"I belong to a good family, though you wouldn't think it to look at me now," continued his guide. "My father was a wealthy merchant."
"Was he?" asked Sam, curiously.
"Yes, we lived in a splendid mansion, and kept plenty of servants. I was sent to an expensive school, and I did not dream of coming to this."
Mr. Brown wiped his eyes with his coat-sleeve, as he thus revived the memories of his early opulence.
"Did your father lose his money?" asked Sam, getting interested.
"He did indeed," said the stranger, with emotion. "It was in the panic of 1837. Did you ever hear of it?"
"I guess not," said Sam, who was not very conversant with the financial history of the country.
"My father became a bankrupt, and soon after died of grief," continued the stranger. "I was called back from boarding-school, and thrown upon the cold mercies of the world."
"That was hard on you," said Sam.
"It was, indeed, my young friend. I perceive that you have a sympathetic heart. You can feel for the woes of others."