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George Barry； on first entering into business as a street
merchant。 This saved a good deal of trouble； as otherwise he
would have been compelled to carry them home every night and
bring them back in the morning。
〃Well； Paul；〃 asked his mother； when he returned to supper； 〃have
you found anything to do yet？〃
〃I have got employment for a few days；〃 said Paul。 〃to tend a
necktie stand。 The man that keeps it is sick。〃
〃How much does he pay you； Paul？〃 asked Jimmy。
〃Half the profits。 How much do you think I have made this
afternoon？〃
〃Forty cents。〃
〃What do you say to ninety…three cents？ Just look at this；〃 and
Paul displayed his earnings。
〃That is excellent。〃
〃I had good luck。 Generally； I shan't make more in a whole day
than this。〃
〃That will be doing very well。〃
〃But I shall make more； if I can。 One fellow bought six neckties
of me this afternoon。 I wish everybody would do that。 Now；
mother； I hope supper is most ready； for selling neckties has
made me hungry。〃
〃Almost ready； Paul。〃
It was a humble meal； but a good one。 There were fresh rolls and
butter； tea and some cold meat。 That was all； but the cloth was
clean； and everything looked neat。 All did justice to the plain
meal； and never thought of envying the thousands who； in their
rich uptown mansions； were sitting down at the same hour to
elaborate dinners costing more than their entire week's board。
〃Are you going out； Paul？〃 asked Mrs。 Hoffman； noticing that he
took his hat。
〃Yes； I must go and see George Barry； and carry the money I have
received for sales。〃
〃Where does he live？〃
〃In Bleecker street。 I shan't be gone long。〃
Paul reached the number which had been given him。 It was a
large； four…story house； with the appearance of a barracks。
〃Mr。 Barry；〃 said the servant； in answer to his question 〃he
lives upstairs on the fourth floor。 Room on the right。〃
Paul plodded his way upstairs； and found the room without
difficulty。
On knocking； the door was opened by Mrs。 Barry； who looked at him
inquiringly。
〃Does George Barry live here？〃 asked Paul。
〃Yes。 Are you the one he left in charge of his business？〃
Paul answered in the affirmative； adding； 〃How is he？〃
〃He seems quite feverish。 I am afraid he is going to have a
fever。 It's fortunate he came home。 He was not able to attend
to his business。〃
〃Can I see him？〃
〃Come in；〃 said Mrs。 Barry。
The room was covered with a worn carpet； but looked neat and
comfortable。 There was a cheap sewing…machine in one corner； and
some plain furniture。 There was a bedroom opening out of this
room； and here it was that George Barry lay upon the bed。
〃Is that Paul Hoffman； mother？〃 was heard from the bedroom。
〃Yes；〃 said Paul； answering for himself。
〃Go in； if you like；〃 said Mrs。 Barry。 〃My son wishes to see
you。
〃How do you feel now； George？〃 asked Paul。
〃Not very well； Paul。 I didn't give up a minute too soon。 I
think I am going to have a fever。〃
〃That is not comfortable；〃 said Paul。 〃Still； you have your
mother to take care of you。〃
〃I don't know how I should get along without her。 Can you look
after my business as long as I am sick？〃
〃Yes； I have nothing else to do。〃
〃Then that is off my mind。 By the way； how many ties did you
sell this afternoon？〃
〃Fifteen。〃
〃What！〃 demanded Barry； in surprise。 〃You sold fifteen？〃
〃Yes。〃
〃Why； I never sold so many as that in an afternoon。〃
〃Didn't you？〃 said Paul； gratified。 〃Then you think I did
well？〃
〃Splendidly。 How did you do it？〃
〃You see； there was a young man from the country that I persuaded
to buy six； as he could not get them so cheap at home。 That was
my first sale； and it encouraged me。〃
〃I didn't think you'd sell more than six in the whole afternoon。〃
〃Nor did I； when I started； but I determined to do my best。 I
don't expect to do as well every day。〃
〃No； of course not。 I've been in the business more than a year；
and I know what it is。 Some days are very dull。〃
〃I've got the money for you。 The fifteen ties came to three
dollars and seventy…five cents。 I keep one…fourth of this as my
commission。 That leaves two dollars and eighty…two cents。〃
〃Quite correct。 However； you needn't give me the money。 You may
need to change a bill； or else lose a sale。 It will do if you
settle with me at the end of the week。〃
〃I see you have confidence in me； George。 Suppose I should take
a fancy to run away with the money？〃
〃I am not afraid。〃
〃If I do； I will give you warning a week beforehand。〃
After a little more conversation； Paul withdrew； thinking he
might worry the sick man。 He offered to come up the next
evening； but George Barry said； 〃It would be too much to expect
you to come up every evening。 I shall be satisfied if you come
up every other evening。〃
〃Very well；〃 said Paul。 〃Then you may expect me Saturday。 I
hope I shall have some good sales to report； and that I shall
find you better。〃
Paul descended to the street； and walked slowly homeward。 He
couldn't help wishing that the stand was his own； and the entire
profits his。 This would double his income； and enable him to
save up money。 At present this was hardly possible。 His own
earnings had been； and were likely to continue； very fluctuating。
Still； they constituted the main support of the family。 His
mother made shirts for an establishment on Broadway at
twenty…five cents each； which was more than some establishments
paid。 She could hardly average more than one shirt a day； in
addition to her household work； and in order to accomplish this；
even； she was obliged to work very steadily all day。 Jimmy； of
course； earned nothing。 Not that he was too young。 There were
plenty of little newsboys who were as small as heperhaps
smaller。 I have seen boys； who did not appear to be more than
four years old； standing at the corners； crying the news in their
childish treble。 But Paul was not willing to have Jimmy sent out
into the streets to undergo the rough discipline of street life。
He was himself of a strong； robust nature； and did not shrink
from the rough and tumble of life。 He felt sure he could make
his way； and give as well as receive blows。 But Jimmy was shy
and retiring； of a timid； shrinking nature； who would suffer from
what would only exhilarate Paul； and brace him for the contest。
So it was understood that Jimmy was to get an education； studying
at present at home with his mother； who had received a good
education； and that Mrs。 Hoffman and Paul were to be the
breadwinners。 〃I wish mother didn't have to sit so steadily at
her work；〃 thought Paul； many a time。 He resolved some time to
relieve her from the necessity； but at present it was impossible。
To maintain their small family in comfort