ARTHUR
15

I am now in a public place again. With so many anxious attempts I have detached myself from the dangerous areas of private property. Many of the strategies that are usually done to enter a house I have done to get out of it. I was urged to use it by my fears; however, far from carrying spoils, I had gotten away with losing an important part of my clothes.

I now have time to reflect. I sat alone on the ground and reviewed the scenes I had just passed. I started thinking that my industry had been abused. Suppose I had met that person at his first entrance to his room? Is truth so wild that it gets no praise? Since the door was locked, and there was no other way, what other statement besides the right one would explain that I was found there? This deportation is worthy of an honest purpose. My traitor probably thought this would be his joke. The simplicity of my countryside, he might think, would not suggest more ambiguous or complicated wisdom. He might as well have decided to interfere if my safety was truly threatened.

Tomorrow, the two bedroom doors and windows below will be found unclosed. They will suspect a design to be looted, but their search will not end except in the discovery of a clumsy and dusty pair of shoes in the closet. Now that I am safe, I can't help but smile at the picture I imagine of their anxiety and astonishment. These thoughts, however, give place to more important considerations.

I cannot imagine for myself a more perfect example of poverty than I now show. There is no creature in the city whose goodness I claim. The money I didn't have, and what I was wearing at the time consisted of my entire supply of moving goods. I just lost my shoes, and this loss rendered my stockings useless. My dignity protested the barefoot pilgrimage, but for this, the need now reconciled me. I threw my stock between the window bars of the cage, as I thought, belonging to the mansion I just left. This, along with my shoes, I went to pay for my entertainment expenses.

I saw that the city was not a place for me. The ultimate goal I thought, to get a mechanical job, can only be obtained by means of means, but what means to pursue I do not know. The dangers and deceptions of the night made me dislike city life, and my ancient work increased until my outlook was enhanced by a thousand imaginary charms, I decided immediately to invade the countryside.

The day starts now for dawn. It was Sunday, and I wanted to avoid observation. I was somewhat recruited by the break, although the sleeplessness oppressed me. I intended to throw myself into the first lap of the greenery I had to meet, and enjoy the sleep I so desperately wanted. I did not know the direction of the road; but following what I first entered from the court, believed that, by sticking to one path, I would reach the field for some time. This road, as I later discovered, led to Schuylkill, and immediately got me out of the houses. I can't cross this river without toll payment. It was necessary to cross it to reach the part of the country I wanted to go to; but how should I affect my part? I know there is no ford, and the smallest expenditure exceeds my capacity. Ten thousand guineas and one farthing were both far from nothing, and no part was given to me.

While my mind was busy, I turned to one of the roads leading north. It was, for some time, uninhabited and unpaved. Right now I reach the sidewalk, and the painted fence, where rows of poplar trees are planted. It limited the garden where the knot hole allowed me to disassemble. The enclosure was a charming green, which I saw added to the house with the highest order and the most magnificent. It looked like a recent erection, had all the luster of novelty, and showed off, in my untrained eyes, the splendor of the palace. My father's residence was not as tall as a single floor, and probably easily consisted of a quarter of the buildings here designed to house rough items. My heart dictates the comparison between my own condition and the owner of this domain. How wide and impenetrable is the abyss that separates us! This just legacy has fallen into the hands of one who, perhaps, will only abuse it for the purposes of luxury, while I, with the worthy intention of being the friend of mankind, will abuse it, destined to use whips and sticks.

I let go of my station, and continued, in a heartless mood, along the fence. I now come to the house myself. The main door is entered by a marble staircase. I had never seen Carrara stone, and wildly thought it was dug out of an Italian mine. The beauty of poplar trees, the coolness exhaled from dewbesprent bricks, the comfort of the seating afforded by these measures, and the uncertainty in which I fell in relation to my future behavior, everything combined to make me stop. I sat down on the lower steps and started meditating.

With such a transition, it occurred to me that my most urgent supplies of necessities might be found in some of the residents of this house. I need a few cents at the moment; and how many cents for a big house tenant like this? I had an invincible aversion to the call of a beggar, but I was more antipathy again ascribe to the call of a thief; to this alternative, however, I was now reduced. I had to steal or beg; unless, indeed, help could be obtained with the concept of a loan. Will a stranger refuse to lend me the little money I want? Certainly not, when the urgency of my desire is explained.

I remember another obstacle. To call the host out of his bed, perhaps, for the sake of such a plea, would be absurd. I should have risked provoking his anger more than awakening his kindness. This request may, of course, with more propriety preferred passengers. I should, perhaps, meet some before I arrive at Schuylkill.

A waiter then appeared at the door, with a bucket and a brush. This requires me, sooner than I intended, to do the decamp. I reluctantly got up and continued. This house occupies the corner of the street, and now I turn towards the countryside. Someone, at a certain distance in front of me, was approaching in the opposite direction.

"Why," I said, "may I not demand the first man I meet? This guy shows the ability to lend. There's nothing scary or harsh in his attitude."