He stood on the sidewalk on the lookout for another customer, when Tom marched across the street, broom in hand.
“You wouldn’t have got him if I hadn’t muddied his boots.”
“He called me names. That’s one reason. Besides, I wanted to give you a job.”
Joe seemed struck by this view, and, being alive to his own interest, did not disregard the application.
He hesitated a moment, then diving once more into his pocket, brought up another penny, which Tom transferred with satisfaction to the pocket of her dress.
“Yes,” said Joe. “I say, Tom, you’re a smart un.”
“I’d ought to be. Granny makes me smart whenever she gets a chance.”
Tom returned to the other end of the crossing, and began to sweep diligently. Her labors did not extend far from the curbstone, as the stream of vehicles now rapidly passing would have made it dangerous. However, it was all one to Tom where she swept. The cleanness of the crossing was to her a matter of comparative indifference. Indeed, considering her own disregard of neatness, it could hardly have been expected that she should feel very solicitous on that point. Like some of her elders who were engaged in municipal labors, she regarded street-sweeping as a “job,” out of which she was to make money, and her interest began and ended with the money she earned.
There were not so many to cross Broadway at this point as lower down, and only a few of these seemed impressed by a sense of the pecuniary value of Tom’s services.
“Gi’ me a penny, sir,” she said to a stout gentleman.
Tom darted upon it, and fished it up, wiping her fingers afterwards upon her dress.
“Aint you afraid of soiling your dress?” asked the philanthropist, smiling.
“You’re a philosopher,” said the stout gentleman.
“Don’t you go to callin’ me names!” said Tom; “’cause if you do I’ll muddy up your boots.”
“So you don’t want to be called a philosopher?” said the gentleman.
“No, I don’t,” said Tom, eying him suspiciously.
He took a dime from his pocket, and handed it to the astonished Tom.
Tom’s eyes glistened; for ten cents was a nugget when compared with her usual penny receipts. She stood in a brown study till her patron was half across the street, then, seized with a sudden idea, she darted after him, and tugged at his coat-tail.