Ranney. He got me by my coat-collar and shook me and
said I was a thief, and he finished up by kicking me through the door,
and here I am down on the Bowery homeless."
Another young fellow gone wrong! Could I help him? I urged him to go
back home, but he didn't want to. The night before was pay-night, and he
was always expected to give in his share towards the home expenses, and
now here was his money all gone. What could he do?
I took him around the room and pointed out the hard cases there,
wretched, miserable specimens of men, and asked him if he wanted to be
like them, as he surely would if he went on in the course he was
starting. He said, "Indeed I don't!" "Well, then," I said, "take my
advice and go home. Be a man and face the music. It will mean a scolding
from your father, but take it. Tell them both that you will make up the
money as soon as you get work, and that you are going to be obedient and
good from now on."
At last he said he would go if I would go with him, but I couldn't that
night, for I had a meeting to address. I told him I would give him a
lodging for the night, and we would go up to Washington Heights the next
day.
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