Wait and Hope Part 26

"Don't you feel hungry, Emma?"

"Yes."

"Then we will go and have some dinner, first of all."

This proposal was satisfactory to the little girl, who took Ben's hand and walked up toward Was.h.i.+ngton Street with him.

On School Street they found an eating-house which did not appear too high in price, and Ben led Emma in.

They seated themselves at a table, and ordered dinner. Just opposite sat a pleasant-looking man, of middle age. He was fond of children, and his attention was drawn to little Emma.

"Is that your sister?" he inquired of Ben.

"No, sir," answered Ben.

"No relation?"

"No, sir; she is from New York. She is going to board with my aunt."

"Does your aunt live in Boston?"

"No, sir; in Milltown."

"Has the young lady come into the city on a shopping excursion?"

inquired the new acquaintance, smiling.

"No, sir; she is just on her way from New York. I went to fetch her."

"You are a young guardian."

"Rather, sir; but there was no one else to go for her."

"How old are you?"

"Fifteen."

"Are you attending school?"

"No, sir; I should be glad to do so; but my aunt is not in good circ.u.mstances, and I have to work. I have been employed in the mills, but they discharged some of their hands lately, and I was among them."

"How would you like to come to Boston to work?"

"Very much."

"I may some time have a vacancy for you. I am a wholesale stationer on State Street. Give me your address, and if I have any opening I will write to you."

"Thank you, sir," said Ben; "I should like very much to work here."

Ben took the stranger's card, from which he learned that his name was Otis Johnson, and that he dealt in stationery, blank books, diaries, and a similar line of goods.

"This may lead to something," thought Ben. "I should enjoy living in Boston. There is a good deal more going on here than in Milltown."

It was about quarter of two when Ben and Emma rose from the table.

"What are we going to do now?" asked Emma.

Ben considered.

"The train doesn't start till five," he said. "We won't go to the station yet, for we should get tired of waiting. We will walk about, and look into the shop windows, unless you are tired."

"I am not tired. I should like it," said Emma.

Presently they came to the old State House. Ben's attentions was attracted by a Charleston car. He knew that Bunker Hill Monument was in Charleston, and it struck him that it would be a good opportunity to go and see it.

"Does this car go to Bunker Hill Monument?" he inquired.

"Yes," said the conductor. "It goes within two minutes' walk of it."

"How long does it take to go there?"

"Twenty minutes."

Ben reflected that the train did not start till five o'clock, and that there would be plenty of time for the excursion. He did not know when he would have another chance, and resolved to avail himself of this.

He helped Emma to board the car, and got on himself.

"I like to ride in electric cars, Ben," said Emma.

"So do I, Emma. Do you know what we are going to see?"

"What is it?"

"A great stone monument, five times as high as a house."

"What is a monument?"

Ben explained to her.

"Does anybody live in it?" asked the little girl.

"No, I don't think it would be a very pleasant place to live in."

"What did they build it for, then?"

Ben explained that a great battle had been fought on the hill where the monument stood.

"Do they fight any battles there now, Ben?" asked Emma, in some apprehension.