"I am tired," he said; "I've been walking about all day, and, besides, I got up very early in the morning. I would rather go home and go to bed."

 

"Lend me a dollar, and I'll go," said Abner. "I don't feel sleepy."

 

"Not much," answered Sam. "When you've got your money, it will be time enough to go to the theater; but if you haven't got any more than I have, you'd better not go to the theater much."

 

The reader may be surprised at such sensible advice proceeding¹ from Sam; but he had begun to feel the responsibilities of life more keenly than ever before. For the first time, too, he saw how foolish he had been in the past, and felt an eager desire to win a respectable position. He was sanguine² and hopeful, and felt that it was not too late to turn over a new leaf.

 

"All right," said Abner. "I can wait till another evening, but I thought I'd like to go to the theater, seein' as I never went there."

 

"Never went to the theater!" exclaimed Sam, with a gratifying sense of superiority. "I've been ever so many times in New York."

 

"I've been to the circus," said Abner. "There was one come round last summer to our place. Is the theater any like the circus?"

 

"No," said Sam; "but the circus is pretty good. I like to see it myself. You miss a good many things by living in the country."

 

"Did you ever live in the country?" inquired Abner.

 

"A good many years ago," answered Sam. "The fact is, I was born there, but I got tired of it and went to New York."

 

Presently fatigue³ overpowered Sam, and he announced his intention of returning to the boarding-house, and going to bed.

 

"I won't go yet," said Abner. "I'll be along pretty soon."

 

Sam did not lie awake long after once getting into bed. The early hour at which he had risen on the boat, and the miles he had traveled during the day were too much for him, and he sank into a dreamless sleep.

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