Ben Bruce Scenes in the Life of a Bowery Newsboy

AFTER attending to his chores, Ben decided to take a walk-not in the direction of the village, butaway from it. A quarter of a mile to the westward there was a river with a rapid current which hadyielded Ben plenty of enjoyment in the way of fishing and boating.Across from shore to shore was a dam, by means of which the water was made available for afactory for the manufacture of leather board. The superintendent of this factory, a Mr. Foster, wasone of Ben's special friends.Ben overtook the superintendent sauntering along beside the river."How are you, Ben?" said the superintendent kindly."Very well, thank you, Mr. Foster.""You are going to the high school next term, I suppose.""I expected to do so, but I am likely to be disappointed.""How is that?""My stepfather, Jacob Winter, is not in favor of my going.""What is his reason?""I suppose he wants me to work on the farm.""And you don't like farming?""No. I hope you won't think I don't like work, Mr. Foster, for I enjoy nothing better; but to workon a farm, and especially under Mr. Winter, would be very disagreeable to me.""How would you like to work in the factory?""Much better than on the farm, but I will say frankly that I have not secured the education whichI desire, and I shall be much disappointed if I can't go to the high school.""You were always fond of study, Ben. My boys don't care much for it. Well, I suppose tastesdiffer. Have you ever thought of your future?""I have thought of it a good deal. A good many things will be open to me if I am well educated, which would otherwise be closed to me.""I see, and I understand why you want a better education.""I am not likely to get it, however. If the choice lies between working on a farm and working inyour factory, I will work for you if I can get the chance. The wages I got would hire a boy to workon the farm, and there are boys who would be willing to do it.""We employ about thirty at present, but I could make room for a boy of your age and ability.What pay would you want?""It is for you to fix that.""I might give you five dollars a week to begin with.