“I can’t learn.”

“You can, if you want to.”

Johnny Nolan was evidently of a different opinion.  He was a good-natured boy, large of his age, with nothing particularly bad about him, but utterly lacking in that energy, ambition, and natural sharpness, for which Dick was distinguished.  He was not adapted to succeed in the life which circumstances had forced upon him; for in the street-life of the metropolis a boy needs to be on the alert, and have all his wits about him, or he will find himself wholly distanced by his more enterprising competitors for popular favor.  To succeed in his profession, humble as it is, a boot-black must depend upon the same qualities which gain success in higher walks in life.  It was easy to see that Johnny, unless very much favored by circumstances, would never rise much above his present level.  For Dick, we cannot help hoping much better things.

CHAPTER XXVI

AN EXCITING ADVENTURE

Dick now began to look about for a position in a store or counting-room.  Until he should obtain one he determined to devote half the day to blacking boots, not being willing to break in upon his small capital.  He found that he could earn enough in half a day to pay all his necessary expenses, including the entire rent of the room.  Fosdick desired to pay his half; but Dick steadily refused, insisting upon paying so much as compensation for his friend’s services as instructor.

It should be added that Dick’s peculiar way of speaking and use of slang terms had been somewhat modified by his education and his intimacy with Henry Fosdick.  Still he continued to indulge in them to some extent, especially when he felt like joking, and it was natural to Dick to joke, as my readers have probably found out by this time.  Still his manners were considerably improved, so that he was more likely to obtain a situation than when first introduced to our notice.

Just now, however, business was very dull, and merchants, instead of hiring new assistants, were disposed to part with those already in their employ.  After making several ineffectual applications, Dick began to think he should be obliged to stick to his profession until the next season.  But about this time something occurred which considerably improved his chances of preferment.

This is the way it happened.

As Dick, with a balance of more than a hundred dollars in the savings bank, might fairly consider himself a young man of property, he thought himself justified in occasionally taking a half holiday from business, and going on an excursion.  On Wednesday afternoon Henry Fosdick was sent by his employer on an errand to that part of Brooklyn near Greenwood Cemetery.  Dick hastily dressed himself in his best, and determined to accompany him.