without aiding, and that he was too poor to actually aid
the wretches around him, he wandered across to Fifth Avenue and stared
in the windows of a book store.

He had come to "town" (his room was in Brooklyn) with the intention of
seeing a play, but the Madison garden party had taken away his breath,
and left him without a desire to squander money on himself, when he had
deliberately held it back from the hungry and the naked. Further
reflection brought about a reaction in his mind, and eventually he
compromised with himself by going to a ten-cent picture show.
Afterwards he took subway and surface cars back to Eastern Parkway and
found himself sitting thoughtfully in his little room.

Like a writer who gets "copy" on the streets and fixes it up in his
garret, Evan thought the environment of his room would help him to
arrange the impressions a trip to town had created, but--again like the
writer--he found his head so full of notions that he could not think,
and he understood perfectly that ideas apart from thought were poor
things. So he turned in, bidding Madison Square and memories of
Hometon good-night.

Quite early next morning he arose, fresh and eager, all vain
philosophizing gone, prepared to hold his own in a big city. New York
had not, from the moment he landed, frightened him. Like the child
that looks into the fire, he saw only wonders. He had his health back,
he knew he was a good bookkeeper, board in New York was cheap--why
worry? He hadn't worried, and he had got work first crack! It is not
hard to get a job in New York, unless you are in rags; but it is hard
to get a good salary.

For a week now Evan had been engaged. The cashier, Phillips, told him
he was going to be a good man for the firm. Phillips did not ask him
where he had received his training: New Yorkers have no time for
life-stories or autobiographies. Evan was surprised that they did not
ask him more about himself, and for recommendations. Instead of
saying: "What are your references, sir?" the boss had said: "What can
you do?"

"I'm a bookkeeper."

"What experience?"

"Two years and a half in Canadian banking."

"Sounds good. What made you come over here?"

"Like every young Canadian," replied Evan, "I wanted to see New York."

Conscious of no guilt, he felt bold and spoke without fear.

"Well," replied the employer, "we'll give you a chance."

"Do you want a recommendation?" asked the Canadian.

"Nah," grunted