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by on a different destination。 Thus many ears caught the young
peddler's cry〃Prize packages！ Only five cents apiece！〃and
made a purchase； most from curiosity； but some few attracted by
the businesslike bearing of the young merchant； and willing to
encourage him in his efforts to make a living。 These last； as
well as some of the former class； declined to accept the prizes；
so that these were so much gain to Paul。
At length but one package remained； and this Paul was some time
getting rid of。 At last a gentleman came up； holding a little
boy of seven by the hand。
〃Oh； buy me the package； papa？〃 he said； drawing his father's
attention。
〃What is there in it； boy？〃 asked the gentleman。
〃Candy；〃 was the answer。
Alfred； for this was the little boy's name； renewed his
entreaties； having； like most boys； a taste for candy。
〃There it is； Alfred；〃 said his father； handing the package to
his little son。
〃There's a prize inside；〃 said Paul； seeing that they were about
to pass。
〃We must look for the prize by all means；〃 said the gentleman。
〃What is this？ One cent？〃
〃Yes sir〃； and Paul held out a cent to his customer。
〃Never mind about that！ You may keep the prize。〃
〃I want it； pa；〃 interposed Alfred； with his mouth full of candy。
〃I'll give you another；〃 said his father； still declining to
accept the proffered prize。
Paul now found himself in the enviable position of one who； at
eleven o'clock； had succeeded in disposing of his entire stock in
trade； and that at an excellent profit； as we soon shall see。
Business had been more brisk with him than with many merchants on
a larger scale； who sometimes keep open their shops all day
without taking in enough to pay expenses。 But； then； it is to be
considered that in Paul's case expenses were not a formidable
item。 He had no rent to pay； for one thing； nor clerk hire；
being competent to attend to his entire business single…handed。
All his expense； in fact； was the first cost of his stock in
trade； and he had so fixed his prices as to insure a good profit
on that。 So； on the whole； Paul felt very well satisfied at the
result of his experiment； for this was his first day in the
prize…package business。
〃I guess I'll go home；〃 he said to himself。 〃Mother'll want to
know how I made out。〃 He turned up Nassau street； and had
reached the corner of Maiden lane； when Teddy O'Brien met him。
〃Did you sell out； Johnny？〃 he asked。
〃Yes；〃 answered Paul。
〃How many packages did you have？〃
〃Fifty。〃
〃That's bully。 How much you made？〃
〃I can't tell yet。 I haven't counted up；〃 said Paul。
〃It's better'n sellin' papers； I'll bet。 I've only made thirty
cents the day。 Don't you want to take a partner； Johnny？〃
〃No； I don't think I do；〃 said Paul； who had good reason to doubt
whether such a step would be to his advantage。
〃Then I'll go in for myself；〃 said Teddy； somewhat displeased at
the refusal。
〃Go ahead！ There's nobody to stop you；〃 said Paul。
〃I'd rather go in with you；〃 said Teddy； feeling that there would
be some trouble in making the prize packages； but influenced
still more by the knowledge that he had not capital enough to
start in the business alone。
〃No；〃 said Paul； positively； 〃I don't want any partner。 I can do
well enough alone。〃
He was not surprised at Teddy's application。 Street boys are as
enterprising； and have as sharp eyes for business as their
elders； and no one among them can monopolize a profitable
business long。 This is especially the case with the young street
merchant。 When one has had the good luck to find some attractive
article which promises to sell briskly； he takes every care to
hide the source of his supply from his rivals in trade。 But this
is almost impossible。 Cases are frequent where such boys are
subjected to the closest espionage； their steps being dogged for
hours by boys who think they have found a good thing and are
determined to share it。 In the present case Paul had hit upon an
idea which seemed to promise well； and he was determined to keep
it to himself as long as possible。 As soon as he was subjected
to competition and rivalry his gains would probably diminish。
CHAPTER II
PAUL AT HOME
Paul went up Centre street and turned into Pearl。 Stopping
before a tenement…house； he entered； and； going up two flights of
stairs； opened a door and entered。
〃You are home early； Paul；〃 said a woman of middle age； looking
up at his entrance。
〃Yes； mother； I've sold out。〃
〃You've not sold out the whole fifty packages？〃 she asked； in
surprise。
〃Yes； I have。 I had capital luck。〃
〃Why； you must have made as much as a dollar； and it's not twelve
yet。〃
〃I've made more than that； mother。 Just wait a minute； till I've
reckoned up a little。 Where's Jimmy？〃
〃Miss Beckwith offered to take him out to walk with her； so I let
him go。 He'll be back at twelve。〃
While Paul is making a calculation； a few words of explanation
and description may be given； so that the reader may understand
better how he is situated。
The rooms occupied by Paul and his mother were three in number。
The largest one was about fourteen feet square； and was lighted
by two windows。 It was covered with a neat； though well…worn；
carpet； a few cane…bottomed chairs were ranged at the windows；
and on each side of the table。 There was a French clock on the
mantel； a rocking chair for his mother； and a few inexpensive
engravings hung upon the walls。 There was a hanging bookcase
containing two shelves； filled with books； partly school books；
supplemented by a few miscellaneous books； such as 〃Robinson
Crusoe；〃 〃Pilgrim's Progress；〃 a volume of 〃Poetical Selections；〃
an odd volume of Scott； and several others。 Out of the main room
opened two narrow chambers； both together of about the same area
as the main room。 One of these was occupied by Paul and Jimmy；
the other by his mother。
Those who are familiar with the construction of a New York
tenement…house will readily understand the appearance of the
rooms into which we have introduced them。 It must； however； be
explained that few similar apartments are found so well
furnished。 Carpets are not very common in tenement…houses； and
if there are any pictures； they are usually the cheapest prints。
Wooden chairs； and generally every object of the cheapest； are to
be met with in the dwellings of the New York poor。 If we find
something better in the present instance； it is not because Paul
and his mother are any better off than their neighbors。 On the
contrary； there are few whose income is so small。 But they have
seen better days； and the furniture we see has been saved from
the time of their comparative prosperity。
As Paul is still at his estimate； let us improve the opportunity
by giving a little of their early history。