO.
[Published under the direction of the General Literature Committee.]
WE AND THE WORLD.
CHAPTER I.
"A friend in need is a friend indeed."--Old Proverb.
I have often thought that the biggest bit of good luck (and I was lucky),
which befell me on my outset into the world, was that the man I sat
next to in the railway carriage was not a rogue. I travelled third class to
Liverpool for more than one reason--it was the cheapest way, besides
which I did not wish to meet any family friends--and the man I speak of
was a third-class passenger, and he went to Liverpool too.
At the time I was puzzled to think how he came to guess that I was
running away, that I had money with me, and that I had never been to
Liverpool before; but I can well imagine now how my ignorance and
anxiety must have betrayed themselves at every station I mistook for
the end of my journey, and with every question which I put, as I
flattered myself, in the careless tones of common conversation, I really

wonder I had not thought beforehand about my clothes, which fitted
very badly on the character I assumed, and the company I chose; but it
was not perhaps to be expected that I should know then, as I know now,
how conspicuous all over me must have been the absence of those
outward signs of hardship and poverty, which they who know poverty
and hardship know so well.
I wish I had known them, because then I should have given the man
some of my money when we parted, instead of feeling too delicate to
do so. I can remember his face too well not to know now how much he
must have needed it, and how heroic a virtue honesty must have been in
him.
It did not seem to strike him as at all strange or unnatural that a lad of
my age should be seeking his own fortune, but I feel sure that he
thought it was misconduct on my part which had made me run away
from home. I had no grievance to describe which he could recognize as
grievous enough to drive me out into the world. However, I felt very
glad that he saw no impossibility in my earning my own livelihood, or
even anything very unusual in my situation.
"I suppose lots of young fellows run away from home and go to sea
from a place like this?" said I, when we had reached Liverpool.
"And there's plenty more goes that has no homes to run from," replied
he sententiously.
Prefacing each fresh counsel with the formula, "You'll excuse me," he
gave me some excellent advice as we threaded the greasy streets, and
jostled the disreputable-looking population of the lower part of the
town. General counsels as to my conduct, and the desirableness of
turning over a new leaf for "young chaps" who had been wild and got
into scrapes at home. And particular counsels which were invaluable to
me, as to changing my dress, how to hide my money, what to turn my
hand to with the quickest chance of bread-winning in strange places,
and how to keep my own affairs to myself among strange people.
It was in the greasiest street, and among the most disreputable-looking

people, that we found the "slop-shop" where, by my friend's orders, I
was to "rig out" in clothes befitting my new line of life. He went in first,
so he did not see the qualm that seized me on the doorstep. A revulsion
so violent that it nearly made me sick then and there; and if some one
had seized me by the nape of my neck, and landed me straightway at
my desk in Uncle Henry's office, would, I believe, have left me tamed
for life. For if this unutterable