PART II.

By
Juliana Horatia Ewing.

Society for promoting Christian knowledge,
London:  Northumberland Avenue, W.C. 
Brighton:  129, North street. 
New York:  E. & J.B.  Young & Co.

[Published under the direction of the General Literature Committee.]

WE AND THE WORLD.

CHAPTER I.

        “A friend in need is a friend indeed.”—­Old Proverb.

I have often thought that the biggest bit of good luck (and I was lucky), which befell me on my outset into the world, was that the man I sat next to in the railway carriage was not a rogue.  I travelled third class to Liverpool for more than one reason—­it was the cheapest way, besides which I did not wish to meet any family friends—­and the man I speak of was a third-class passenger, and he went to Liverpool too.

At the time I was puzzled to think how he came to guess that I was running away, that I had money with me, and that I had never been to Liverpool before; but I can well imagine now how my ignorance and anxiety must have betrayed themselves at every station I mistook for the end of my journey, and with every question which I put, as I flattered myself, in the careless tones of common conversation, I really wonder I had not thought beforehand about my clothes, which fitted very badly on the character I assumed, and the company I chose; but it was not perhaps to be expected that I should know then, as I know now, how conspicuous all over me must have been the absence of those outward signs of hardship and poverty, which they who know poverty and hardship know so well.

I wish I had known them, because then I should have given the man some of my money when we parted, instead of feeling too delicate to do so.  I can remember his face too well not to know now how much he must have needed it, and how heroic a virtue honesty must have been in him.

It did not seem to strike him as at all strange or unnatural that a lad of my age should be seeking his own fortune, but I feel sure that he thought it was misconduct on my part which had made me run away from home.  I had no grievance to describe which he could recognize as grievous enough to drive me out into the world.  However, I felt very glad that he saw no impossibility in my earning my own livelihood, or even anything very unusual in my situation.

“I suppose lots of young fellows run away from home and go to sea from a place like this?” said I, when we had reached Liverpool.

“And there’s plenty more goes that has no homes to run from,” replied he sententiously.