“Well, you are on time, Jimmy, and I see you have brought some of your friends with you,” said the gentleman. “These is part of de gang,” said Jimmy. “Do you boys all want to be my friends, just the same as Jimmy is?” They replied, “Sure thing; cert. Yes’m.” These friendly words brought the gang closer to the gentleman’s desk. And more papers were disturbed. The ink was investigated and one of the boys wanted to know why it wasn’t red ink. Another poked his finger in the ink stand and made black streaks down the smallest boy’s face. The gentleman was shown quite a number of articles they had in their pockets. Nails, buttons, marbles, pieces of slate-pencils, etc., all of which had to be admired. “Say, you, mister,” said a nine-year-old dirty-faced, bright-eyed boy, “I had trouble gittin’ here. De con. wus onto me an’ I had to take two lines ’fore I rode into de office wid out blowin’ in a cent.” “Well, quit your wasting words,” said Jimmy. The boys gathered around the gentleman, and he said: “My! what good you boys can do in this world with all of your push, and energy, your hustling, your good health, you boys can turn up something, and I’m going to help you do it. How would you like to help me make all the men and women who buy papers of you learn to love you. Learn to speak kindly to you?” “Aw, de peoples don’t care fur us.” said a boy Jimmy called “Indian.” “Well, I don’t know about that. There is one thing certain there can be no harm in trying. The trouble is, people don’t know you, and you won’t let them get acquainted with you. Let’s make a start. First, I want to know if every one of you wants to be a friend of mine? You do, that’s a good start. And whenever you see me on the street, it doesn’t make any difference what I am doing, or who I am talking to, will you come to me and say, good morning or good evening?” They all agreed. “And another thing, when you boys are down town and should you hurt yourself, or get into some trouble, lose your papers, your money, or some one frightens you, I want you to call on me, and I will try to help you. Notice, I say when you are in trouble, because when you are doing well and everything comes your way, you need no assistance. You can take care of yourselves. What do you say, boys, to this?” [Illustration: THE ORIGINAL CHARTER MEMBERS. _See Page 14_ ] They all promised and were glad of the opportunity. This was the first intimate talk with the gang. Two days later, while the gentleman was very busy in his office, into the room came one of the little visitors followed by some of the gang, he was limping and crying as if his heart would break. He paid no attention to any one in the office but made directly for the gentleman, who seeing him, excused himself from his business friends and said to the boy, “Well, now, what has happened to you?”