'FOREWARNED IS FOREARMED;' OR, THE STORY OF FRANK HARPER. BY THE AUTHOR OF "GOOD, BETTER, BEST; OR, THREE WAYS OF MAKING A HAPPY WORLD." T. NELSON AND SONS, LONDON; EDINBURGH; MDCCCLV. 1459. f 818 FRANK HARPER. CHAPTER I. COMING TO TOWN. It was Frank's first visit to a great city, and he looked at everything with wonder. The noise of the streets seemed to deafen him, and he scarcely escaped being run over by the carts and drays. "This," thought he, "is New York! I really did not think it was so large!" And yet what Frank had seen as yet was less than the hundredth part of New York. But the rows of tall houses were so long, and the shopwindows were so fine, and the sights in the streets were so new and wonderful, that he was in a sort of rapture. After Frank had spent most of the day in rambling about, he found his feet very sore and his whole body wearied. After taking tea, he was shown to his lodgings, away up in the attic of a three-storey house. Now it was that he began to feel that he was in a strange place. Two larger boys occupied the same little chamber; they were, like himself, employed in stores, in John Street. They had already gone to bed. Frank sat down a few moments, and began to think over the events of the busy say, which seemed to him like a dream. At length, he opened his little red trunk, and the first thing he saw was the Pocket-Bible, which his mother had given him. You may be sure some tears fell upon it as he opened it. He found the marker, which his sister had embroidered for him, and read on it the words, "O HOW I LOVE THY LAW!" He kneeled down, and prayed to God, with many tears, that he might be kept and blessed, now that he was separated from his parents. Frank's bed was not so good as the one which he had left at Coventry; and he was surprised, for he thought everything would be very grand in the great city. But he soon forgot himself, and slept (as all healthy boys sleep) soundly and well, until the day dawned. It was a bright winter morning, and Ned and Joe were already dressed. They did not wait for Bible or prayer, but hurried away to their stores. Frank had time only to read few verses, and to offer a short prayer. Boys in the city must rise early, or they will lose their devotions. And unless they form the habit at first, they are apt to have prayerless days. I am afraid there are hundreds who never pray at all. The next thing was a quick walk, or rather run, to the place of business. Here Frank had to kindle a coal-fire, which he found no easy job, and then to open the store, and sweep and dust it out. Mr. Boggs came in about nine o'clock, and then Frank hurried to his breakfast. It was the first breakfast he ever took, without familyprayer, and he thought of his father, mother, and sisters. He ate fast; and, to tell the truth, there was not much to eat. His mind wandered away to the full table in the |