CHAPTER XXIV.
BEN TRANSFORMED.
Ben worked away steadily at his double occupation, saving money as wellas he could; but he met with no more profitable adventures. His earningswere gradual. Some weeks he laid by as much as a dollar and a half, oreven two dollars, but other weeks he barely reached a dollar. So the endof March came before he was able to carry out the object which he had inview.
One morning about this time Ben carefully counted up his deposits, andfound they amounted to fifty dollars and thirty-seven cents. It was ajoyful moment, which he had long looked forward to. He had been temptedto rest satisfied with forty when he had reached that sum, but heresisted the temptation.
"I aint goin' to do things by halves," he said to himself. "I can't doit for less'n fifty dollars. I must wait awhile."
But the moment had arrived when he could accomplish his purpose. As Benlooked down at his ragged attire, which was in a considerably worsecondition then when he was first presented to the reader, he felt thatit was high time he got a new suit.
The first thing to be done was to get his money. He made his way to thesavings-bank, and presented himself at the counter.
"I want all of my money," he said.
"I hope you're not going to spend it all," said the bank officer, who bythis time had come to feel acquainted with Ben, from his frequent callsto make deposits.
"I'm goin' to buy some new clothes," said Ben. "Don't I look as if Ineeded some?"
"Yes, you are rather out at elbows, I must admit. But new clothes won'tcost all the money you have in the bank."
"I'm goin' home to my friends," said Ben, "after I've got dresseddecently."
"That's a good resolution, my boy; I hope you'll stick to it."
"It's what I've been workin' for, for a long time," said Ben.
He filled out the order for the money, and it was delivered to him.
The next thing was to buy a new suit of clothes. Usually Ben hadprocured his outfit in Chatham Street, but he soared higher now. He madehis way to a large ready-made clothing warehouse on Broadway, andentered. The main apartment was spacious, the counters were heaped witharticles of dress, and numerous clerks were ready to wait uponcustomers.
"Well, what's wanted?" asked one, glancing superciliously at the raggedboy entering.
"Have you got any clothes that will fit me?" asked Ben.
"I guess you've lost your way, Johnny, haven't you?"
"What makes you think so?" asked Ben.
"This isn't Chatham Street."
"Thank you for the information," said Ben. "I thought it was when I sawyou here."
There was a laugh, at the clerk's expense, among those who heard theretort.
"What are you here for, any way?" demanded the clerk, with an air ofinsulted majesty.
"To buy some clothes," said Ben; "but you needn't show 'em to me. I'llgo to somebody else."
"Have you got any money?"
"You'll know soon enough."
He went to another part of the store, and applied to a salesman whoseappearance he liked better. After some hesitation, Ben made choice of asuit of substantial warm cloth, a dark mixed sack-coat, vest of the samematerial, and a pair of pants of neat pattern.
"I won't trouble you to send 'em," said Ben, "as my house is closed forthe season."
The bundle was made up, and handed to him. The price of the entire suitwas twenty dollars, which was a good price for those days. Ben took thebundle under his arm and went out.
His purchases were not yet all made. He went next to a furnishing store,and bought three shirts, three pairs of stockings, some collars, and anecktie, finishing up with a pair of gloves. These cost him eightdollars. A neat felt hat and a pair of shoes, which he procuredelsewhere, completed his outfit. On counting up, Ben found that he hadexpended thirty-six dollars, leaving in his hands a balance of fourteendollars and thirty-seven cents.
Before putting on his new purchases, Ben felt that he must go through aprocess of purification. He went, therefore, to a barber's basementshop, with which baths were connected, and, going down the steps, saidto the barber's assistant, who happened to be alone at the time, "I wanta warm bath."
"Pay in advance," said the young man, surveying the ragged figure beforehim with some hesitation.
"All right," said Ben. "How much is it?"
"Twenty-five cents."
"Here it is," said Ben, producing the exact amount from his vest-pocket.
Such ragged customers were not usual; but there seemed to be no goodexcuse for refusing Ben, as he had the money to pay. In five minutes thebath was declared to be ready, and Ben, entering the small room assignedto him, joyfully divested himself of the ragged garments which he wasnever again to put on, and got into the tub. It probably will not excitesurprise when I say that Ben stood in need of a bath. His street lifehad not been particularly favorable to cleanliness, nor had he beenprovided with such facilities for attending to his toilet as are usualin well-regulated families. However, he was quite aware of hisdeficiencies in this way, and spared neither pains nor soap to remedythem. It was a work of time; but finally he felt satisfied with theresult of his efforts, and, after drying himself, proceeded to put onhis new clothes. They proved to fit excellently. Indeed, they wroughtsuch a change in our hero's appearance that he could hardly believe inhis own identity when he stood before the glass, and saw reflected theform of a well-dressed boy, in place of the ragged figure which he sawon entering. The only thing which marred his good appearance was hishair, which had grown to undue length. He determined to have it cutbefore he left the barber's shop.
He tied up the clothes he had taken off in the paper which had containedhis new suit, and, opening the door, went out into the main room withthe bundle under his arm.
Meanwhile the proprietor of the shop had returned.
"Who is taking a bath?" he asked of his assistant.
"A ragged street boy," said the latter.
"What did you let him in for?"
"He paid in advance."
"I don't care about such customers any way," said the barber. "Remembernext time."
"All right."
At this moment Ben made his appearance; but that appearance was so muchaltered that the young man looked at him in astonishment. He lookedthoroughly well dressed, and might have passed readily for the scion ofa wealthy family.
"Were two bath-rooms occupied?" asked the proprietor.
"No."
"I thought you said--"
"I was never so surprised in my life," said the assistant. "Did you getchanged in the bath?" he asked of Ben.
"Yes," said Ben.
"What made you wear such a ragged suit?"
"I was in disguise," said Ben; "but I've got tired of it, and thrown itoff. I think I'll have my hair cut."
"Take a seat," said the proprietor. "I'll cut your hair myself. How willyou have it cut?"
"I want to be in the fashion," said Ben. "Make it look as well as youcan."
He took his seat, and the task commenced. The barber was skilful in hisart, and he saw at once what style would become Ben best. He exertedhimself to the utmost, and when at the end of half an hour he withdrewthe cloth from around our hero's neck, he had effected a change almostmarvellous in Ben's appearance.
I have already said that Ben was naturally good-looking. But even goodlooks need fair play, and rags and neglect are apt to obscure the giftsof nature. So Ben had never looked his best till now. But when his hairwas cut and arranged, and he looked in the mirror to observe theeffect, he was himself surprised. It was some like the change thattransformed Cinderella into a princess.
"I shan't be ashamed to tell my cousin who I am now," he said.
Ben, the Luggage Boy; Or, Among the Wharves Page 24
