Mark the Match Boy 11
So Mark thought seriously of breaking his yoke and declaring himself
free and independent. A discovery which he made confirmed him in his
half-formed resolution.
He remembered that after paying his toll he had eight cents left, which
he had placed in his vest-pocket. He thought that these would enable
him to get some breakfast, and drew them out. To his astonishment there
were two silver half-dollars mingled with the coppers. Mark opened his
eyes wide in astonishment. Where could they have come from? Was it
possible that the tollman had given him them by mistake for pennies?
That could not be, for two reasons: First, he remembered looking at
the change as it was handed him, and he knew that there were no
half-dollars among them. Again, the eight pennies were all there, the
silver coins making the number ten.
It was certainly very strange and surprising, and puzzled Mark not a
little. We, who know all about it, find the explanation very easy, but
to the little match boy it was an unfathomable mystery.
The surprise, however, was of an agreeable character. With so much
money in his possession, Mark felt like a man with a handsome balance
at his banker's, and with the usual elasticity of youth he did not look
forward to the time when this supply would be exhausted.
"I won't go back to Mother Watson," he determined. "She's beaten me
times enough. I'll take care of myself."
While these thoughts were passing through his mind, he had walked up
Fulton Street, and reached the corner of Nassau. Here he met his friend
of the night before, Ben Gibson.
Ben looked rather sleepy. He had been at the Old Bowery Theatre the
night before until twelve o'clock, and, having no money left to invest
in a night's lodging, he had crept into a corner of the "Times"
printing office, and slept, but had not quite slept off his fatigue.
"Hallo, young 'un!" said he. "Where did you come from?"
"From Fulton Ferry," said Mark. "I slept on the boat."
"Did you? How'd you like it?"
"Pretty good," said Mark. "It was rather hard."
"How'd you make out begging?"
"Not very well. I got ten cents."
"So you didn't dare to go home to the old woman?"
"I shan't go home there any more," said the match boy.
"Do you mean it?"
"Yes, I do."
"Bully for you! I like your pluck. I wouldn't go back and get a
licking, if I were you. What'll Mother Watson say?"
"She'll be mad, I expect," said Mark.
"Keep a sharp lookout for her. I'll tell you what you can do: stay near
me, and if she comes prowlin' round I'll manage her."
"Could you?" said Mark, quickly, who, from certain recollections, had
considerable fear of his stout tyrant.
"You may just bet on that. What you goin' to do?"
"I think I shall go and get some breakfast," said Mark.
"So would I, if I had any tin; but I'm dead broke,--spent my last cent
goin' to the Old Bowery. I'll have to wait till I've had one or two
shines before I can eat breakfast."
"Are you hungry?"
"I'll bet I am."
"Because," said Mark, hesitating, "I'll lend you money enough for
breakfast, and you can pay me when you earn it."
"You lend me money!" exclaimed Ben, in astonishment. "Why, you haven't
got but eight cents."
"Yes, I have," said Mark, producing the two half-dollars.
"Where'd you get them?" asked the boot-black, in unfeigned surprise,
looking at Mark as if he had all at once developed into an Astor or a
Stewart. "You haven't been begging this morning, have you?"
"No," said the match boy, "and I don't mean to beg again if I can help
it."
"Then where'd you get the money?"
"I don't know."
"Don't know! You haven't been stealin', have you?"
Mark disclaimed the imputation indignantly.
"Then you found a pocket-book?"
"No, I didn't."
"Then where did you get the money?"
"I don't know any more than you do. When I went to sleep on the boat I
didn't have it, but this morning when I felt in my pocket it was there."
"That's mighty queer," said Ben, whistling.
"So I think."
"It's good money, aint it?"
"Try it and see."
Ben tossed up one of the coins. It fell with a clear, ringing sound on
the sidewalk.
"Yes, that's good," he said. "I just wish somebody'd treat me that way.
Maybe it's the vest? If 'tis I'd like to buy it."
"I don't think it's that," said Mark, laughing.
"Anyway you've got the money. I'll borrow twenty cents of you, and
we'll go and get some breakfast."
CHAPTER X.
ON THE WAR PATH.
Ben led the way to a cheap restaurant, where for eighteen cents each
of the boys got a breakfast, which to their not very fastidious tastes
proved very satisfactory.
"There," said Ben, with a sigh of satisfaction, as they rose from the
table, "now I feel like work; I'll pay up that money afore night."
"All right," said Mark.
"What are you goin' to do?"
"I don't know," said Mark, irresolutely.
"You're a match boy,--aint you?"
"Yes."
"Where's your matches?"
"In Mother Watson's room."
"You might go and get 'em when she's out."
"No," said Mark, shaking his head. "I won't do that."
"Why not? You aint afraid to go round there,--be you?"
"It isn't that,--but the matches are hers, not mine."
"What's the odds?"
"I won't take anything of hers."
"Well, you can buy some of your own, then. You've got money enough."
"So I will," said Mark. "It's lucky that money came to me in my sleep."
"That's a lucky boat. I guess I'll go there and sleep to-night."
Mark did as he proposed. With the money he had he was able to purchase
a good supply of matches, and when it became light enough he began to
vend them.
Hitherto he had not been very fortunate in the disposal of his wares,
being timid and bashful; but then he was working for Mother Watson, and
expected to derive very little advantage for himself from his labors.
Now he was working for himself, and this seemed to put new spirit and
courage into him. Then again he felt that he had shaken off the hateful
thraldom in which Mother Watson had held him, and this gave him a
hopefulness which he had not before possessed.
The consequence was that at noon he found that he had earned forty
cents in addition to his investment. At that time, too, Ben was ready
to pay him his loan, so that Mark found himself twenty-two cents better
off than he had been in the morning, having a capital of a dollar and
thirty cents, out of which, however, he must purchase his dinner.
댓글 없음:
댓글 쓰기