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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 required all that both

could earn。



The next morning Paul started out after breakfast for the street

stand; wondering what success he was destined to meet with。



About the middle of the forenoon Mrs。 Hoffman prepared to go out。



〃Do you think you can stay alone for an hour or two; Jimmy?〃 she

asked。



〃Yes; mother;〃 answered Jimmy; who was deep in a picture which he

was copying from one of the drawing…books Paul had bought him。 

〃Where are you going mother?〃



〃To carry back some work; Jimmy。  I have got half…a…dozen shirts

done; and must return them; and ask for more。〃



〃They ought to pay you more than twenty…five cents apiece;

mother。  How long has it taken you to make them?〃



〃Nearly a week。〃



〃That is only a dollar and a half for a week's work。〃



〃I know it; Jimmy; but they can get plenty to work at that price;

so it won't do for me to complain。  I shall be very glad if I can

get steady work; even at that price。〃



Jimmy said no more; and Mrs。 Hoffman; gathering up her bundle;

went out。



She had a little more than half a mile to go。  This did not

require long。  She entered the large door; and advanced to the

counter behind which stood a clerk with a pen behind his ear。



〃How many?〃 he said; as she laid the bundle upon the counter。



〃Six。〃



〃Name?〃



〃Hoffman。〃



〃Correct。  I will look at them。〃



He opened the bundle hastily; and surveyed the work critically。 

Luckily there was no fault to find; for Mrs。 Hoffman was a

skillful seamstress。



〃They will do;〃 he said; and; taking from a drawer the stipulated

sum; paid for them。



〃Can I have some more?〃 asked Mrs。 Hoffman; anxiously。



〃Not to…day。  We're overstocked with goods made up。  We must

contract our manufacture。〃



This was unexpected; and carried dismay to the heart of the poor

woman。  What she could earn was very little but it was important

to her。



〃When do you think you can give me some more work?〃 she asked。



〃It may be a month or six weeks;〃 he answered; carelessly。



A month or six weeks!  To have her supply of work cut off for so

long a time would; indeed; be a dire misfortune。  But there was

nothing to say。  Mrs。 Hoffman knew very well that no one in the

establishment cared for her necessities。  So; with a heavy heart;

she started for home; making up her mind to look elsewhere for

work in the afternoon。  She could not help recalling; with

sorrow; the time when her husband was living; and they lived in a

pleasant little home; before the shadow of bereavement and

pecuniary anxiety had come to cloud their happiness。  Still; she

was not utterly cast down。  Paul had proved himself a manly and a

helpful boy; self…reliant and courageous; and; though they might

be pinched; she knew that as long as he was able to work they

would not actually suffer。







CHAPTER IX



A NEW PATRON



Mrs。 Hoffman went out in the after

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