"Ahem," he said, "you look as if you were from the country. I wonder,
now, if you have came to the city to seek your fortune."

Archie was embarrassed. "Yes, sir, I suppose you might put it that way,"
he replied.

"Well," continued the old gentleman, "my advice to you is to go back
where you came from as quickly as you can. Not one boy in a thousand
will gain either fame or fortune in New York, and you stand a wonderful
chance of sinking lower every year. And even if you do succeed, you will
miss many beautiful things in your life which may come to you in the
country. You can have a pleasant home there, and live an easy, natural
life, while here it will be years before you can expect to accomplish
much, and you will spend your life in a nervous strain. Think well,
young man, before choosing the great city as your sphere of usefulness."

"I've made up my mind, sir," said Archie. "I have quite decided to
remain in the city."

"Very well," said the old gentleman, "I hope you may never regret it.
But we have already hired an office boy. Good morning."

Archie walked out, more discouraged than ever. Perhaps, after all, a
country life was not to be so much despised. This man ought to know what
he was talking about. But once outside, in the Broadway crowd, Archie
forgot everything about the country, and was lost in the delight of
being one of four million.

He now decided to accept the place in the restaurant, if it were
not taken, and, fortunately for him, it was not. So he rolled up his
sleeves, and began to wash dishes as if he had done nothing else in all
his life before.

CHAPTER IX.

IN THE STREET AGAIN--THE POLICE STATION--VISITS THE NEWSPAPER OFFICE,
AND IS KINDLY RECEIVED BY THE EDITOR.

ALL day long Archie washed dishes, and before night came he decided that
he had never before had such discouraging work. The restaurant was
a popular one, and there were very many dishes to be washed, to say
nothing of the pots and pans which were always dirty. Archie no sooner
finished one sink full of dishes than another large pile was waiting
to be put through the same operation, and there was no time at all for
looking about him. There was hardly time for eating, even, and at
noon he was only able to snatch a few mouthfuls. The work was not
interesting, and it was a new sort of labour to Archie, so that
altogether he did not get on as well as he might have wished. The cook
was constantly nagging him, and tell