He entered the lodging-house where he had left his bundle of clothing, and so surprised the clerk by his new appearance that he was invited to remain there for another night.  The shrewd man guessed that some good fortune must have befallen Archie, or he wouldn’t be so happy.  But the one night of misery which he had spent in the squalid hotel was enough for Archie, and he walked hastily up-town with his bundle, keeping a sharp lookout for a pleasant place where he might get a room.  In his previous wanderings he had seen several nice houses with rooms to rent, but now that he wanted a room he found it difficult to find any of these neighbourhoods.  He was anxious to get settled as quickly as possible, for he wanted to get everything done to-day, so that to-morrow he could have time to do anything required of him by the editor of the Enterprise.  He must get a new suit of clothes, be must get his hair cut, and last, but not least, he must write home to mother and tell her of his great good fortune.

Finally, in his wanderings, Archie came to a beautiful square which was surrounded on every side by business houses and tenements.  But the square itself and the houses on it were very quaint and very handsome, so that it seemed to be a very oasis in the desert.  The green trees, just a little tinged with the brown and gold of autumn, reminded Archie of the front yard at home, and he decided to get a room in one of the houses here if he could possibly do so.

It so happened that there was a hall bedroom empty in one of the best-looking places, and Archie at once engaged it.  The price was more reasonable than he had hoped for, even, and this made him happy, for as yet he had no idea how much his earnings would be, and he was anxious to be able to save something to send home, if he possibly could.  The room was nicely furnished, and looked out upon the fountain, with the green trees, so that it was highly satisfactory in every respect.  It didn’t take Archie long to undo his bundle, and it was a pitiful display that greeted him when it was opened.  The little comb and brush, a piece of soap, a Testament given him last Christmas by the teacher at Sunday school, a suit of underwear, and a couple of handkerchiefs.  The whole lot of things hardly filled a corner in one of the bureau drawers, and Archie realised that he must buy a great many things within a week or two.

But before going out to do any shopping, he sat down and wrote a long letter home, describing his success of the morning, and telling his mother of the editor’s promise to give him regular employment.  He enclosed a copy of the paper with his picture and the story of his adventures, and it made him very happy to think of his mother’s feelings when she read it all.  Then, when he had finished, he went out to a post-office, and bought a money-order for ten dollars, which he also enclosed.  “I know I can spare it,” he said to himself, “and it will gratify her so much.”  Then, when the letter with its contents was safely mailed, he bought himself a new suit of clothing, and renovated himself in many ways, so that when he returned to his room in the square it was nearly dark, and he looked a different boy entirely.