"To be sure I have!" cried the boy. "But you will never tell me anything," he added bitterly.
"Well, I kept the secret for your own good, my boy."
"How?"
"When I came to New York and settled on the East Side I made up my mind to lead an honest life and bring you up honestly. I did it, too; didn't I?"
"So far as I know, yes."
"I did it, but it was hard scratching, and you know it. Many were the times I didn't know how to turn myself, and if it hadn't been for some friends helping me, I would have gone under. Those friends were the only ones I ever knew. They weren't honest, but—well, we'll let that pass. They helped me, and I aint going back on 'em."
"But what about me?"
"I'm coming to that, Nelson. As I said before, I wanted to bring you up honestly; for your mother was honest, even if your father wasn't."
"My father!" ejaculated the newsboy. "What was he?"
"He was a good-hearted man, Nelson—a fine-hearted man, who did lots of good."