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Preface
In presenting "Ben, the Luggage Boy," to the public, as the fifth of the Ragged Dick Series, the author desires to say that it is in all essential points a true history; the particulars of the story having been communicated to him, by Ben himself, nearly two years since. In particular, the circumstances attending the boy's running away from home, and adopting the life of a street boy, are in strict accordance with Ben's own statement. While some of the...
Chapter 1
INTRODUCES BEN, THE LUGGAGE BOY."How much yer made this mornin', Ben?""Nary red," answered Ben, composedly."Had yer breakfast?""Only an apple. That's all I've eaten since yesterday. It's most time for the train to be in from Philadelphy. I'm layin' round for a job."The first speaker was a short, freckled-faced boy, whose box strapped to his back identified him at once as a street boot-black. His hair was red, his fingers defaced by stains of blacking, and his clothing constructed on the...
Chapter 2
HOW BEN COMMENCED HIS STREET LIFE.One pleasant morning, six years before the date at which this story commences, a small coasting-vessel drew up at a North River pier in the lower part of the city. It was loaded with freight, but there was at least one passenger on board. A boy of ten, dressed in a neat jacket and pants of gray-mixed cloth, stood on deck, watching with interest the busy city which they had just reached."Well, bub, here we...
Chapter 3
STREET SCENES."Here's Broadway," said Jerry, suddenly.They emerged from the side street on which they had been walking, and, turning the corner, found themselves in the great thoroughfare, a block or two above Trinity Church.Ben surveyed the busy scenes that opened before him, with the eager interest of a country boy who saw them for the first time."What church is that?" he asked, pointing to the tall spire of the imposing church that faces Wall Street."That's Trinity Church.""Do you go to...
Chapter 4
A RESTAURANT ON FULTON STREET.Ben kept on his way, looking in at the shop windows as before. He had not yet given up the idea of getting a place in a store, though he began to see that his chances of success were rather small.The next pause he came to was before a bookstore. Here, too, there was posted on the window:--"BOY WANTED."Ben entered. There were two or three persons behind the counter. The oldest, a man of forty, Ben...
Chapter 5
A BEER-GARDEN IN THE BOWERY.Ben sat down again in his old seat, and occupied himself once more in looking about him. After a while he became sleepy. Besides having taken a considerable walk, he had not slept much the night before. As no one occupied the bench but himself, he thought he might as well make himself comfortable. Accordingly he laid his bundle crosswise at one end, and laid back, using it for a pillow. The visor of his cap...
Chapter 6
THE BURNING BALES."Where are you going to sleep to-night?" asked Ben, introducing a subject which had given him some anxiety."I don't know," said Jerry, carelessly. "I'll find a place somewhere.""I'll go with you, if you'll let me," said Ben."In course I will.""I haven't got any money.""What's the odds? They don't charge nothin' at the hotel where I stop.""What time do you go to bed?""Most any time. Do you feel sleepy?""Rather. I didn't sleep much last night.""Well, we'll go and find...
Chapter 7
BEN'S TEMPTATION."Jest my luck!" complained Jerry. "Why couldn't the fire have waited till mornin'?""We might have burned up," said Ben, who was considerably impressed by his narrow escape."Only we didn't," said Jerry. "We'll have to try another hotel for the rest of the night.""Where shall we go?""We may find a hay-barge down to the pier at the foot of Franklin Street.""Is it far?""Not very.""Let us go then."So the boys walked along the street until they came to the pier referred...
Chapter 8
BEN COMMENCES HIS BUSINESS CAREER.Ben soon took his stand in the street, with a roll of papers under his arm, supplied by the generosity of his new acquaintance. It was rather a trying ordeal for a country boy, new to the city and its ways. But Ben was not bashful. He was not a timid boy, but was fully able to push his way. So, glancing at the telegraphic headings, he began to call out the news in a business-like...
Chapter 9
SCENES AT THE NEWSBOYS' LODGING HOUSE.It will be unnecessary to give in detail the record of Ben's sales. He succeeded, because he was in earnest, and he was in earnest, because his own experience in the early part of the day had revealed to him how uncomfortable it was to be without money or friends in a large city. At seven o'clock, on counting over his money, he found that he had a dollar and twelve cents. Of this sum...
Chapter 10
FURTHER EXPERIENCES.Ben had a comfortable night's rest, and when he awoke in the morning he felt that a bed at the Newsboys' Lodge was considerably better than a bale of cotton, or a hay-barge. At an early hour in the morning the boys were called, and began to tumble out in all directions, interchanging, as they performed their hasty toilet, a running fire of "chaff" and good-humored jesting, some of which consisted of personal allusions the reverse of complimentary.Many of...
Chapter 11
BEN BECOMES A BAGGAGE-SMASHER.The restaurant was a small one, and not fashionable in appearance, having a shabby look. The floor was sanded, and the tables were covered with soiled cloths. However, Ben had learned already not to be fastidious, and he sat down and gave his order. A plate of roast beef and a cup of coffee were brought, according to his directions. Seated opposite him at the table was a man who had nearly completed his dinner as Ben...
Chapter 12
BEN'S HOME IN PHILADELPHIA.Though the story of "Ben, the Luggage Boy," professes to treat of life in the city streets, I must devote a single chapter to a very different place. I must carry the reader to Ben's home in Pennsylvania, and show what effect his running away had upon the family circle.There was a neat two-story house standing on the principal street in Cedarville, with a pleasant lawn in front, through which, from the gate, a gravelled walk ran...
