Slow and Sure: The Story of Paul Hoffman the Young Street-Merchant

ms in alarm, each bearing what first came to hand, and reinforced by a numerous crowd of outsi

sh woman, wringing her hands. "It's ruined intirely I am by the fire. Is t

McGowan. Do you know

okin' in bed, bad luck to him, as drunk as a baste, and the bu

ty voice of Mrs. Donovan. "We ain't bur

lately. "I had twenty-siven dollars and thirty cents

said Paul. "Just tell them at the savings-bank how

?" asked Mrs. Mc

l sure

d she, looking considerably

h you to the b

nd it's you that's

es will burn u

aul. "I am afraid, mother, you will

bought it jus

room, Mrs. Hoffman," said a boy,

id Mrs. Hoffman in surprise. "It

and wear it in remembra

ely to remember

self, old and rotten, a very tinderbox, was doomed. In less than an hour the great building, full as a hive of occupants, was a confused mass of smoking ruins. And still the poor people hovered around in uncertainty and dismay, in that peculiarly forlorn condition of mind induced by the thought that they knew not where they should lay their heads during the coming night. One family had saved only a teakettle to

thing, Mrs. Dono

ndow, but some spalpeen has walked off with it. I wish it had fal

y no lives

fate again. But my Pat'll be ravin'. He had just bought a new coat to go to a ball wid tomorrow night, and it's all burnt up in t

ovan, we must f

in till I can get time to turn round. But I must stay here

a temporary shelter, though in most cases it fed to most uncomfortable crowding. But the poor know how to sympathize with the

o, mother?" asked

looked doubtf

t seek shelter so

h Avenue Hotel sui

my new dress is finished,"

ter, Paul? You're no

nized Sam Norton, a newsboy, who

he answered. "We're tu

you going to st

ere isn't sure whether she prefers

e at my expense,"

to-night," said Sam. "My mot

knew the boy as a friend of Paul, "but

trouble," sai

aid they wouldn't take us in at any of the big hotels with only one dress, an

leading the way. "We'll have

. It's jolly enough for us, but

und, "if you're out of stamps, I've

aved my bank-book, and I've got plenty to s

ho took an interest in him, and moreover had a hundred dollars deposited to his credit in a savings-bank, beside his stock in trade, probably amounting to at least fifty dollars, at the wholesale price. So

re located on Pearl street, not far from Centre, and were more s

said Paul. "She won't know what to make of

d Sam. "I'll be

a good, motherly woman, at once acknowledged the claim upon her hospital

am very glad to see you, Mrs. Hoffman. Come right

ve you trouble, Mrs. Nor

at's my motto. I haven't got much to offer,

w books, besides several prints upon the wall. Sam's father was a policeman, while his mother was a New England woman of good common-school education, neat and thrifty, and so, though th

er who draws such fine pic

tified. How should Mrs. Nort

cture to-night, won't

have a pencil and some pap

me from his desk. But

o the butcher's and baker's, when he soon returned with a supply of rolls and beefstea