"Maybe they'd adopt me instead of you."
"I don't think they would," said Ben, laughing.
"I wish somebody with lots of cash would adopt me, and make a gentleman of me. It would be a good sight better'n blackin' boots."
"Do you make much money that way?" inquired Ben.
"Pleasant days like this, sometimes I make a dollar, but when it rains there aint much doin'."
"How much have you made this morning?" asked Ben, with interest.
"Sixty cents."
"Sixty cents, and it isn't more than ten o'clock. That's doing pretty well."
"'Taint so good in the afternoon. Most every body gets their boots blacked in the mornin'. What are you goin' to do?"
"I don't know," said Ben.