"Black your boots?" asked one boy of Ben, observing that our young adventurer's shoes were soiled.
"Yes," said Ben, "if you'll do it for nothing."
"I'll black your eye for nothing," said the other.
"Thank you," said Ben, "I won't trouble you."
Ben was rather interested in a scene which he witnessed shortly afterwards. A young man, whose appearance indicated that he was from the country, was waylaid by the boys, and finally submitted his boots to an operator.
"How much do you want?"
"Twenty-five cents," was the reply.
"Twenty-five cents!" exclaimed the customer, aghast. "You're jokin', aint you?"
"Reg'lar price, mister," was the reply.
"Why, I saw a boy blackin' boots down by the museum for ten cents."