Year: 1864

Well, suppose this is free seat" said
Joe Blake dropping down by the Reservoir
fence that fronts on Fifth avenue, at guess
TIL just rest bit dear me. what dogs life
l do live anyhow, what witn scolding and
hard work, aud not half enough to eat at that.
I wish had never been born, l do"


A gay throng of carriages with liveried
coachmen and gaily dressed ladies. and chill
dren were passing up and down from Central
Park, and Joe continued his soliIoquy.


"Just see there now it is mighty easy be-
ing good when a fellow lives like that see
that fellow driving his pony carriage as big as
anybody, and there is another one not bit
better than me in the cutest little basket car
riage and pretty little girl with him, that
suppose is his sister. They haint nothing to
do but to ride around, with lots of money in
their pockets and here sets a poor ragged,
barefooted chap without a red cent Now If
that is right can't see it," said Joe, shaking
his head slowly " The teacher at that mis-
sion school last Sunday. said God is every
where and sees all we do; if that is so, 1
wonder Why he let's some of US have such
heaps of trouble" ..-..... -.,.-, F.,


g Halloa, Ned, here is parson Joe. Do
you know be has turned saint and goes to
Sunday school" said stout, coarse looking
boy that just turned the corner.


'I wish had, there is need enough of il" !"
said Joe soberly.


What is the use,'' said Dick, with laugh,
being good won't help US any we may as
well cruise around, and take all the comfort
we can"


Comfort, that is just what l am looking
for, and want to be sure and get on the
right track" said Joe.


Looking out for number one. is the only
way / know. Do you see that splendid
brown stone front down there" and Dick
pointed down the avenue a little way. Well,
that chap made his money by stealing"


Stealing !" said Joe, opening his eyes in
wonder.


"Yes, 1 reckon it amt anything else to
cheat man out of all he's got, is it? ex-
claimed Dick, and then folks think just as
much of him as if be had done something for
his couatry tell you it don't make much
difference what fellow does, if has plenty of
the ready to cover it over with. Being poor
is the greatest crime there is now days"


{" May be So" replied Joe, slowly, +" if there
wasn't any God, and we hadn't got to die and
answer for it all; the man at the mission
school told US all about it last Sunday, and 1
can't help thinking about it all the time"


We'll, 1 amt going to bother my head
about that" said Dick, carelessly, al don't
think shall die right Off"


"But we know we have got to die some
time, and is just as likely to be tomorrow as
any, so L guess it is as well to be ready"


9 aWhy that Sunday school has made you
as blue as indigo, Joe, what is the use ?" and
Dick Duncan moved off, whistling for his
comrades, not at all pleased with the turn the
talk had taken.


Joe sat awhile and thought over the events
ofhis past life; he tried hard to remember
something about his mother, but he only had
vague sort of idea that she was very good,
and beautiful; his father he never cared to think
Of for he was drunkard, so that when he
died, and Joe and his little sister came to
live with an aunt, he could not mourn for in
reality they we're better of than they had
been for a long while, although his aunt was
poor, and little cross sometimes.


g I wonder" thought Joe, if Aunt Han
nah will let Elsie and l go to that Sunday
, shool. don't care what the boys say,
won't be laughed out of it 1 will ask her
! aay how"


, Full of his new project Joe started fol
bme on a run, and much to his aunt's aston
}. lament bounded into the room quite out O.
! heath.


], So you've come, eh didn't look fol
3 pu this two hours yet, because there is some