174
 

THE POOR IN GREAT CITIES
 

excitement (produced by having been punished, as he thought, un¬
fairly), and Avith all his plans made to run away from the institu¬
tion.

He detailed these plans to the gentleman, Avho told him, of
course, that he would consider the information confidential, and
certainly would not make use of it to stop him if the boy persisted
in his plan; that he advised him, however, very strongly, not to do
so, but to stay there, and so conduct himself as to leaA^e behind
 

Lining Up to go into the  Gynnnasium.
 

him, when he should leave the institution, a record so clear that
anyone avIio ever should want to consult it afterward could find
nothing in it to his discredit.

In time the argument so impressed the boy that he determined
to folloAv the advice, and from that time forward he became as ear¬
nest a worker in the school and in the shops as any boy in the in¬
stitution, and finally ended his term and left there Avith the hearti¬
est good Avishes of everyone connected with it, all having a good
word to say of him. Since leaving he has come constantly to the
gentleman for advice and counsel, and now is settling doAvn into a
quiet, hard-working fellow, with every indication of becoming a
comfort to his parents and a useful member of society.