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as。
So it was that it happened； perhaps some months after I had become a journeyman； that he told me to take a gang of men； whom he named； and to go quite up…town in the city； to put a close wooden fence around a vacant lot of land there。 One of his regular employers had come to him； to say that this lot of land was to be enclosed； and the work was to be done by him。 He had sent round the lumber； and he told me that I would find it on the ground。 He gave me； in writing； the general directions by which the fence was ordered； and told me to use my best judgment in carrying them out。 〃Only take care；〃 said he； 〃that you do it as well as if I was there myself。 Do not be in a hurry； and be sure your work stands。〃
I was well pleased to be left thus to my own judgment。 I had no fear of failing to do the job well； or of displeasing my old master or his employer。 If I had any doubts； they were about the men who were to work under my lead； whom I did not rate at all equally； and； if I could have had my pick； I should have thrown out some of the more sulky and lazy of them； and should have chosen from the other hands。 But youngsters must not be choosers when they are on their first commissions。
I had my party well at work； with some laborers whom we had hired to dig our post…holes； when a white…haired old man； with gold spectacles and a broad…brimmed hat； alighted from a cab upon the sidewalk； watched the men for a minute at their work； and then accosted me。 I knew him perfectly； though of course he did not remember me。 He was； in fact； my employer in this very job； for he was old Mark Henry； a Quaker gentleman of Philadelphia； who was guardian of the infant heirs who owned this block of land which we were enclosing。 My master did all the carpenter's work in the New York houses which Mark Henry or any of his wards owned； and I had often seen him at the shop in consultation。 I turned to him and explained to him the plans for the work。 We had already some of the joists cut； which were to make the posts to our fence。 The old man measured them with his cane； and said he thought they would not be long enough。
I explained to him that the fence was to be eight feet high； and that these were quite long enough for that。
〃I know；〃 he said； 〃I know； my young friend； that my order was for a fence eight feet high； but I do not think that will do。〃
With some surprise I showed him； by a 〃ten…foot pole；〃 how high the fence would come。
〃Yes； my young friend； I see； I see。 But I tell thee； every beggar's brat in the ward will be over thy fence before it has been built a week； and there will be I know not what devices of Satan carried on in the inside。 All the junk from the North River will be hidden there； and I shall be in luck if some stolen trunk； nay； some dead man's body； is not stowed away there。 Ah； my young friend； if thee is ever unhappy enough to own a vacant lot in the city； thee will know much that thee does not know now of the exceeding sinfulness of sin。 Thee will know of trials of the spirit and of the temper that thee has never yet experienced。〃
I said I thought this was probable； but I thought inwardly that I would gladly be tried that way。 The old man went on：
〃I said eight feet to friend Silas； but thee may say to him that I have thought better of it； and that I have ordered thee to make the fence ten feet high。 Thee may say that I am now going to Philadelphia； but that I will write to him my order when I arrive。 Meanwhile thee will go on with the fence as I bid thee。〃
And so the old man entered his cab again and rode away。
I amused myself at his notion； for I knew very well that the street…boys and other loafers would storm his ten…foot wall as readily as they would have stormed the Malakoff or the Redan； had they supposed there was anything to gain by doing it。 I had； of course； to condemn some of my posts； which were already cut； or to work them in to other parts of the fence。 My order for spruce boards was to be enlarged by twenty per cent by the old man's direction； and this； as it happened； led to a new arrangement of my piles of lumber on my vacant land。
And all this it was which set me to thinking that night； as I looked on the work； that I might attempt another enterprise； which； as it proved； lasted me for years； and which I am now going to describe。
I had worked diligently with the men to set up some fifty feet of the fence where it parted us from an alley… way； for I wanted a chance to dry some of the boards； which had just been hauled from a raft in the North River。 The truckmen had delivered them helter… skelter； and they lay； still soaking； above each other on our vacant lot。
We turned all our force on this first piece of fence； and had so much of it done that； by calling off the men just before sundown； I was able to set up all the wet boards； each with one end resting on the fence and the other on the ground； so that they took the air on both sides； and would dry more quickly。 Of course this left a long； dark tunnel underneath。
As the other hands gathered up their tools and made ready to go； a fellow named McLoughlin； who had gone out with one of the three months' regiments not long before； said：
〃I would not be sorry to sleep there。 I have slept in many a worse place than that in Dixie〃； and on that he went away； leaving me to make some measurements which I needed the next day。 But what he said rested in my mind； and； as it happened； directed the next twelve years of my life。
Why should not I live here？ How often my mother had said that if she had only a house of her own she should be perfectly happy！ Why should not we have a house of our own here； just as comfortable as if we had gone a thousand miles out on the prairie to build it； and a great deal nearer to the book…stores； to the good music； to her old friends； and to my good wages？ We had talked a thousand times of moving together to Kansas； where I was to build a little hut for her； and we were to be very happy together。 But why not do as the minister had bidden us only the last Sundayseize on to…day； and take what Providence offered now？
I must acknowledge that the thought of paying any ground rent to old Mr。 Henry did not occur to me then no； nor for years afterward。 On the other hand； all that I thought of was this；that here was as good a chance as there was in Kansas to live without rent； and that rent had been； was still； and was likely to be my bugbear； unless I hit on some such scheme as this for abating it。
The plan； to be short； filled my mind。 There was nothing in the way of house…building which I shrank from now； for； in learning my trade； I had won my Aladdin's lamp； and I could build my mother a palace； if she had needed one。 Pleased with my fancy； before it was dark I had explored my principality from every corner； and learned all its capabilities。
The lot was an oblong； nearly three times as long as it was wide。 On the west side； which was one of the short sides； it faced what I will call the Ninety…ninth Avenue； and on the south side； what I will call Fernando Street； though really it was one of the cross…streets with numbers。 Running to the east it came to a