I applied at several places for lodging, but they
all wanted money, and that was what I did not have. Knowing nothing
else better to do, I walked the streets. In doing this I passed by
many a food-stands where fried chicken and half-moon apple pies were
piled high and made to present a most tempting appearance. At that
time it seemed to me that I would have promised all that I expected to
possess in the future to have gotten hold of one of those chicken legs
or one of those pies. But I could not get either of these, nor
anything else to eat.
I must have walked the streets till after midnight. At last I
became so exhausted that I could walk no longer. I was tired, I was
hungry, I was everything but discouraged. Just about the time when I
reached extreme physical exhaustion, I came upon a portion of a street
where the board sidewalk was considerably elevated. I waited for a
few minutes, till I was sure that no passers-by could see me, and then
crept under the sidewalk and lay for the night upon the ground, with
my satchel of clothing for a pillow. Nearly all night I could hear
the tramp of feet over my head. The next morning I found myself
somewhat refreshed, but I was extremely hungry, because it had been a
long time since I had had sufficient food.
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