Paul the Peddler; Or, The Fortunes of a Young Street Merchant by Jr. Horatio Alger (best finance books of all time TXT) π
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- Author: Jr. Horatio Alger
Read book online Β«Paul the Peddler; Or, The Fortunes of a Young Street Merchant by Jr. Horatio Alger (best finance books of all time TXT) πΒ». Author - Jr. Horatio Alger
At this point Paul found that there was a rival in the field.
Teddy O'Brien, who had applied for a partnership the day before, came up with a basket similar to his own, apparently filled with similar packages. He took a position about six feet distant from Paul, and began to cry out, in a shrill voice:
βHere's your bully prize packages! Best in the market! Here's where you get your big prizes, fifty cents in some of 'em. Walk up boys, tumble up, and take your pick afore they're gone. Fifty cents for five!β
βThat's a lie, Teddy,β said Paul, who saw that his rival's attractive announcement was likely to spoil his trade.
βNo, 'tisn't,β said Teddy. βIf you don't believe it, just buy one and see.β
βI'll tell you what I'll do,β said Paul, βI'll exchange.β
βNo,β said Teddy; βI ain't a-goin' to risk givin' fifty cents for one.β
βMore likely you'd get ten for one. You're a humbug.β
βHave you really got any fifty-cent prizes?β asked a newsboy, who had sold out his morning stock of papers, and was lounging about the post office steps.
βBest way is to buy, Johnny,β said Teddy.
The boy did buy, but his prize amounted to only one cent.
βDidn't I tell you so?β said Paul.
βJust wait a while and see,β said Teddy. βThe lucky feller hasn't come along. Here, Mike, jest buy a package!β
Mike, a boy of fifteen, produced five cents, and said, βI don't mind if I do.β
He selected a package, and, without opening it, slipped it into his pocket.
βWhy don't you open it?β said Teddy.
βWhat's the use?β said Mike. βThere ain't no fifty cents inside.β
However, he drew it out of his pocket, and opened it.
βWhat's this?β he exclaimed, pulling out a piece of scrip. βHowly St. Patrick! it's I that's in luck, anyhow I've got the fifty cents!β
And he held up to view a fifty-cent scrip.
βLet me look at it,β said Paul, incredulously.
But there was no room for doubt. It was a genuine fifty cents, as Paul was compelled to admit.
βDidn't I tell you so?β said Teddy, triumphantly. βHere's where you get fifty-cent prizes.β
The appeal was successful. The sight of the fifty-cent prize led to a large call for packages, of which Teddy immediately sold ten, while Paul found himself completely deserted. None of the ten, however, contained over two cents. Still the possibility of drawing fifty cents kept up the courage of buyers, while Paul's inducements were so far inferior that he found himself wholly distanced.
βDon't you wish you'd gone pardners with me?β asked Teddy, with a triumphant grin, noticing Paul's look of discomfiture. βYou can't do business alongside of me.β
βYou can't make any money giving such big prizes,β said Paul. βYou haven't taken in as much as you've given yet.β
βAll right,β said Teddy. βI'm satisfied if you are. Have a package, Jim?β
βYes,β said Jim. βMind you give me a good prize.β
The package was bought, and, on being opened, proved to contain fifty cents also, to Paul's great amazement. How Teddy's business could pay, as it was managed, he could not comprehend. One thing was certain, however, his new competitor monopolized the trade, and for two hours Paul did not get a solitary customer.
βThere's something about this I don't understand,β he pondered, thoughtfully. βHe must lose money; but he's spoiled my trade.β
Paul did not like to give up his beat, but he found himself compelled to. Accordingly he took his basket, and moved off toward Wall street. Here he was able to start in business without competitors, and succeeded in selling quite a number of packages, until a boy came up, and said:
βThere's a feller up at the post office that's givin' fifty-cent prizes. I got one of 'em.β
There was a group of half-a-dozen boys around Paul, two of whom were about to invest; but on hearing thus they changed their intention, and walked of in the direction of the post office.
Looking up, Paul saw that the boy who had injured his trade was Mike, who had drawn the first fifty-cent prize from his competitor.
βCan't you stop interfering?β he said, angrily. βI've lost two customers by you.β
βIf you don't like it, you can lump it,β said Mike, insolently. βThis is a free country, ain't it?β
βIt's a mean trick,β said Paul, indignantly.
βSay that ag'in, and I'll upset your basket,β returned Mike.
βI'll say it as often as I like,β said Paul, who wasn't troubled by cowardice. βCome on, if you want to.β
Mike advanced a step, doubling his fists; but, finding that Paul showed no particular sign of fear, he stopped short, saying: βI'll lick you some other time.β
βYou'd better put it off,β said Paul. βHave a prize package, sir? Only five cents!β
This was addressed to a young man who came out of an insurance office.
βI don't mind if I do,β said the young man. βFive cents, is it? What prize may I expect?β
βThe highest is ten cents.β
βThere's a boy around the post office that gives fifty-cent prizes, mister,β said Mike. βYou'd better buy of him.β
βI'll wait till another time,β said the young man. βHere's the money, Johnny. Now for the package.β
βLook here,β said Paul, indignantly, when his customer had gone away; βhaven't you anything to do except to drive off my customers?β
βGive me two cents on every package,β said Mike, βand I'll tell 'em you give dollar prizes.β
βThat would be a lie, and I don't want to do business that way.β
Mike continued his persecutions a while longer, and then turned the corner into Nassau street.
βI'm glad he's gone,β thought Paul. βNow there's a chance for me.β
He managed after a while to sell twenty of his packages. By this time it was twelve o'clock, and he began to feel hungry. He resolved, therefore, to go home to dinner and come out again in the afternoon. He didn't know how much he had made, but probably about fifty
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