ung
men of such habits, it would seem very odd in me to refuse, and I must
now and then take a harmless glass."

"Then, Arthur, why not choose companions of different habits? You
certainly will admit such a course is wrong for any young man. See the
influence even, which Clinton's society has had upon you this evening.
He has really induced you to think such practices here are allowable,
and even commendable. This morning, without arguing the case, you
voluntarily confessed it to be very wrong. Oh, Arthur, I already begin
to wish we were out of this dreadful place."

"You are a chicken-hearted little body," returned Arthur, playfully;
then speaking more gravely, he continued: "Well, Guly, it is not, after
all, so much my fault. I am of an age to wish to enjoy myself. I have
been accustomed to having every comfort and happiness around me; the
fond love and refined society of a mother, together with the noble
presence and good advice of our father. Look at the change! We have come
here poor, but with delicate and luxurious tastes. We have no father, no
mother, no home. One rough and dingy apartment to sleep in, is the only
spot we can look upon and call ours, and that we share in common with
the refuse lumber of the store and a colony of spiders and bedbugs.
Beyond our washer-woman, we haven't the acquaintance of a single member
of the other sex in this city; and, apart from each other, not one to
call a friend. It isn't a very pleasant state of affairs to reflect
upon, Guly; and this morning, when I lay alone up stairs on the bed, I
couldn't keep from thinking that these wealthy merchants who employ so
many clerks have much to answer for."

"How so, Arthur? You surely couldn't expect a merchant to direct and
govern the private pursuits of every young man in his employ?"

"No, surely not. Those clerks who have their homes and relatives here in
the city, are well enough off; but when, like us, they come from the
North, without even an acquaintance here, wouldn't it be better, not
only for the clerks, but for the merchant himself, if he would show a
little kindly interest in them and their welfare? Here, for instance,
are ourselves: Mr. Delancey was made acquainted by our first letter with
all the train of circumstances which forced _us_ to this course. He is
well aware that our family is as good as his own, and why then has he
not said to us that we would be welcome visitors at his house, and thus
given us one place wh