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Show THE DESERET 12 but dimly lighted, but the joy and surprise of Syds news seemed to transform the dreary abode into a place of cheer. To the homeless widow the trifling sum of Syds earnings seemed like a Fortun-atu- s purse, falling as it did apart from d her own scanty and wages, and in so unexpected a way. She felt, in a grateful way, half indebted to the man whose brilliant reception had been the means of adding something to their scanty store. She picked up one of the papers which were left from Syds sale, and glanced over the article which had been the cause An of the little streak of good fortune. involuntary sigh broke from her lips as she caught sight of the headlines printed Colonel Balfords in great staring type Ten Thousand Magnificent Banquet. Dollars Expended in Flowers and Wines! The Table a Marvelous Symphony of These and Gold and Silver Plate! other items of the extravagant display were dwelt upon at length, and the host lauded for his splendid taste and generosity. Strange thoughts swept through the widows mind as she read. Two months since she had been turned with her children from a small cottage belonging to Colonel Balford in Norton, because of her inability to provide the ten dollars due for the rent an amount which her most assiduous labors could not provide at the allotted time. The result was that she had been obliged to remove to a small house near the river a tumble-dowbuilding which stood empty most of the time on account of the swamps near which it was situated, and was the only shelter available to the widow, because of her scanty resources. Two months habitation in the malarial her own atmosphere had enfeebled health, and made of her youngest child, little Ethel, a sickly and delicate invalid, constantly in need of medicines and careful nursing. A trifling fraction of the amount spent for flowers and wines at the Colonels banquet would have prevented (or allayed) their multiplied misfortunes; yet the business principle, ot which the Colonel constantly boasted, and which remained inexorable to the appeal of helpless poverty, did not scruple to expend in a night, for a single banquet, an amount which would have kept the family in luxury for years. These were mocking and startling contradictions certainly, yet Mrs. Armstrong, like many others in the world, felt keenly the heartlessness of a system which made such occurrences possible. It was their desperate poverty and the fact of Ethels growing weakness that made Syd hopeful of gaining his mothers consent to his plan. There was no chance for his earning anything in Norton, as the opportunity which had given him success for one day was not likely to occur again hard-earne- NEWS- and his only hope lay in entering a larger field. If such success as had attended his local efforts could be repeated and continued in New York, the plan, in view of their straitened circumstances, certainly offered inducements, as the sum which he might gain, added to Mrs. enable Armstrongs earnings, would them to remove to a healthier locality, besides insuring exemption from the absolute want which now, too often, stared them in the face. , Mrs. Armstrong would give no answer to Syds entreaties till the next morning, as the question of his leaving jhome was too important to decide hastily, especially with the thought to be taken into consideration of the influences and dangers of the great city which he would be obliged to encounter alone. ii. What do you want for ten cents anyway hummin birds on toast? The above sarcastic inquiry was pro pounded by our friend, Dick Slade, who with Syd Armstrong was making his way swiftly through the crowded streets of the great metropolis. The former had appeared in Norton a few days after Syds experience as a newsboy, and with his own optimistic views, added to Syds arguments and entreaties, had prevailed upon Mrs. Armstrong to give her consent to their scheme. Syd was to accompany him to New York for a weeks time at the end of which they would perhaps be able to determine as to whether the plan would prove profitable. The two boys started from Norton on foot, gainlift from ing, however, an occasional wagons on the way, though it was nightfall when they found themselves in the great city. Syd felt verymuch like a man of the world with the dollar which he had earned, together with an extra half which his mother had added, in his pocket, a sum which Dick assured him would be sufficient to fairly launch him in the new It was a bewildering experience to Syd, the noisy, crowded thoroughfares through which they threaded their way; the lines of lamp posts glimmering thickly along the narrow streets, the buildings towering dizzily on either side, all made a vast and confusing impression on his unaccustomed sight. As they went further and further into the maze of the great city, the streets through which Dick led him grew narrower and shorter some of them being mere alleys the street lamps showing poor, tumble-dowtenements, and dim cellars filled with men and women, with want and misery lined with terrible distinctness in their poorly clad bodies and wretched countenances. Syd himself was used to poverty, but not in the phase of which he now caught glimpses, and he hoped that they would soon pass from the desolate life. d scenes. had explained the the various lodging places with which he was familiar, stating his opinion with an air of finished experience, which commanded Syds sincere awe and admiration. Theres heaps of places where wfe kin hire a spot to sleep in for a cent, if yer he declared wants to save money, but its mostly a low set that takes advantage of them terms, dagos and sech like, that ye wouldnt want mach to herd with. Them places is down by the docks, too, and they let in as many as kin herd into a room. Where I stays they charges ye ten cents, but they limits the number to ten and ye kin git a spot big enough to turn over and kick in. A spot ? questioned Syd. Do they all sleep in the same room where you On the way Dick advantages of stay? His companions dubious tone had roused Dicks sarcasm, and his rejoinder had been the scathing question recorded above. After Dicks glowing eulogies on the advantages of his lodging place, Syd was considerably disappointed when his companion, turning into a narrow alley, stopped at the entrance to a crazy, tumble-dowtenement. Do we stop here, Dick? asked Syd, with a queer feeling of dread and homesickness in his heart. Thats what! ejaculated Dick, comprehensively, and see here, kid, he added further, in an admonitory tone, dont yer be orderin no separate apartment, nor ringin for bell boys to bring yer ice water, in this yer hotel, for if the rest of them find out youre too they might put yer onto the elevator there and send yer dourn to the ground floor Tore the nights over. Syd glanced at the elevator designated by Dicks hand, a rickety tin pipe from the eaves,extending the length of the seven storied wall, and wisely resolved to keep all curious questions to himself, at least for the night. Dick darted up the stairs which showed from the entrance, not stopping till he reached the last floor. Here he opened a door to the left, and Syd followed him n into the dimly lit room into which he led. It was an apartment with sloping ceiling and bare, grimy walls, the plastering of which had fallen off, showing the rafters, and dark, open spaces between. It was entirely devoid of furnishings save for some queer looking bundles piled in the corners, which Syd afterward found were the beds of the lodgers who frequented Each was supposed to furnthe hotel. ish his own bedding for the sum charged, and Dick, who was a permanent guest, had on hand a couple of blankets and a rag pillow, which he had offered to share with Syd during his weeks probation. Two or three others had come in before |