Page 86 - An Amateur Fireman

When did you have a bath last?"

"It's been quite a spell since I went in swimmin', sir."

"Well, you can begin the day with that. Use plenty of cold water, and I reckon the towels are coarse enough.
Then get your breakfast, come up here, and go to work."

"At anything special, sir?"

"Whatever you see that's needed to be done."

Then this employer, who had given him such good advice, walked quietly away, and Seth was left to find the
bathroom as best he might.

During this day Master Bartlett worked as industriously as ever; but with better heart than while employed
about the first task set him at headquarters, for he had reason to believe there was at least one in the building
who would lend him a helping hand, and the future seemed much brighter than it had twenty-four hours
previous.

This new friend, who was spoken of as "Josh" by those who seemed to be best acquainted with him, and by
others as "Mr. Fernald," apparently gave no heed to the boy, and Seth did whatever seemed to him most
necessary, although there were many times when he was tempted to stop in order to watch the men at their
exercises, until half-past five in the afternoon, when the man whom he was beginning to look upon as a friend
said sharply:

"Get your supper, now, Seth Bartlett, and to-morrow morning see to it that you have breakfast before coming
up here."

Seth wanted to say good-night to Mr. Fernald; but doubtful as to how such familiarity might be received, he
departed in silence, turning around as soon as he was in the corridor where none could see him, to wave his
hand in adieu.

Supper had been eaten, and he was on the sidewalk outside of headquarters just as the whistles were blowing
for the hour of six.

"I'll have a chance to stop a good while in Ninety-four's house to-night, an' there may another alarm come so's
I can go out with her again," he said to himself, and at that instant Teddy Bowser appeared from around the
corner of the building and cried excitedly:

"Dan Roberts an' Bill Dean sent me up here to tell you that Sam Barney's had Jip Collins 'rested this afternoon
'bout three o'clock."