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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