of per-

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"Well, I ain't yer son. Ner I ain't no signpost either. D'ye want a
pape?"

"I don't know. Perhaps I might take one," was the answer in drawling
tones. "Are you selling papers?"

"Naw, I'm here fer me health. De doctor said I had t' stand here t'
git fresh air," replied Jimmy with contempt in his tones, for he saw
that the young man was from the country, unused to city ways, and, as a
boy who had lived in New York all his life, Jimmy had not much use for
country folks.

"You're something of a joker, aren't you?" asked the young man, good
humor showing in his blue eyes. He did not seem to be offended at
Jimmy's answer.

"Naw, I'm a newsie. Want a pape? _Sun, Woild, Joinal_? Wuxtry! All
about de big fire!"

"Which is the best paper?" asked the young man with a smile.

"Aw, g'wan! T'ink I'm going t' play favorites? Dey is all alike t'
me. One's de same as de udder. I ain't goin' t' knock any of 'em. I
makes me livin' by sellin' 'em all, dat's what!"

"Then I guess I'll take a _Sun_. But could you tell me the way to the
Brooklyn Bridge? I'm a stranger in New York."

"Oh, I kin see dat all right enough," replied Jimmy with a little
kindlier feeling toward the man, now that he had proved to be a
customer. "Youse from de country all right."

"How can you tell that?"

"'Cause youse talks so slow. Folks here ain't got time t' waste so
much talk over deir woids. Ye got t' hustle in N'York."

"I believe you, from what little I have seen. You are right, I am from
the country, and I'm on my way to visit an aunt in Brooklyn. I thought
I'd walk over the bridge, for I've read a lot about it."

"Well, go up one block," said Jimmy, pointing toward Park Place, "den
cut t'rough City Hall Park by de side of de post-office here an' foller
de crowd. Youse can't miss it. But youse wants t' look out."

"What for?"

"If ye gits in de push youse'll be squeezed t' death. It's an awful
mob dat goes t' Brooklyn dis time o' day."

"Well, I'll be careful. Do you live around here?"

"Who, me? Oh, yes, I lives around here," and Jimmy, with a wave of his
hand, included nearly the whole of New York.

"What's your name?"

"Say, who are youse, anyhow?" inquired the newsboy, suddenly suspicious.

"My name is Joshua Crosscrab, and I'm from Newton, Vermont," replied
the young man, still good-natured.