Horatio Alger

Mark Mason's Victory Horatio Alger

"That is the City Hall over there, Edgar." The speaker was a man of middle age, with a thin face and a nose like a Hawk. He was well dressed, and across his vest was visible a showy gold chain with a cameo charm attached to it. The boy, probably about fifteen, was the image of his father. They were crossing City Hall Park in New York and Mr. Talbot was pointing out to his son the public buildings which make this one of the noted localities in the metropolis. "Shine?" asked a bootblack walking up to the pair. "I'd like to take a shine, father," said Edgar. "What do you charge?" "Five cents, but I don't object to a dime," replied the bootblack. "Can I have a shine, father?" "Why didn't you get one at the hotel?" "Because they charged ten cents. I thought I could get it for less outside." "Good boy!" said the father in a tone of approval. "Get things as low as you can. That's my motto, and that's the way I got rich. Here, boy, you can get to work." Instantly the bootblack was on his knees, and signed for Edgar to put his foot on the box.