THE END OF A LONG QUEST I went to seek my mother in my best clothes.

I had bought some new things in Milwaukee, and was sure that my appearance would comfort her greatly.

Instead of being ragged, poverty-stricken, and neglected-looking, I was a picture of a clean, well-clothed working boy.
I had on a good corduroy suit, and because the weather was cold, I wore a new Cardigan jacket.

My shirt was of red flannel, very warm and thick; and about my neck I tied a flowered silk handkerchief which had been given me by a lady who was very kind to me once during a voyage by canal, and was called "my girl" by the men on the boat.

I wore good kip boots with high tops, with shields of red leather at the knees, each ornamented with a gilt moon and star--the nicest boots I ever had; and I wore my pants tucked into my boot-tops so as to keep them out of the snow and also to show these glories in leather.