One evening in the early fall, Archie decided to accept the invitation
of Mr. Depaw, the railway president, to call. So he carefully dressed
himself in the best he had, and walked up Fifth Avenue and into the
side street where the great man had his home. He rang the bell and
presented his card, and waited in the drawing-room for an answer. The
footman was gone but a moment, and returning, announced that the
family would be down directly. Archie was very much pleased that he
was to meet the entire family, and looked about him with great
interest at the elegant furnishings of the room in which he sat. He
couldn't help thinking how lovely it must be to have so many books, so
many pictures, and so many works of art of every kind. The boy thought
then that he would like to be a wealthy man, just to be able to
gratify his desires for beautiful things.
He had to wait only a short time before the genial Mr. Depaw entered
the room, accompanied by several members of the family. Archie was
greeted very warmly, and introduced to every one, and then they
immediately began an animated conversation, in which Archie soon found
himself taking an active part, much to his surprise. He felt that he
had never before realised what a great gift it is to be able to talk
entertainingly, and this evening was a revelation to him in the ways
of good society. He found that every one was much interested in the
story of his adventures, and he talked more about them than for a long
time past.
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