We use Optical Character Recognition (OCR) during our scanning and processing workflow to make the content of each page searchable. You can view the automatically generated text below as well as copy and paste individual pieces of text to quote in your own work.
Text recognition is never 100% accurate. Many parts of the scanned page may not be reflected in the OCR text output, including: images, page layout, certain fonts or handwriting.
33
Finally I showed the address to an expressman and he motioned for me to hoist my suitcase and myself in the wagon. He delivered me to East Second Street for twenty-five cents, which I was able to pay out of the silver in my pocket.
The family had not known that I was coming and did not recognize me. Nevertheless, I was welcomed with open arms. At last my vest and the rest of my clothing came off and I took a bath in a tub in the kitchen. The water running out of the taps did not amaze me, for I was prepared for miracles.
A few days later I was working in an upholstery shop at two dollars a week. Not long afterward I ran into a boy about my own age whom I had known in Hungary. His brother got me a job as an apprentice in a fur shop. I began at a salary of four dollars a week— more than I needed, since board and lodging was only two and a half dollars a week. A kid like myself slept on the sofa in the home of a family whose head earned only ten or twelve dollars a week, and the additional income was welcome.
I was very happy, earning big money, living among hundreds of boys of my own age and interests. We boxed, played baseball, and sang Hungarian songs. Having been to night school in Szanto, it was natural for me to ask right away, "Do you have night school here?" The answer was affirmative and I enrolled.
After learning the fur trade, it occurred to me to go into business for myself. With that thought in mind I went to Chicago, though another reason was that I wanted to see the World's Fair. The shop in which I had