"Alger Jr, Horatio - Ragged Dick" - читать интересную книгу автора (Alger Horatio Jr)

asked the man, who was a porter in the employ of a firm doing
business on Spruce Street. "Made it by shines, in course.
My guardian don't allow me no money for theatres, so I have
to earn it."

"Some boys get it easier than that," said the porter significantly.

"You don't catch me stealin', if that's what you mean," said Dick.

"Don't you ever steal, then?"

"No, and I wouldn't. Lots of boys does it, but I wouldn't."

"Well, I'm glad to hear you say that. I believe there's some
good in you, Dick, after all."

"Oh, I'm a rough customer!" said Dick. "But I wouldn't steal.
It's mean."

"I'm glad you think so, Dick," and the rough voice sounded gentler
than at first. "Have you got any money to buy your breakfast?"

"No, but I'll soon get some."

While this conversation had been going on, Dick had got up.
His bedchamber had been a wooden box half full of straw, on
which the young bootblack had reposed his weary limbs, and
slept as soundly as if it had been a bed of down. He dumped
down into the straw without taking the trouble of undressing.

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 uncombed 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