Chapter 13
THE FIRST CIGAR.It was a week or more after Ben started in business as a baggage-smasher, that, in returning from carrying a carpet-bag to Lovejoy's Hotel, on Broadway, he fell in with his first city acquaintance, Jerry Collins. Jerry had just "polished up" a gentleman's boots, and, having been unusually lucky this morning in securing shines, felt disposed to be lavish."How are you, Ben?" asked Jerry. "What are you up to now?""I'm a baggage-smasher," answered Ben, who was beginning to...
Chapter 14
THE PASSENGER FROM ALBANY.Ben did not confine himself to any particular pier or railway depot, but stationed himself now at one, now at another, according as the whim seized him, or as the prospect of profit appeared more or less promising. One afternoon he made his way to the pier at which the Albany boats landed. He knew the hour of arrival, not only for the river-boats, but for most of the inward trains, for this was required by his...
Chapter 15
THE ROOM UNDER THE WHARF.It was at a late hour when the boys left the theatre. The play had been of a highly sensational character, and had been greeted with enthusiastic applause on the part of the audience, particularly the occupants of the "pit." Now, as they emerged from the portals of the theatre, various characteristic remarks of a commendatory character were interchanged."How'd you like it, Ben?" asked Barney."Bully," said Ben."I liked the fight best," said Barney. "Jones give it...
Chapter 16
BEN MEETS AN OLD FRIEND.Ben had about half an hour to wait for the arrival of the steamer. Among the passengers who crossed the plank from the steamer to the pier was a gentleman of middle age, and a boy about a year younger than Ben. The boy had a carpet-bag in his hand; the father, for such appeared to be the relationship, carried a heavy valise, besides a small bundle."Want your baggage carried?" asked Ben, varying his usual address.The...
Chapter 17
BEN FORMS A RESOLUTION."Does this car go up Madison Avenue?" asked Charles, after they had taken their seats."No," said Ben, "it goes up Fourth Avenue; but that's only one block away from Madison. We'll get out at Thirtieth Street.""I'm glad you're with me; I might have a hard time finding the place if I were alone.""Are you going to stay in the city long?" asked Ben."Yes, I am going to school here. Father is going to move here soon. Until...
Chapter 18
LUCK AND ILL LUCK."That will do very well for a beginning," thought Ben, as he surveyed, with satisfaction, the two half dollars which he had received for his morning's services. He determined to save one of them towards the fund which he hoped to accumulate for the object which he had in view. How much he would need he could not decide; but thought that it would be safe to set the amount at fifty dollars. This would doubtless require...
Chapter 19
WHICH IS THE GUILTY PARTY?It was an exciting moment for Ben. He felt that his character for honesty was at stake. In case the pickpocket succeeded in getting off with the letter and money, Mr. Sampson would no doubt come to the conclusion that he had appropriated the fifty dollars to his own use, while his story of the robbery would be regarded as an impudent fabrication. He might even be arrested, and sentenced to the Island for theft. If...
Chapter 20
HOW ALL CAME RIGHT IN THE MORNING.It is quite possible that the pickpocket would have made good his escape, if he had not, unluckily for himself, run into another policeman."Beg your pardon," he said, hurriedly."Stop a minute," said the officer, detaining him by the arm, for his appearance and haste inspired suspicion. He was bare-headed, for his hat had fallen off, and he had not deemed it prudent to stop long enough to pick it up."I'm in a great hurry,"...
Chapter 21
IN A NEW LINE."Ten dollars!" said Ben to himself, with exultation. "That's pretty good pay for a few hours in the station-house. I'd like to board there a week on the same terms."Ben's capital now amounted to eleven dollars; but of this sum he decided to retain one dollar as a reserve to fall back upon in case of need. The ten dollars he determined to deposit at once in a savings-bank. He accordingly bent his steps towards one in...
Chapter 22
THE HEAVY VALISE.Ben had sold half his papers when the arrival of the train from Philadelphia gave him an opportunity to return to his legitimate calling."Smash your baggage, sir?" asked Ben of a dark-complexioned man of thirty-five, who carried a moderate-sized valise."Yes," said the other."Where shall I carry it?""To----" Here the man hesitated, and finally answered, "There is no need of telling you. I will take it from you when we have got along far enough."Ben was about to walk...
Chapter 23
THE SURPRISE.Ben had certainly met with good luck so far. Even his temporary detention at the station-house he regarded as a piece of good luck, since he was paid handsomely for the confinement, while his bed there was considerably more comfortable than he often enjoyed. His adventure with the burglar also brought him in as much as under ordinary circumstances he would have earned in a week. In two days he was able to lay aside fifteen dollars and a...
Chapter 24
BEN TRANSFORMED.Ben worked away steadily at his double occupation, saving money as well as he could; but he met with no more profitable adventures. His earnings were gradual. Some weeks he laid by as much as a dollar and a half, or even two dollars, but other weeks he barely reached a dollar. So the end of March came before he was able to carry out the object which he had in view.One morning about this time Ben carefully counted...
Chapter 25
BEN MAKES HIMSELF KNOWN.Ben went out into the street with two bundles under his arm. One contained the ragged clothes which he had just taken off. The other, which was much smaller, contained his extra shirts and stockings. The first he did not care to keep. He therefore lost no time in throwing it into an alley-way."It'll be a lucky chap that finds it," thought Ben.He next put on his gloves, and considered what he should do next. It was...
Chapter 26
THE PRODIGAL'S RETURN.On Sunday evening, Ben, in company with his sister, her husband, and Charles, attended a sacred concert in Steinway Hall. As he stepped within the vestibule, he saw two street boys outside, whom he knew well. Their attire was very similar to that which he had himself worn until the day before. They looked at Ben, but never thought of identifying him with the baggage-smasher with whom they had often bunked together."See what it is," thought Ben, "to...
