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

night he was free. Though one of the constituted guardians of the public peace, he was by no means

who was burned out to-day. So I have asked her to

Hoffman, I am glad to see you. Paul has bee

ather," said Sam slyly, "cons

ny he keeps," said Mr. Norton, "he

about three hours daily in selling papers, but this gave him two or three dollars a week, more than enough to buy his clothes. The balance he was al

half the party had been burned out. But Paul knew he was in a position to p

nt rooms, Mrs. Norton

a month is a good deal for us to pay, but then we are

ng a policeman, Mr.

but it pays as well a

e to be attacked by ruffians at any time. The day he came home with

id it

ew it at me. It was a stunner. However, I managed to arrest him, and had the satisfaction of knowing that he would be kept in confinement for a few months. I have t

e in some other busine

t's sure pay, and just as good in dull times as in good. Besides, some peop

es," said his wife slyly. "It's

ree months ago, and injured so much that he's been obliged to leave the force. Then some of the ladies get frightened when they're halfway over, and make a scene. I remember one

aid Sam. "I might have to take you up,

a joke seriously, and who always resented any imputatio

found out, I sup

hing bad," retorte

want a first-class recommendation. If I never did anything bad,

little boy; "but people don't get

ut of the station-house. I move Jimmy gives us a specimen of his skill.

t?" asked J

y to go to bed. Paul and he had to take up with a bed on the floor, but this troubled them little. They felt thankful, under the circumstances, to have so comfortable a shelte

enter upon his daily duties. The poor must be sti

before the middle of the forenoon. I think I will open my stan

help Mrs. Norton, if sh

need of that,

I want to make some ret

offman sewed for two hours upon a shirt which his mother had commenced for Sam. Jim

customers. He bought a copy of the Herald of his friend Sam, and began to p

oms on Fifth avenue, only fifty dollars a week, without board. Cheap e

the only objection

others, Sam. Suppose you

ul?" said Sam, pointing out

ont and back bedrooms on second floor; front basement; gas, bath, hot and

stationary tubs," observed Paul. "If I decide to take the r

I think I'd rath

used to the tubs. However, th

g to get furn

we have had all our furniture burned up, we

t you, then," said Sam,

nicely furnished rooms; terms mode

ear where Barry

it be t

far to walk from Bleecker street. But

erate," re

them so, even i

some rooms to let

if they were as nice as yours.

d on the firs

for your neckties, boy

, hard-visaged female, who had

e cents," a

eturned the would-be customer. "Can'

less than twen

," said the hard-visaged lady, "but I don't want to spe

e only one price," sa

you twenty-

e to charge

aid the lady in a dissatisfied to

pped up, and the mo

d Paul, as soon as she was out of hearing. "You

ive cents bust the old woman! Do y

wearing a necktie for a week, came back, and wan

u excha

style of doing business. He got mad, and

ing, and came back after reading it through and wanted to exchange it f