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dollars； which to a family in their circumstances would be a
great help。
〃Thank you； sir；〃 said Paul。 〃My mother will accept the work
thankfully； and will try to suit you。 When shall I come for the
cloth？〃
〃You may come to my house this evening； and I will give you a
pattern； and an order for the materials on a dry goods dealer in
Broadway。〃
〃Where do you live； sir？〃
〃No。 Madison avenue； between Thirty…fourth and Thirty…fifth
streets。 My name is Preston。 Can you remember it？〃
〃Yes； sir； but I will put it down to make sure。〃
〃Well； good…morning。〃
〃Good…morning； sir。 I suppose you don't want a tie this
morning？〃
〃I don't think you keep the kind I am accustomed to wear；〃 said
Mr。 Preston； smiling。 〃I stick to the old fashions； and wear a
stock。〃
The old gentleman had scarcely gone； when two boys of twelve or
thirteen paused before the stand。
〃That's a bully tie； Jeff！〃 said George； the elder of the two。
〃I have a good mind to buy it。〃
〃It won't cost much；〃 said Jeff。 〃Only twenty…five cents。 But I
like that one better。〃
〃If you buy one； I will。〃
〃All right；〃 said Jeff； whose full name was Jefferson。 〃We can
wear them to dancing…school this afternoon。〃
So the two boys bought a necktie； and this； in addition to
previous sales； made six sold during the morning。
〃I hope I shall do as well as I did yesterday；〃 thought Paul。
〃If I can make nine shillings every day I won't complain。 It is
better than selling prize…packages。〃
Paul seemed likely to obtain his wish； since at twelve o'clock；
when he returned home to dinner； he had sold ten ties； making
rather more than half of the previous day's sales。
Mrs。 Hoffman had been out once more； but met with no better
success than before。 There seemed to be no room anywhere for a
new hand。 At several places she had seen others； out of
employment like herself； who were also in quest of work。 The
only encouragement she received was that probably in a month or
six weeks business might so far improve that she could obtain
work。 But to Mrs。 Hoffman it was a serious matter to remain idle
even four weeks。 She reflected that Paul's present employment
was only temporary； and that he would be forced to give up his
post as soon as George Barry should recover his health； which
probably would be within a week or two。 She tried in vain to
think of some temporary employment； and determined； in case she
should be unsuccessful in the afternoon； which she hardly
anticipated； to consult Paul what she had better do。
Paul noticed when he came in that his mother looked more sober
and thoughtful than usual。
〃Have you a headache； mother？〃 he inquired。
〃No； Paul；〃 she said； smiling faintly。
〃Something troubles you； I am sure；〃 continued Paul。
〃You are right； Paul；〃 said Mrs。 Hoffman； 〃though I didn't mean
to tell you till evening。〃
〃What is it？〃 asked Paul； anxiously。
〃When I carried back the last shirts I made for Duncan & Co。；
they told me I couldn't have any more for a month or six weeks。〃
〃That will give you some time to rest； mother；〃 said Paul； who
wanted to keep back his good news for a while。
〃But I can't afford to rest； Paul。〃
〃You forget that I am earning money； mother。 I am sure I can
earn a dollar a day。〃
〃I know you are a good； industrious boy； Paul； and I don't know
how we should get along without you。 But it is necessary for me
to do my part； though it is small。〃
〃Don't be anxious； mother； I am sure we can get along。〃
〃But I am not willing that the whole burden of supporting the
family should come upon you。 Besides； you are not sure how long
you can retain your present employment。〃
〃I know that； mother； but something else will be sure to turn up。
If I can't do anything else； I can turn bootblack； though I would
prefer something else。 There is no chance of my being out of
work long。〃
〃There are fewer things for me to do；〃 said his mother； 〃but
perhaps you can think of something。 I shall go out this
afternoon； and try my luck once more。 If I do not succeed； I
will consult with you this evening。〃
〃Suppose I tell you that I have work for you； enough to last for
two or three weeks； that will pay five times as well as the work
you have been doing； what would you say to that？〃 asked Paul；
smiling。
〃Are you in earnest； Paul？〃 asked his mother； very much
surprised。
〃Quite in earnest； mother。 There's a gentleman up…town that
wants a dozen shirts made； and is willing to pay ten shillings
apiece。〃
〃Ten shillings！ Why； that's a dollar and a quarter。〃
〃Of course it is。 I told him I thought you would accommodate
him。〃
〃You are sure I can get the work to do？〃
〃Certainly。 I am to go up to his house this evening and get the
pattern and an order for the materials。〃
〃It seems too good to be true；〃 said his mother。 〃Why； I can
earn at least a dollar a day。〃
〃Then you will be doing as well as I am。〃
〃Tell me how you heard of it； Paul；〃 said Mrs。 Hoffman。
Paul told the story of the manner in which he formed Mr。
Preston's acquaintance。
〃It's lucky you ran into him； Paul；〃 said Jimmy。
〃He didn't think so at the time；〃 said Paul； laughing。 〃He said
I nearly knocked the breath out of him。〃
〃You won't go out this afternoon； mother； will you？〃 asked
Jimmy。
〃No； it will not be necessary now； I didn't think this morning
that such a piece of good luck was in store for； me。〃
CHAPTER X
ANOTHER LOSS
After supper Paul brushed his clothes carefully and prepared to
go to the address given him by Mr。 Preston。 He decided to walk
one way； not wishing to incur the expenses of two railroad fares。
The distance was considerable； and it was nearly eight o'clock
when he arrived at his destination。
Paul found himself standing before a handsome house of brown
stone。 He ascended the steps； and inquired； on the door being
opened； if Mr。 Preston was at home。
〃I'll see；〃 said the servant。
She returned in a short time； and said： 〃He says you may come
upstairs。〃
Paul followed the servant； who pointed out a door at the head of
the first staircase。
Paul knocked； and； hearing 〃Come in〃 from within； he opened the
door and entered。
He found himself in a spacious chamber； handsomely furnished。
Mr。 Preston； in dressing…gown and slippers； sat before a
cheerful； open fire。
〃Come and sit down by the fire；〃 he said； sociably。
〃Thank you； sir； I am warm with walking；〃 and Paul took a seat
near the door。
〃I am one of the cold kind；〃 said Mr。 Preston； 〃and have a fire
earlier than most people。 You come about the shirts； I suppose？〃
〃Yes； sir。〃
〃Will your mother undertake them？〃
〃With pleasure； sir。 She can no longer get work from the shop。〃
〃Business dull； I suppose？〃
〃Yes； s