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They do the poor newsboy gross injustice who pronounce his case hopeless. However it may be in other cities, there are in Philadelphia men who have worked their way up in this honourable and legitimate business, and who are now in comfortable circumstances, deservedly possessing the respect of the community. Many a youth has his eye fixed upon those who have passed successively through the several grades of the profession, and, struggling to overcome the many difficulties which beset his path, sighs for a helping hand and sympathetic heart, which must not be withheld.

CHAPTER II.

OPENING OF THE LODGINGROOM IN PEAR STREET.

In 1856 I was led to a serious consideration of my duty in reference to the newsboys; and the desire to know more of them, and to cheer and encourage them, increased as I became better acquainted with their circumstances and wants, but other engagements, and absence from the city, prevented a consummation of my long cherished plans till 1858.

In cooperation with others, a meeting was held at Jayne's Hall, on Sunday, January 31, 1858, which was attended by fifty-three newsboys. Several gentlemen were present, some of whom took part in the exercises. As one of them, a member of the press, made his appearance, he was greeted with hearty cheers and clapping of hands, so delighted were the boys to see him.

It is a matter of interest, worthy of record in the history of this first meeting, that great doubts were expressed by one of the gentlemen as to the propriety of opening the meeting with prayer, fearing interruption on the part of the boys. He, however, complied with my request, but before doing so, referred the matter to the boys for an expression of their wishes. All manifested their approval by holding up their hands, and, although told that they might retain their seats, they immediately arose and remained in respectful silence. Their behavior was excellent during the two hours the meeting lasted.

A second meeting was held at the same place on the following Sunday, February 7th, when I endeavoured to instruct the boys from the word of God, the only true and safe guide in the path of life. They conducted themselves admirably, except in the use of tobacco to an alarming extent. The smallest lads had not only adopted this vile habit, but some of them actually ate tobacco! A little friendly advice had the desired effect, and there was not only no further trouble upon this score during the remainder of the meeting, but their promise to abstain from the use of the nauseous weed the next Sunday was faithfully kept, as I felt assured it would be.

One of the gentlemen present at the first meeting, and who was well acquainted with most of the boys, having informed me that some of them had on that occasion heard the first kind words ever spoken to them, I was led to ask if this was really the case, when several of these poor, ill-used youth, touchingly answered in the affirmative.

A third meeting was held on Sunday, the 14th of February, but indisposition prevented my assembling the boys for several succeeding Sundays, after which few could be gathered, and it soon became evident that some other plan must be adopted to secure the desired object. Their great and pressing need was a home, and this I had encouraged them to expect at our first interview, being fully convinced that it was indispensible. The boys never lost sight of this prospect, but pressed the subject upon me whenever I met them in the street, with an earnestness that showed how keenly they felt the want of such a shelter. So eager was their expectation, that they watched with interest every furniture wagon, in the hope that it was on its way to their new quarters. Some of them made tours to the west end of the city, and brought back favourable reports of several of the costly mansions there, which exactly met their lofty ideas.

Arrangements were at last completed and "The Newsboys' Aid Society," formed for the purpose of "providing lodging and education for homeless and indigent boys, engaged in the occupation of vending newspapers and periodicals in the city of Philadelphia, and to encourage in them, by suitable means, habits of morality and economy," opened their plain, yet comfortable, lodging rooms in Pear street, on the 29th of May, 1858.

The boys were in high spirits on this occasion, and did ample justice to the "good things" provided for them, and which had been tastefully arranged upon the tables by an experienced public waiter. One of the lads, after watching his movements, and gazing upon the banquet he had prepared for them, hastened to a gentleman, and invited him to be present at the appointed hour, and "see him eat boned turkey, with a darkie waiting upon him." This first entertainment was quite a grand affair, and all seemed to enjoy themselves most heartily. The Rev. Dr. Newton opened the Home with prayer and reading the Scriptures. In addressing the boys, he related an interesting anecdote of a lad, who, in his endeavours to untie a knot, was met by a gentleman, who offered to cut it with a knife, when the little fellow exclaimed, "No, sir! I belong to the try company." The application of the story was excellent, and the boys were affectionately urged to form a "Newsboys' Try Company," and to try and be good, and avoid evil of every kind.