something to eat. Mother ran a book in a grocery store, and Mike said,
"Go to the store and get a few things, and say you don't have the book
but will bring it when you come again." I went to the store and got a
ham, a pound of butter, two loaves of bread and one box of sardines.

[Footnote 1: Where proper names are left blank they refer to real
persons or places.]

Some people will ask how I can remember so many years back. I remember
my first night away from home as though it was yesterday, and I'll never
forget it as long as I live. After I got the things the grocer said,
"Where is the book?" I told him mother had mislaid it, and he said,
"Bring it the next time." We built a fire and cooked the ham and had
lots to eat.

Up to this time it had all been smooth sailing; it was warm and we had a
good time in general. We had a swim with some other boys, and after
telling them not to say that they saw me, we left them. I asked Mike
where we were going to sleep, and he said, "I'll show you when it's
time."

After a while Mike said, "I guess we had better go to bed." Off we
started across the lots until we came to a big haystack, and Mike
stooped down and began to pull hay out of the stack and work his way
inside. Remember I was green at the business; I had never been away from
home before; and Mike, though only a little older, was used to this kind
of life. Well, I pulled out hay enough, as I thought, and crawled in,
but there was no sleep for me. I kept thinking and thinking. I would
call Mike and ask him if he was asleep, and he would say, "Oh, shut up
and let a fellow sleep!"