The Montgomery advertiser., 1902-12-28
WHEN LUTHER CAME TO TOWN.
A Tale of Four Adventurous New 1 Hampshire Boys.

New York Sun.
 This is a true story about a boy-a
 Little boy (with a big L) from New Hampshire-and a wicked cabman. 1t is many years ago since the boy was little,
 but he is Little yet: if the wickedness of the cabman had increased as ias the wisdom and usefulness of theb oy, he
 probably Is beyond the reach of MT. Jerome, laboring behind bars, or pos sibly, stoking unsuitable furnaces with coals of sulphur, regardless of the eight hour law or the prevailing rate of wages.
 In the summer of 1876 four boys in New Hampshire who had read the news papers, resolved to gratify their curiosity aroused in them by the publicity given to the International Centennial Exposi- ton at Philadelphia. They pooled their interests and their purses and deter mined to see the show.
 None of these boys were large. Two of them were little-or Littles-Little brothers. None of them had seen any town bigger than Boston. Like most other boys they had read many books of downright fiction and some newspa- pers of more or less upright fiction. One of them, nevertheless, has since becme New Hampshire's Secretary of State holds the job today, in fact. 2
 The literature assimilated by these young Americang somehow inspired their imaginations with fear. They had become pretty thoroughly convinced. before they ventured out of Concord, and far from the shadow of Frank Pierce's statue. that to reach Philadelphia they would incur many risks in attempting to get through New York City without parting with their moral and material assets. But being New Hampshire born they were tolerably courageous boys.
 The excursion tickets of the four ad- venturers required that they should reach New York by the Fall River Line. Leaving Concord early in the morning and enjoying part of me day in Boston, with which they were not unacQuainted they began to realize common concern about the future soon after their steamer had began her trip down the Sound. A long and solemn council was held in an obscure corner of the main deck and all conceivable contingencies suggested by diligent study of the perils of New York were considered.
 Many possible traps for the unwary were talked over, and joint action to avoid them was agreed upon. The boy who has since become Secrstary of State and who appears to have been, of the four. the most keenly alive to the dam gers of the great and unknown city. had come prepared for the worst that might happen, for he had stuffed into his trous- CTS pocket a 22-caltore pistol, a weapon he had found to be always alarming and sometimes fatal to chipmunks.
 It was soon after sun-up next morning that the four set foot for the first time upon Manhattan. Tn lne obscurity of the shed of the Fall River pier they held last consultation. But the problem of how to get to the Pennsylvania ferry without revealing their "newness" was still unsolved whsn they emerged to try their fortunes upon perilous Wall Street. They hadn't any idea about where the Pennsylvania ferry was. and they had considered the danger of ask ing to be directed. That revelation of ignorance, they were sure, might undo them.
 Something in their manner and per- haps a reference to his own business ex- perience directed to them the attention of a man of rubicund countenance who stood squarely in their way and startled them with the salutation:
 Hello, b'ys: where yer going?"
 The Little boys and the other little boys looked at the man and at each other. Across four suspicious faces flashed the conviction that 1t was none of the busi- ness of this man with the red face to know where four boys from New Hamp- shire were going. This was the very man they had dreaded to meet. the monster lying In wait for unsophistIcated victims.
 To be sure. though, the voice was not and the greeting had a cheer full sound. The spokesman for the boys to answer, when the question was repeated. that they were going to 
 'oh, that's 1t. Got yo1r tickets? Let's see 'em."
 He held out hls hand. The boys knew they ought to have known better. but something like authority in the manner of the ruddy man with badge upon his dusty breast led them with one ac- cord to fish ints their clothes for their tickets, which the man carefully collect ed and read,
 ''Them's all right" he declared, after the fourth ticket had been passed over to him. Now you b'ys get right into this carriage and I'll take ysu to yer ferry"
 The four boys. although .reen, knew that 1t cost money to ride in New York cabs.
 How far is it to the ferry?" asked the biggest boy.
 "Oh! a long way off You'd never get yer train if I didn't drive you there in hurry"
 How much does it cost?" was the next trsmulous inquiry.