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β€œYou ain't going out now, Paul?” said Jimmy.

β€œNo, I'll stop and see you draw a little while.”

β€œThat's bully. I'm going to try these oxen.”

β€œThat's a hard picture. I don't think you can draw it, Jimmy.”

β€œYes, I can,” said the little boy, confidently. β€œJust see if I don't.”

β€œJimmy has improved a good deal,” said his mother.

β€œYou'll be a great artist one of these days, Jimmy,” said Paul.

β€œI'm going to try, Paul,” said the little boy. β€œI like it so much.”

Little Jimmy had indeed made surprising progress in drawing. With no instruction whatever, he had succeeded in a very close and accurate imitation of the sketches in the drawing books Paul had purchased for him. It was a great delight to the little boy to draw, and hour after hour, as his mother sat at her work, he sat up to the table, and worked at his drawing, scarcely speaking a word unless spoken to, so absorbed was he in his fascinating employment.

Paul watched him attentively.

β€œYou'll make a bully artist, Jimmy,” he said, at length, really surprised at his little brother's proficiency. β€œIf you keep on a little longer, you'll beat me.”

β€œI wish you'd draw something, Paul,” said Jimmy. β€œI never saw any of your drawings.”

β€œI am afraid, if you saw mine, it would discourage you,” said Paul. β€œYou know, I'm older and ought to draw better.”

His face was serious, but there was a merry twinkle of fun in his eyes.

β€œOf course, I know you draw better,” said Jimmy, seriously.

β€œWhat shall I draw?” asked Paul.

β€œTry this horse, Paul.”

β€œAll right!” said Paul. β€œBut you must go away; I don't want you to see it till it is done.”

Jimmy left the table, and Paul commenced his attempt. Now, though Paul is the hero of my story, I am bound to confess that he had not the slightest talent for drawing, though Jimmy did not know it. It was only to afford his little brother amusement that he now undertook the task.

Paul worked away for about five minutes.

β€œIt's done,” he said.

β€œSo quick?” exclaimed Jimmy, in surprise. β€œHow fast you work!”

He drew near and inspected Paul's drawing. He had no sooner inspected it than he burst into a fit of laughter. Paul's drawing was a very rough one, and such a horse as he had drawn will never probably be seen until the race has greatly degenerated.

β€œWhat's the matter, Jimmy?” asked Paul. β€œDon't you like it?”

β€œIt's awful, Paul,” said the little boy, almost choking with mirth.

β€œI see how it is,” said Paul, with feigned resentment. β€œYou're jealous of me because you can't draw as well.”

β€œOh, Paul, you'll kill me!” and Jimmy again burst into a fit of merriment. β€œCan't you really draw any better?”

β€œNo, Jimmy,” said Paul, joining in the laugh. β€œI can't draw any better than an old cow. You've got all the talent in the family in that line.”

β€œBut you're smart in other ways, Paul,” said Jimmy, who had a great admiration of Paul, notwithstanding the discovery of his artistic inferiority.

β€œI'm glad there's one that thinks so, Jimmy,” said Paul. β€œI'll refer to you when I want a recommendation.”

Jimmy resumed his drawing, and was proud of the praises which Paul freely bestowed upon him.

β€œI'll get you a harder drawing book when you've got through with these,” said Paul; β€œthat is, if I don't get reduced to poverty by having my stock in trade stolen again.”

After a while came dinner. This meal in Mrs. Hoffman's household usually came at twelve o'clock. It was a plain, frugal meal always, but on Sunday they usually managed to have something a little better, as they had been accustomed to do when Mr. Hoffman was alive.

Paul was soon through.

He took his hat from the bureau, and prepared to go out.

β€œI'm going out to try my luck, mother,” he said. β€œI'll see if I can't get into something I like a little better than the prize-package business.”

β€œI hope you'll succeed, Paul.”

β€œBetter than I did in drawing horses, eh, Jimmy?”

β€œYes, I hope so, Paul,” said the little boy.

β€œDon't you show that horse to visitors and pretend it's yours, Jimmy.”

β€œNo danger, Paul.”

Paul went downstairs and into the street. He had no definite plan in his head, but was ready for anything that might turn up. He did not feel anxious, for he knew there were plenty of ways in which he could earn something. He had never tried blacking boots, but still he could do it in case of emergency. He had sold papers, and succeeded fairly in that line, and knew he could again. He had pitted himself against other boys, and the result had been to give him a certain confidence in his own powers and business abilities. When he had first gone into the street to try his chances there, it had been with a degree of diffidence. But knocking about the streets soon gives a boy confidence, sometimes too much of it; and Paul had learned to rely upon himself; but the influence of a good, though humble home, and a judicious mother, had kept him aloof from the bad habits into which many street boys are led.

So Paul, though his stock in trade had been stolen, and he was obliged to seek a new kind of business, was by no means disheartened. He walked a little way downtown, and then, crossing the City Hall Park, found himself on Broadway.

A little below the Astor House he came to the stand of a sidewalk-merchant, who dealt in neckties. Upon an upright framework hung a great variety of ties of different colors, most of which were sold at the uniform price of twenty-five cents each.

Paul was acquainted with the proprietor of the stand, and, having nothing else to do, determined to stop and speak to him.





CHAPTER VII A NEW BUSINESS

The proprietor of the necktie stand was a slender, dark-complexioned young man of about twenty-five, or thereabouts.

His name was George Barry. Paul had known him for over a year, and whenever he passed his stand was accustomed to stop and speak with him.

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