Sam's Chance, and How He Improved ItAlger, Horatio, Jr.
History
Sam's Chance, and How He Improved It
Alger, Horatio, Jr.
Conduct of life -- Fiction; New York (N.Y.) -- History -- 19th century -- Fiction; Orphans -- Fiction
Without going into details, it may be said that our hero selected
everything to his satisfaction except a coat. Here he was rather
particular. Finally, he espied a blue coat with brass buttons, hanging
in a corner.
"Take down that coat," he said, "I guess that'll suit me."
"That costs too much. I can't give you that and the rest of the things
for four dollars."
"Why can't you?"
"I'd lose too much."
Opposition confirmed Sam in his determination to own it.
"Give it to me; I'll try it on," he said.
Putting it on, he surveyed himself with satisfaction, in a small,
cracked mirror. True, it was about two sizes too large, but Sam felt
that in getting more cloth he was getting a better bargain.
"That's my style," he said. "Don't I look fashionable?"
"I'll have to ask you twenty-five cents more for that coat," said the
old dealer.
"No, you won't."
"Yes, I must. I ought to ask more."
"Then you may keep the rest of the clo'es. I don't want 'em."
Sam made a movement as if to leave the store.
"Give me twenty cents more, my son."
"Didn't I tell you I wasn't your son? I won't give you no twenty
cents, but I'll tell you what I'll do--I'll give you these clo'es I've
got on."
The old man looked at them dubiously.
"They ain't worth much," he said.
"I know they ain't but they're worth twenty cents."
There was another critical inspection, and the decision was given in
Sam's favor.
"You may have the clo'es," said the old man. "Now, where's your
money?"
Sam produced a five-dollar bill.
"Give me a dollar back," he said.
The old man looked at him with the expression of one who had been
cheated.
"You said you had only four dollars," he complained.
"No, I didn't. I said I had four. I didn't say that was all."
"These clo'es are worth five dollars."
"No, they ain't, and you won't get it from me. Do you think I'm going
to give you all the money I've got?"
The old man still looked dissatisfied. "I'm losin' money on these
clo'es," he muttered.
"Oh, well if you don't want to sell 'em, you needn't," said Sam,
independently. "There's another place round the corner."
"Give me four fifty."
"No, I won't. I won't give you another cent. I'll give you four
dollars and these clo'es I have on. A bargain's a bargain. If you're
goin' to do it, say the word; and if you ain't, I'm off."
Sam carried his point, and received back a dollar in change.
"You needn't send the clo'es round to my hotel--I'll change 'em here,"
said our hero.
He set to work at once, and in five minutes the change was effected.
The other clothes fitted him moderately well, but the blue coat--of
the kind popularly called a swallow-tail--nearly trailed upon the
ground. But for that Sam cared little. He surveyed himself with
satisfaction, and felt that he was well dressed.
"I guess I'll do now," he said to himself, complacently, as he walked
out of the shop.
CHAPTER II.
SAM'S FIRST DAY IN BUSINESS.
"Is the boss in?"
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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