Crowded Out o' Crofield; or, The Boy who made his WayStoddard, William O.
General
Crowded Out o' Crofield; or, The Boy who made his Way
Stoddard, William O.
Conduct of life -- Juvenile fiction
"This is the toughest day's work I ever did! I'd like to see the folks
in Crofield and tell 'em about it, though," he said.
He went to bed, intending to consider his plans for Monday, but he made
one mistake. He happened to close his eyes.
The next thing he knew, there was a ray of warm sunshine striking his
face from the open window, for he had slept soundly, and it was nearly
seven o'clock on Monday morning.
Jack looked around his room, and then sprang out of bed.
"Hurrah for New York!" he said, cheerfully. "I know what to do now.
I'm glad I'm here! I'll write a letter home, first thing, and then
I'll pitch in and go to work!"
He felt better. All the hopes he had cherished so long began to stir
within him. He brushed his clothes thoroughly, and put on his best
necktie; and then he walked out of that room with hardly a doubt that
all the business in the great city was ready and waiting for him to
come and take part in it. He went down the elevator, after a glance at
the stairway and a shake of his head.
"Stairs are too slow," he thought. "I'll try them some time when I am
not so busy."
As he stepped out upon the lower floor he met Mr. Keifelheimer, the
proprietor.
"You come in to preakfast mit me," he said. "I promise Mr.
Guilderaufenberg and de ladies, too, I keep an eye on you. Some
letters in de box for you. You get dem ven you come out. Come mit me."
Jack was very glad to hear of his friends, what had become of them, and
what they had said about him, and of course he was quite ready for
breakfast. Mr. Keifelheimer talked, while they were eating, in the
most friendly and protecting way. Jack felt that he could speak
freely; and so he told the whole story of his adventures on
Sunday,--Staten Island, Jimmy the Sneak, and all. Mr. Keifelheimer
listened with deep interest, making appreciative remarks every now and
then; but he seemed to be most deeply touched by the account of the
eighty-cent dinner.
"Dot vas too much!" he said, at last. "It vas a schvindle! Dose
Broadvay restaurants rob a man efery time. Now, I only charge you
feefty-five cents for all dis beautiful breakfast; and you haf had de
finest beefsteak and two cups of splendid coffee. So, you make money
ven you eat mit me!"
Jack could but admit that the Hotel Dantzic price was lower than the
other; but he paid it with an uneasy feeling that while he must have
misunderstood Mr. Keifelheimer's invitation it was impossible to say so.
"Get dose letter," said the kindly and thoughtful proprietor. "Den you
write in de office. It is better dan go avay up to your room."
Jack thanked him and went for his mail, full of wonder as to how any
letters could have come to him.
"A whole handful!" he said, in yet greater wonder, when the clerk
handed them out. "Who could have known I was here?
Nine,--ten,--eleven,--twelve. A dozen!"
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
Reviews
Reviews
No reviews yet
Be the first to share your thoughts on this work.
Elsewhere in the archive
Join the Discussion
Join the discussion
Sign in to leave a comment or review.
Sign InorCreate an account