Part 24 (2/2)
”Then I'll tell you what,” said d.i.c.k; ”I'll make a bargain with you.
I can't read much more'n a pig; and my writin' looks like hens'
tracks. I don't want to grow up knowin' no more'n a four-year-old boy. If you'll teach me readin' and writin' evenin's, you shall sleep in my room every night. That'll be better'n door-steps or old boxes, where I've slept many a time.”
”Are you in earnest?” said Fosd.i.c.k, his face lighting up hopefully.
”In course I am,” said d.i.c.k. ”It's fas.h.i.+onable for young gentlemen to have private tootors to introduct 'em into the flower-beds of literatoor and science, and why shouldn't I foller the fas.h.i.+on? You shall be my perfessor; only you must promise not to be very hard if my writin' looks like a rail-fence on a bender.”
”I'll try not to be too severe,” said Fosd.i.c.k, laughing. ”I shall be thankful for such a chance to get a place to sleep. Have you got anything to read out of?”
”No,” said d.i.c.k. ”My extensive and well-selected library was lost overboard in a storm, when I was sailin' from the Sandwich Islands to the desert of Sahara. But I'll buy a paper. That'll do me a long time.”
Accordingly d.i.c.k stopped at a paper-stand, and bought a copy of a weekly paper, filled with the usual variety of reading matter,--stories, sketches, poems, etc.
They soon arrived at d.i.c.k's lodging-house. Our hero, procuring a lamp from the landlady, led the way into his apartment, which he entered with the proud air of a proprietor.
”Well, how do you like it, Fosd.i.c.k?” he asked, complacently.
The time was when Fosd.i.c.k would have thought it untidy and not particularly attractive. But he had served a severe apprentices.h.i.+p in the streets, and it was pleasant to feel himself under shelter, and he was not disposed to be critical.
”It looks very comfortable, d.i.c.k,” he said.
”The bed aint very large,” said d.i.c.k; ”but I guess we can get along.”
”Oh, yes,” said Fosd.i.c.k, cheerfully. ”I don't take up much room.”
”Then that's all right. There's two chairs, you see, one for you and one for me. In case the mayor comes in to spend the evenin'
socially, he can sit on the bed.”
The boys seated themselves, and five minutes later, under the guidance of his young tutor, d.i.c.k had commenced his studies.
CHAPTER XVI
THE FIRST LESSON
Fortunately for d.i.c.k, his young tutor was well qualified to instruct him. Henry Fosd.i.c.k, though only twelve years old, knew as much as many boys of fourteen. He had always been studious and ambitious to excel. His father, being a printer, employed in an office where books were printed, often brought home new books in sheets, which Henry was always glad to read. Mr. Fosd.i.c.k had been, besides, a subscriber to the Mechanics' Apprentices' Library, which contains many thousands of well-selected and instructive books. Thus Henry had acquired an amount of general information, unusual in a boy of his age. Perhaps he had devoted too much time to study, for he was not naturally robust. All this, however, fitted him admirably for the office to which d.i.c.k had appointed him,--that of his private instructor.
The two boys drew up their chairs to the rickety table, and spread out the paper before them.
”The exercises generally Commence with ringin' the bell,” said d.i.c.k; ”but as I aint got none, we'll have to do without.”
”And the teacher is generally provided with a rod,” said Fosd.i.c.k.
”Isn't there a poker handy, that I can use in case my scholar doesn't behave well?”
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