Early the next morning, Stormy started off to his work on the ship, and I to a newspaper office. I reached the place too early to get out the papers; but found several boys waiting like myself. I joined their company, listened to them, and was much interested in their conversation, without very clearly comprehending what they were talking about. I could distinctly hear every word they said; but the meaning of the words I knew not, for the most of them were slang phrases--such as I had never heard before. I could see that they were very fast boys--much faster than I was-- although the "Rolling Stone" had not been for several years rolling through the streets of Dublin, without learning some city sharpness. I entered into conversation with two of the boys, in order to find out something of the business of news-vending; and could see from their manner that they regarded me, as they would have said, "not all thar." They pretended to give me such information as I required; but I afterwards learnt that they had not told me one word of truth. When the papers were published, I went in with the others, put down a half dollar, and received in exchange the correct number of copies. I hurried out, walked some distance from the office, and commenced offering my wares for sale. On turning down a wide street, I met three gentlemen, each of whom took a copy out of my hands and gave me a picayune in return. I was doing business for myself--buying and selling; and in my soul arose a feeling of independence and pride that has never been so thoroughly awakened since. I passed along the street, till I came to a large hotel, where I saw two other gentlemen under the verandah. I went up to them, offered my goods as before, and each took a newspaper. As one of them offered me payment for his copy, I had hardly the strength to hand him the paper and take his money. I nearly dropped to the pavement. The man was Captain Brannon, of the ship "Hope," to whom I had been apprenticed! I moved away from him as fast as my trembling limbs would carry me; and the glance which I could not help throwing over my shoulder, told me that I had not been recognised. This was the man, who had promised to treat me as he would his own son; and yet during a long voyage had taken so little notice of me, that I could thus transact business with him, without being recognised! By twelve o'clock my work for the day was finished; and I returned to the lodging-house with a dollar in picayune pieces--having made a hundred per cent on my capital. I was at that hour the happiest boy in New Orleans. I was happy, yet full of impatience, as I waited through the long afternoon for the return of Stormy Jack.