He was a boy of fifteen, who, for three years, had been drifting about the streets of New York, getting his living as he could; now blacking boots, now selling papers, now carrying bundles—"everything by turns, and nothing long." He was not a model boy, as those who have read his early history, in "The Young Outlaw," are aware; but, on the other hand, he was not extremely bad. He liked fun, even if it involved mischief¹; and he could not be called strictly² truthful³ nor honest. But he would not wantonly injure or tyrannize over a smaller boy, and there was nothing mean or malicious⁴ about him. Still he was hardly the sort of boy a merchant would be likely to select as an office boy, and but for a lucky chance Sam would have been compelled to remain a bootblack or newsboy. One day he found, in an uptown street, a little boy, who had strayed away from his nurse, and, ascertaining⁵ where he lived, restored him to his anxious parents. For this good deed he was rewarded by a gift of five dollars and the offer of a position as errand boy, at five dollars a week.

 

Sam decided⁶ that he must have some new clothes before he could enter upon his place. At present his costume consisted of a ragged⁷ shirt, and a pair of equally ragged pantaloons. Both were of unknown antiquity⁸, and had done faithful service, not only to Sam, but to a former owner. It was quite time they were released from duty.

 

To buy a complete outfit⁹ with five dollars might have puzzled many an able financier. But Sam knew just where to go. Somewhere in the neighborhood of Baxter Street there was a

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