What time would develop, what changes come over this young man, no one could tell, but the right principle had a good hold of the boy, and it meant success and a clear conscience during his manhood. That the success of the association does not depend upon the efforts of the officers entirely, will be seen by the following: Three newsboys called upon the president; two of them were leading a ragged little fellow with a shining-box thrown over his shoulder. “Say, president,” said one of them, “here’s a boy shining shoes on the market an’ the way he swears is puttin’ men out o’ business.” The accused bootblack was a sight. To the question where he lived he replied: “I have no home. My father’s dead an’ my mother, she’s no good. There’s no room fur me in the house.” [Illustration: THE TOUGH FROM MARKET SPACE. _See Page 152_ ] By further questioning it was learned that the clothes he had on were given to him some two months ago and had not been taken off since he put them on. This may seem strange, but it is only one of the dozen of cases where parents do not require the removal of their boy’s clothes when they go to bed. The peculiar odor coming from boys who are treated in this shameful manner will prove this. This boy walked from a neighboring city, or stole a ride on some freight-train. He had been shining shoes around the market-space for a month or more, and declared that to be in the push, to be recognized by men, and to secure business, it was necessary to swear and be tough. “I wouldn’t be a bootblack,” he said, “if I couldn’t swear, the men wouldn’t shine if I didn’t.” The newsboys who frequented the market were very much put out by this boy’s swearing and general tough appearance, so when opportunity favored they began their missionary work, with the result of persuading the shiner to accompany them to the president’s office. The boy had a very attractive face. He was worth saving. “So, you come to see me about joining the association,” said the president. The boy replied: “The boys say I can make more money if I cut out swearin’ an’ belong to the association.” “They tell me you swear and sometimes don’t know how to give correct change to your customers. If that’s so you are just the kind of a boy we want. You little hustling fellows make our best young men. You don’t wait until someone comes to you for a shine. I have seen you follow a man who had red shoes a whole square. You will make a good business man, and these little boys, friends of yours, are just the kind of boys who will help you, will bring you business, will tell you where to get something good to eat, and I think we can throw away your old ragged clothes and get a new suit, how would you like that?” His face had a surprised look. He didn’t expect some one to offer anything of interest to him, he expected to get lectured, to be “talked goodygood to,” as he afterwards said.