Courier Democrat. (Langdon, N.D.) 1891-1920, 1897-11-18

ing crown rna1 always ATTENDS the ar
| rival Of one Of the ocean steamers. 1T
was dark night, ALSO which rendered
further search quite hopeless.
SO he stepped upon the pier and
turned ut n venture up the first street
that offered for one was as good for
him as another. This one was lighted
with gas and lined with shops. and
crowded with people. 1t was Il busy,
gay, exhilarating scene. at least to
| those who were ut home in it. TO our
boy it was depressing in the extreme.
For in all that endless stream of ami
mated faces there was not one that
smiled upon him. OR even knew him.
He was a stranger in strange land!
Oh! what would he not have given
then. if in that large and crowded city
some little home had been waiting to
welcome him-some kind old aunty or
grandmother had been making tea or
smoothing bed for him. But no-no
such comfort awaited him.
He had seen so many Of his fellow
passengers welcomed with joyous ar
dor by expectant friends. and hurried
away to happy homes; but there was
none to look for him. none to take him
by the hand. none to bid him welcome.
Oh. desolation of desolations; why
had he not thought of all this before?
Here he was at the goal of his desires;
this was the new world: this was New
York: but the excitement that had sus-
tanned him during the voyage failed
him row, through very natural re-
action of the animal spirits, and in
stead of feeling happy. confident and
elated. he felt lonely, frightened and
despairing. He wished himself back
at the ragged school. or with his hard
taskmaster. the fish monger, or with
his old companions of the New Cut; and
then he remembered that three thou
sand miles of the salt sea waves"
rolled between him and them. and
the hero of twelve years old, who had
come to carve out such a magnificent
fortune for himself. sat down under
gas lamp and wept from homesickness
and solitude.
A policeman-that modern provi-
dence Of the streetS-came and asked
him what was the matter.
Il have just landed from an emf
grant ship, and 1 have got no friends
and don't know where to go. l wish l
was back in Westninster-boo-h
WOOL
Have you got any money!
Eyes. SRA shilling"
That's fortune to commence bust
ness With in New York! You see that
house at the corner there" said the
policeman. pointing to tall. old. red,
brick building, the ground floor of
which seemed to be occupied as a
shop
Eyes, Sir" answered the boy drying
his eyes. and feeling a strong impulse
TO embrace his new acquaintance and
swear eternal friendship with him. but
the officer had walked off toward the
ether extremity Of his beat. The boy
picked UP his light bundle and crossed
the street to the house pointed out to
him, and when he reached it, found
that the lower shop was occupied by a
fish and oyster vender. And so quick
ly does the mood OF childhood change,
he laughed aloud at the thought that
passed drought his mind as he en-
tered.
Il ran away from fish monger in
London and sailed three thousand
miles, to fetch up at last with a fish
n.onger in New York"
NV hat 10 you want, DOy: inquired
short, stout, black-haired man. in a
white apron, who stood behind barrel
Of oysters. engaged in opening a spoci-
men one for customer.
Can l lodge here!'
The man jerked his oyster knife
over his right shoulder, thereby indi-
eating a flight Of steps ascending from
tie back Of the shop to the unknown
regions above. The boy followed the
index, and found himself in large
upper room, furnished with benches
around the walls, and half-flled with
those street-ministers Of the head and
feet. the newsboys and bootblacks.
They were a free merry noisy set
some engaged in drinking coffee,
which was dispensed from behind a
large table in the corner by a fat,
motlerly. loking wo nan-and some in
reading tue papersand some in dis
cussirg tGa politics, literature and dra-
ma of the day.
Oar boy went Up to the counter and
got a cup Of coffee. a sausage and
roll, for Which he paid sixpence. and
then again put the inquiry whether he
could have a lodging.