t."

"Yes, I took it by mistake. Ain't it an illigant fit?"

"It's big enough for two of you."

"Maybe I'll grow to it in time," said Jerry.

"And how much are you goin' to give me for my share?" demanded Mike.

"Say that ag'in," said Jerry.

Mike repeated it.

"I thought maybe I didn't hear straight. It ain't yours at all. Didn't I
take it?"

"You wouldn't have got it if I hadn't fit with Paul."

"That ain't nothin' to me," said Jerry. "The shirt's mine, and I'll kape
it."

Mike felt strongly tempted to "put a head on" Jerry, whatever that may
mean; but, as Jerry was a head taller already, the attempt did not seem
quite prudent. He indulged in some forcible remarks, which, however, did
not disturb Jerry's equanimity.

"I'll give you my old shirt, Mike," he said, "if you can find it. I left
it in an alley near the Old Bowery."

"I don't want the dirty rag," said Mike, contemptuously.

Finally a compromise was effected, Jerry offering to help Mike on the
next occasion, and leave the spoils in his hands.

I have to chronicle another adventure of Jerry's, in which he was
less fortunate than he had been in the present case. He was a genuine
vagabond, and lived by his wits, being too lazy to devote himself to
any regular street employment, as boot blacking or selling newspapers.
Occasionally he did a little work at each of these, but regular,
persistent industry was out of his line. He was a drone by inclination,
and a decided enemy to work. On the subject of honesty his principles
were far from strict. If he could appropriate what did not belong to him
he was ready to do so without scruple. This propensity had several times
brought him into trouble, and he had more than once been sent to reside
temporarily on Blackwell's Island, from which he had returned by no
means improved.

Mike was not quite so much of a vagabond as his companion. He could work
at times, though he did not like it, and once pursued the vocation of a
bootblack for several months with fair success.

But Jerry's companionship was doing him no good, and it seemed likely
that eventually he would become quite as shiftless as Jerry himself.

Jerry, having no breakfast, strolled down to one of the city markets. He
frequently found an opportunity of stealing here, and was now in search
of such a chance. He was a dexterous and experienced barrel thief,
a term which it may be necessary to explain. Barrels, then, have a
commercial value, and c