"Mother! Molly's come home!" and out sprang little Bob. "Mercy on us!" Mrs. Ogden exclaimed, and the whole family were on their feet. Mary met her father as she was coming in. Then, picking up little Sally and kissing her, she said: "There was a way for me to come over, this morning. I've brought my books home, to study till term begins. Oh, mother, I'm so glad to get back!" The blacksmith went out to thank the farmer who had brought her; but the rest went into the house to get Mary some breakfast and to look at her and to hear her story. Mrs. Ogden said several times: "I do wish Jack was here, too!" That very moment her son was leaving the Hotel Dantzic behind him, with two and a half miles to walk before getting his breakfast--a bowl of bread and milk. CHAPTER XVII. JACK-AT-ALL-TRADES. Jack Ogden, that Monday morning, had an idea that New York was a very long city. He had eaten nothing since Saturday noon, excepting the sandwiches, and he felt that he should not be good for much until after he had had breakfast. His mind was full of unpleasant memories of the stores and offices he had entered during his last week's hunt, and he did not relish renewing it. "I must go ahead though," he thought. "Something must be done, or I'll starve." Every moment Jack felt better, and he arose from the table a little more like himself. "Ten cents left," he said, as he went out into the street. "That'll buy me one more bowl of bread and milk. What shall I do then?" [Illustration: _"Ten cents left."_] It was a serious question, and demanded attention. It was still very early for the city, but stores were beginning to open, and groups of men were hurrying along the sidewalks on their way to business. Jack went on, thinking and thinking, and a fit of depression was upon him when he entered a street turning out from Broadway. He had not tried this street before. It was not wide, and it was beginning to look busy. At the end of two blocks, Jack uttered an exclamation: "That's queer!" he said. "They all sell coffee, tea, groceries, and that sort of thing. Big stores, too. I'll try here." His heart sank a little, as he paused in front of a very bustling establishment, bearing every appearance of prosperity. Some men were bringing out tea-chests and bags of coffee to pile around the doorway, as if to ask passers-by to walk in and buy some. The show-windows were already filled with samples of sugar, coffee, and a dozen other kinds of goods. Just beyond one window Jack could see the first of a row of three huge coffee-grinders painted red, and back of the other window was more machinery. "I'll go in, anyway," he said, setting his teeth. "Only ten cents left!"