Paul the Peddler; Or, The Fortunes of a Young Street Merchant

go to the address given him by Mr. Preston. He decided to walk o

nd it was nearly eight o'clock w

of brown stone. He ascended the steps, and inquired,

," said t

time, and said: "He says

ho pointed out a door at the

"Come in" from within, he o

mely furnished. Mr. Preston, in dressing-gown

n by the fire," h

m with walking," and Paul

ton, "and have a fire earlier than most pe

s,

mother unde

She can no longer get

dull, I

s,

iving her the commission. How'

y good

eckties did

teen,

ch do you g

d a half-a dollar

u. When I was of your age I was worki

r?" asked Pau

t time I was to receive a hundred dollars and a freedom suit t

, s

iderable about farming, but I didn't like it. I thought I should like trade better. So I went to the village merchant, who kept a small dry-goods store, and arranged with him to supply me with a small stock of goods, which I undertoo

it was very encouraging to find that Mr. Preston, who was evidently

myself. He would have been glad to employ me for a series of years, but I happened to meet a traveling salesman of a New York wholesale house, who offered to obtain me a position similar to his own. As this would give me a larger field and larger profits, I accepted gladly, and so changed the nature of my empl

?" asked Mr. Preston, noticing the ea

but I have been ve

to boys and young men who are now situated a

k you

yourself to prosperity, if you are willi

d of work," sai

ace, and you have the appearance of one who is willing

hat time my father was livin

which you can learn valuable lessons. If you can get time in the

ng that n

shirts. Did your mother say how lo

I think, sir. Will t

well, however, to bring half the n

right

an cut them out if I sen

s,

m a shirt which he handed to Paul. He then wrote a few

, "for the requisite materials. If either you or

d, sir,"

cap, and pre

g, Mr. Prest

expect you with the shi

s ambition was aroused when he thought of the story he had heard, and he wondered whether it would be possible for him to raise himself to wealth and live in as handsome a house as Mr. Preston. He thought what a satisfaction

bout it, and had got some distance on his way before it occurred to him. Then, not

that is something. If I am ever going to be a

came into the Bowery, a broad and busy street, the hum

licious glance of Mike Donovan, who probably would not have ventured on such a liberty if he had not been a

that for, Mike?

I didn't hurt you, did I

care to be hit

utting on ai

Paul; "but I don't care about

ve got a new shirt,

sn't

ought. Who did yo

t me, Mike Donovan?"

ke," said Mike,

n't want to have anything to

l ah

you're

I'll lick you," said Mik

dy the other day, and that isn't the o

ou ever had. Do you want to fight?

ome time when I haven't a bu

gaining courage as he saw Paul

k I am," said

d Mike's companion, with a

trust the shirt to a stranger of

him at the same time a coward. This was too much for Paul's self-restraint. He dropped the shirt and pitched into Mike in so scientific a manner t

again," said Paul to himself, as he

ommencing the combat. But he looked in vain. Nothing was to be seen of t