Julius had listened to this conversation with attention. He knew what it was to be hungry. More than once he had gone about with an empty stomach and no money to buy food. He saw that the man was weak and unnerved by hunger, and he spoke on the impulse of the moment, placing five cents in his hand.
"Take that and buy a drink."
"God bless you!" uttered the man, seizing the coin.
"What'll you have?" asked the barkeeper.
"Anything the money will buy."
A glass of lager was placed in his hands and eagerly quaffed. Then he went up to the table and ate almost ravenously, Julius bearing him company.
"God bless you, boy!" he said. "May you never know what it is to be hungry and without a penny in your pocket!"
"I've knowed it more'n once," said Julius.
"Have you—already? Poor boy! What do you do for a living?"
"Sometimes one thing—sometimes another," said Julius. "I'm blackin' boots now."