my goo' fren'," he said. "I've got cruel parents, or I'd set
you up. Whuzzamatter whizyer?"

"I've been in the hospital."

"Hospital!" exclaimed the young fellow, still smiling
sweetly, "thass too bad! Same's my Aunt Polly -- hic
-- my Aunt Polly's in the hospital, too -- ole auntie's been
havin' twins! Whuzzamatter whiz you?"

"I've got a broken arm--" Jurgis began.

"So," said the other, sympathetically. "That ain't so
bad -- you get over that. I wish somebody'd break _my_
arm, ole chappie -- damfidon't! Then they's treat me
better -- hic -- hole me up, ole sport! Whuzzit you
wamme do?"

"I'm hungry, sir," said Jurgis.

"Hungry! Why don't you hassome supper?"

"I've got no money, sir."

"No money! Ho, ho -- less be chums, ole boy -- jess
like me! No money, either, -- a'most busted! Why
don't you go home, then, same's me?"

"I haven't any home," said Jurgis.

"No home! Stranger in the city, hey? Goo' God,
thass bad! Better come home wiz me -- yes, by Harry,
thass the trick, you'll come home an' hassome supper -- hic
-- wiz me! Awful lonesome -- nobody home! Guv'ner
gone abroad -- Bubby on's honeymoon -- Polly havin'
twins -- every damn soul gone away! Nuff -- hic --
nuff to drive a feller to drink, I say! Only ole Ham standin'
by, passin' plates -- damfican eat like that, no sir! The
club for me every time, my boy, I say. But then they
won't lemme sleep there -- guv'ner's orders, by Harry --
home every night, sir! Ever hear anythin' like that?
'Every mornin' do?' I asked him. 'No, sir, every night,
or no allowance at all, sir.' Thass my guv'ner -- hic --
hard as nails, by Harry! Tole ole Ham to watch me, too
-- servants spyin' on me -- whuzyer think that, my fren'?
A nice, quiet -- hic -- good-hearted young feller like me,
an' his daddy can't go to Europe -- hup! -- an' leave him
in peace! Ain't that a shame, sir? An' I gotter go home
every evenin' an' miss all the fun, by Harry! Thass

[[279]]

p278 _ -chap- _ toc-1 _ p279w _ toc-2 _ +chap+ _ p280

v?