流浪兒成紳士 節選

　　Getting up too was an equally short process. He jumped out of the box, shook himself, picked out one or two straws that had found their way into rents in his clothes, and, drawing a well-worn cap over his un combed locks, he was all ready for the business of the day.　　Dick's appearance as he stood beside the box was rather peculiar.His pants were torn in several places, and had apparently belonged in the first instance to a boy two sizes larger than himself. He wore a vest, all the buttons of which were gone except two, out of which peeped a shirt which looked as if it had been worn a month. To complete his costume he wore a coat too long for him, dating back, if one might judge from its general appearance, to a remote antiquity.　　Washing the face and hands is usually considered proper in commencing the day, but Dick was above such refinement. He had no particular dislike to dirt, and did not think it necessary to remove several dark streaks on his face and hands. But in spite of his dirt and rags there was something about Dick that was attractive. It was easy to see that if he had been clean and well dressed he would have been decidedly good-looking. Some of his companions were sly, and their faces inspired distrust; but Dick had a frank, straight-forward manner that made him a favorite.　　Dick's business hours had commenced. He had no office to open. His little blacking-box was ready for use, and he looked sharply in the faces of all who passed, addressing each with, "Shine yer boots, sir?"　　"How much?" asked a gentleman on his way to his office.　　"Ten cents," said Dick, dropping his box, and sinking upon his knees on the sidewalk, fiourishing his brush with the air of one skilled in his profession.　　"Ten cents! Isn't that a little steep.”　　"Well, you know 'taint all clear profit," said Dick, who had already set to work. "There's the blacking costs something, and I have to get a new brush pretty often."　　"And you have a large rent too," said the gentleman quizzically, with a glance at a large hole in Dick's coat.　　"Yes, sir," said Dick, always ready to joke; "I have to pay such a big rent for my manshun up on Fifth Avenoo, that I can't afford to take less than ten cents a shine. I'II give you a bully shine, sir."　　"Be quick about it, for I am in a hurry. So your house is on Fifth Avenue, is it?"　　"It isn't anywhere else," said Dick, and Dick spoke the truth there.　　"What tailor do you patronize?" asked the gentleman, surveying Dick's attire.　　"Would you like to go to the same one?" asked Dick, shrewdly.　　"Well, no; it strikes me that he didn't give you a very good fit."　　……