Paul the Peddler | Page 7

bought a pound of candy
on the way home, and some cheap envelopes, and I'll be making up a

new stock while I am waiting for dinner."
Paul took out his candy and envelopes, and set about making up the
packages.
"Did any complain of the small amount of candy you put in?"
"A few; but most bought for the sake of the prizes."
"Perhaps you had better be a little more liberal with your candy, and
then there may not be so much dissatisfaction where the prize is only a
penny."
"I don't know but your are right, mother. I believe I'll only make thirty
packages with this pound, instead of fifty. Thirty'll be all I can sell this
afternoon."
Just then the door opened, and Paul's brother entered.
Jimmy Hoffman, or lame Jimmy, as he was often called, was a
delicate-looking boy of ten, with a fair complexion and sweet face, but
incurably lame, a defect which, added to his delicate constitution, was
likely to interfere seriously with his success in life. But, as frequently
happens, Jimmy was all the more endeared to his mother and brother
by his misfortune and bodily weakness, and if either were obliged to
suffer from poverty, Jimmy would be spared the suffering.
"Well, Jimmy, have you had a pleasant walk?" asked his mother.
"Yes, mother; I went down to Fulton Market. There's a good deal to see
there."
"A good deal more than in this dull room, Jimmy."
"It doesn't seem dull to me, mother, while you are here. How did you
make out selling your prize packages?"
"They are all sold, Jimmy, every one. I am making some more."

"Shan't I help you?"
"Yes, I would like to have you. Just take those envelopes, and write
prize packages on every one of them."
"All right, Paul," and Jimmy, glad to be of use, got the pen and ink, and,
gathering up the envelopes, began to inscribe them as he had been
instructed.
By the time the packages were made up, dinner was ready. It was not a
very luxurious repast. There was a small piece of rump steak--not more
than three-quarters of a pound--a few potatoes, a loaf of bread, and a
small plate of butter. That was all; but then the cloth that covered the
table was neat and clean, and the knives and forks were as bright as
new, and what there was tasted good.
"What have you been doing this morning, Jimmy?" asked Paul.
"I have been drawing, Paul. Here's a picture of Friday. I copied it from
'Robinson Crusoe.' "
He showed the picture, which was wonderfully like that in the book, for
this--the gift of drawing--was Jimmy's one talent, and he possessed it in
no common degree.
"Excellent, Jimmy!" said Paul. "You're a real genius. I shouldn't be
surprised if you'd make an artist some day."
"I wish I might," said Jimmy, earnestly. "There's nothing I'd like
better."
"I'll tell you what, Jimmy. If I do well this afternoon, I'll buy you a
drawing-book and some paper, to work on while mother and I are
busy."
"If you can afford it, Paul, I should like it so much. Some time I might
earn something that way."
"Of course you may," said Paul, cheerfully. "I won't forget you."

Dinner over, Paul went out to business, and was again successful,
getting rid of his thirty packages, and clearing another dollar. Half of
this he invested in a drawing- book, a pencil and some drawing-paper
for Jimmy. Even then he had left of his earnings for the day one dollar
and eighty cents. But this success in the new business had already
excited envy and competition, as he was destined to find out on the
morrow.

CHAPTER III
PAUL HAS COMPETITORS
The next morning Paul took his old place in front of the post office. He
set down his basket in front, and, taking one of the packages in his hand,
called out in a businesslike manner, as on the day before, "Here's your
prize packages! Only five cents! Money prize in every package! Walk
up, gentlemen, and try your luck!"
He met with a fair degree of success at first, managing in the course of
an hour to sell ten packages. All the prizes drawn were small, with the
exception of one ten-cent prize, which was drawn by a little bootblack,
who exclaimed:
"That's the way to do business, Johnny. If you've got any more of them
ten-cent prizes, I'll give you ten cents a piece for the lot."
"Better buy some more and see," said Paul.
"That don't go down," said the other. "Maybe there'd be only a penny."
Nevertheless, the effect of this large prize was to influence the sale of
three other packages; but as neither of