按键盘上方向键 ← 或 → 可快速上下翻页，按键盘上的 Enter 键可回到本书目录页，按键盘上方向键 ↑ 可回到本页顶部！
————未阅读完？加入书签已便下次继续阅读！
by giving a little of their early history。
Mr。 Hoffman； the father of Paul； was born in Germany； but came to
New York when a boy of twelve； and there he grew up and married；
his wife being an American。 He was a cabinetmaker； and； being a
skillful workman； earned very good wages； so that he was able to
maintain his family in comfort。 They occupied a neat little
cottage in Harlem； and lived very happily； for Mr。 Hoffman was
temperate and kind； when an unfortunate accident clouded their
happiness； and brought an end to their prosperity。 In crossing
Broadway at its most crowded part； the husband and father was run
over by a loaded dray； and so seriously injured that he lived but
a few hours。 Then the precarious nature of their prosperity was
found out。 Mr。 Hoffman had not saved anything； having always
lived up to the extent of his income。 It was obviously
impossible for them to continue to live in their old home； paying
a rent of twenty dollars per month。 Besides； Paul did not see
any good opportunity to earn his living in Harlem。 So； at his
instigation； his mother moved downtown； and took rooms in a
tenement…house in Pearl street； agreeing to pay six dollars a
month for apartments which would now command double the price。
They brought with them furniture enough to furnish the three
rooms； selling the rest for what it would bring； and thus
obtaining a small reserve fund； which by this time was nearly
exhausted。
Once fairly established in their new home； Paul went out into the
streets to earn his living。 The two most obvious； and； on the
whole； most profitable trades； were blacking boots and selling
newspapers。 To the first Paul； who was a neat boy； objected on
the score that it would keep his hands and clothing dirty； and；
street boy though he had become； he had a pride in his personal
appearance。 To selling papers he had not the same objection； but
he had a natural taste for trade； and this led him to join the
ranks of the street peddlers。 He began with vending matches； but
found so much competition in the business； and received so rough
a reception oftentimes from those who had repeated calls from
others in the same business； that he gave it up； and tried
something else。 But the same competition which crowds the
professions and the higher employments followed by men； prevails
among the street trades which are pursued by boys。 If Paul had
only had himself to support； he could have made a fair living at
match selling； or any other of the employments he took up； but
his mother could not earn much at making vests； and Jimmy was
lame； and could do nothing to fill the common purse； so that Paul
felt that his earnings must be the main support of the family；
and naturally sought out what would bring him in most money。
At length he had hit upon selling prize packages； and his first
experience in that line are recorded in the previous chapter。
Adding only that it was now a year since his father's death； we
resume our narrative。
〃Do you want to know how much I've made； mother？〃 asked Paul；
looking up at length from his calculation。
〃Yes； Paul。〃
〃A dollar and thirty cents。〃
〃I did not think it would amount to so much。 The prizes came to
considerable； didn't they？〃
〃Listen； and I will tell you how I stand：
One pound of candy 。 。 。 。 。 。 。 。 。20
Two packs of envelopes 。 。 。 。 。 。 。 。10
Prize。 。 。 。 。 。 。 。 。 。 。 。 。 。 。 。 。90
That makes 。 。 。 。 。 。 。 。 。 。 。 。 1。20
I sold the fifty packages at five cents each； and that brought me
in two dollars and a half。 Taking out the expenses； it leaves me
a dollar and thirty cents。 Isn't that doing well for one
morning's work？〃
〃It's excellent； but I thought your prizes amounted to more than
ninety cents。〃
〃So they did； but several persons who bought wouldn't take their
prizes； and that was so much gain。〃
〃You have done very well； Paul。 I wish you might earn as much
every day。〃
〃I'm going to earn some more this afternoon。 I 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
steaknot more than three…quarters of a pounda 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 thisthe gift of drawingwas 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 tel