"Yes, sir. Here it is. Best paper in the city!"
"I am glad you think so. It's a sound, dignified journal, in my opinion."
"Yes, sir. That's what I think. Henry J. Raymond's a brick!"
"Ahem, my lad. You mean the right thing, no doubt; but it would be better to say that he is a man of statesman-like views."
"That's what I mean, sir. Brick's the word we newsboys use."
Just then a boy somewhat larger than Rough and Ready came up. He was stout, and would have been quite good-looking, if he had been neatly dressed, and his face and hands had been free from dirt. But Johnny Nolan, with whom such of my readers as have read "Ragged Dick" and "Fame and Fortune" are already acquainted, was not very much troubled by his deficiencies in either respect, though on the whole he preferred whole garments, but not enough to work for them.
Johnny was walking listlessly, quite like a gentleman of leisure.
"How are you, Johnny?" asked Rough and Ready. "Where's your blacking-box?"
"Somebody stole it," said Johnny, in an aggrieved tone.
"Why don't you get another?"