"I'll see if I can't rig you out, Mike. I've got a good many clothes,
bought when I was rich. You and I are about the same size. I'll give you
a suit of clothes to wear on Sundays."

"Will you?" exclaimed Mike, his face showing pleasure. "I'd like to see
how I look in good clo'es. I never wore any yet. It wouldn't do no good
in my business."

"You won't want to wear them when at work. But wouldn't you like to
change your business?"

"Yes."

"Have you ever tried?"

"What'd be the use of tryin'? They'd know I was a bootblack in these
clo'es."

"When you wear a better suit you can go round and try your luck."

"I'd like to," said Mike wistfully. "I don't want you to tell at the
store that you room with a bootblack."

"It isn't that I think of, Mike. I want you to do better. I'm going to
make a man of you."

"I hope you are. Sometimes I've thought I'd have to be a bootblack
always. When do you think you'll get the clo'es?"

"I shall write to the principal of the boarding school at once, asking