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

cents! Money prize in every package!

has served for many years as the New York post office. In front of him, as he stood with his back to

or Paul had himself hit upon the idea, and manufactured the packages, as we shall

ny?" asked a bootblack, with

Paul. "Buy one.

answered the bootblack,

e isn't? Ther

ig a p

p in some of 'em. All ha

ation, the bootblack drew ou

ss I can stand it." An enve

fixed upon him as he opened the package. He drew out rather a scanty sup

on't see no prize. Give

ll show you," said

rew out a square bit of paper,

he added, drawing a

ze," said the buyer. "W

en cents into every p

I did that. Who'll have anot

e as prevalent among children as with

ty hand, containing the stipulated sum. He also was watched curiously as

ou've had better luck th

candy he received probably could not have cost over half-a-cent. Still, he ha

r. "Maybe there's ten cents in this package. That's where y

of one cent each. Just then, as it seemed doubtful whether any more would be purchased by

got here?" he

! Money prize in every p

n. I never drew a

ge was spe

y prize," he sa

aid Teddy, nearly as much intereste

. Well, I'm in

ral of the less fortunate b

aid Paul, drawing out a ten-ce

uare, that's a fact. Just keep the ten

Wall street clerk's luck was at an en

f pocket. I've bought three packages

e another gathered. In fact, Paul had shown excellent judgment in selecting the front of the post office as his place of business. Hundreds passed in and out every hour, besides those who passed by on a different destination. Thus many ears caught the young peddler's cry-"Prize packages! Only five cents a

was some time getting rid of. At last a gentleman

papa?" he said, drawing

n it, boy?" aske

was the

s name, renewed his entreaties, havi

d his father, handing the

" said Paul, seeing that

y all means," said the gentle

ul held out a cen

t that! You may

rposed Alfred, with h

his father, still declining

etimes 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-

o know how I made out." He turned up Nassau street, and had r

l out, Johnn

answere

ackages did

if

ly. How muc

. I haven't count

I've only made thirty cents the day. Do

who had good reason to doubt whether

lf," said Teddy, somewhat

's nobody to sto

e trouble in making the prize packages, but influenced still more by the

"I don't want any partner.

d 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 thi