太子爷小说网 > 英语电子书 > paul the peddler >

第1节

paul the peddler-第1节

小说: paul the peddler 字数: 每页4000字

按键盘上方向键 ← 或 → 可快速上下翻页,按键盘上的 Enter 键可回到本书目录页,按键盘上方向键 ↑ 可回到本页顶部!
————未阅读完?加入书签已便下次继续阅读!












PAUL THE PEDDLER



 OR THE FORTUNES OF A YOUNG STREET MERCHANT







BY HORATIO ALGER; JR。









BIOGRAPHY AND BIBLIOGRAPHY



Horatio Alger; Jr。; an author who lived among and for boys and

himself remained a boy in heart and association till death; was

born at Revere; Mass。; January 13; 1834。 He was the son of a

clergyman; was graduated at Harvard College in 1852; and at its

Divinity School in 1860 and was pastor of the Unitarian Church at

Brewster; Mass。; in 1862…66。



In the latter year he settled in New York and began drawing

public attention to the condition and needs of street boys。 He

mingled with them; gained their confidence showed a personal

concern in their affairs; and stimulated them to honest and

useful living。 With his first story he won the hearts of all

red…blooded boys everywhere; and of the seventy or more that

followed over a million copies were sold during the author's

lifetime。



In his later life he was in appearance a short; stout;

bald…headed man; with cordial manners and whimsical views of

things that amused all who met him。 He died at Natick; Mass。;

July 18; 1899。



Mr。 Alger's stories are as popular now as when first published;

because they treat of real live boys who were always up and

about…just like the boys found everywhere to…day。 They are pure

in tone and inspiring in influence; and many reforms in the

juvenile life of New York may be traced to them。 Among the best

known are:



Strong and Steady; Strive and Succeed; Try and Trust; Bound to

Rise; Risen from the Ranks; Herbert Carter's Legacy; Brave and

Bold; Jack's Ward; Shifting for Himself; Wait and Hope; Paul the

Peddler; Phil the Fiddler; Slow and Sure; Julius the Street Boy;

Tom the Bootblack; Struggling Upward; Facing the World; The Cash

Boy; Making His Way; Tony the Tramp; Joe's Luck; Do and Dare;

Only an Irish Boy; Sink or Swim; A Cousin's Conspiracy; Andy

Gordon; Bob Burton; Harry Vane; Hector's Inheritance; Mark

Mason's Triumph; Sam's Chance; The Telegraph Boy; The Young

Adventurer; The Young Outlaw; The Young Salesman; and Luke Walton。











PAUL THE PEDDLER



CHAPTER I



PAUL THE PEDDLER



〃Here's your prize packages!  Only five cents!  Money prize in

every package!  Walk up; gentlemen; and try your luck!〃



The speaker; a boy of fourteen; stood in front of the shabby

brick building; on Nassau street; which has served for many years

as the New York post office。  In front of him; as he stood with

his back to the building; was a small basket; filled with

ordinary letter envelopes; each labeled 〃Prize Package。〃



His attractive announcement; which; at that time; had also the

merit of noveltyfor Paul had himself hit upon the idea; and

manufactured the packages; as we shall hereafter explaindrew

around him a miscellaneous crowd; composed chiefly of boys。



〃What's in the packages; Johnny?〃 asked a bootblack; with his

box strapped to his back。



〃Candy;〃 answered Paul。  〃Buy one。  Only five cents。〃



〃There ain't much candy;〃 answered the bootblack; with a

disparaging glance。



〃What if there isn't?  There's a prize。〃



〃How big a prize?〃



〃There's a ten…cent stamp in some of 'em。  All have got something

in 'em。〃



Influenced by this representation; the bootblack drew out a

five…cent piece; and said:



〃Pitch one over then。  I guess I can stand it。〃  An envelope was

at once handed him。



〃Open it; Johnny;〃 said a newsboy at his side。  Twenty curious

eyes were fixed upon him as he opened the package。  He drew out

rather a scanty supply of candy; and then turning to Paul; with a

look of indignation; said:



〃Where's the prize?  I don't see no prize。  Give me back my five

cents。〃



〃Give it to me。  I'll show you;〃 said the young merchant。



He thrust in his finger; and drew out a square bit of paper; on

which was written… One Cent。



〃There's your prize;〃 he added; drawing a penny from his pocket。



〃It ain't much of a prize;〃 said the buyer。  〃Where's your ten

cents?〃



〃I didn't say I put ten cents into every package;〃 answered Paul。



〃I'd burst up pretty quick if I did that。  Who'll have another

package?  Only five cents!〃



Curiosity and taste for speculation are as prevalent among

children as with men; so this appeal produced its effect。



〃Give me a package;〃 said Teddy O'Brien; a newsboy; stretching

out a dirty hand; containing the stipulated sum。  He also was

watched curiously as he opened the package。  He drew out a paper

bearing the words… Two Cents。



〃Bully for you; Teddy!  You've had better luck than I;〃 said the

bootblack。



The check was duly honored; and Teddy seemed satisfied; though

the amount of candy he received probably could not have cost over

half…a…cent。  Still; he had drawn twice as large a prize as the

first buyer; and that was satisfactory。



〃Who'll take the next?〃 asked Paul; in a businesslike manner。 

〃Maybe there's ten cents in this package。  That's where you

double your money。  Walk up; gentlemen。  Only five cents!〃



Three more responded to this invitation; one drawing a prize of

two cents; the other two of one cent each。  Just then; as it

seemed doubtful whether any more would be purchased by those

present; a young man; employed in a Wall street house; came out

of the post office。



〃What have you got here?〃  he asked; pausing。



〃Prize packages of candy!  Money prize in every package!  Only

five cents!〃



〃Give me one; then。  I never drew a prize in my life。〃



The exchange was speedily made。



〃I don't see any prize;〃 he said; opening it。



〃It's on a bit of paper; mister;〃 said Teddy; nearly as much

interested as if it had been his own purchase。



〃Oh; yes; I see。  Well; I'm in luck。  Ten cents!〃



〃Ten cents!〃  exclaimed several of the less fortunate buyers;

with a shade of envy。



〃Here's your prize; mister;〃 said Paul; drawing out a ten…cent

stamp from his vest pocket。



〃Well; Johnny; you do things on the square; that's a fact。  Just

keep the ten cents; and give me two more packages。〃



This Paul did with alacrity; but the Wall street clerk's luck was

at an end。  He got two prizes of a penny each。



〃Well;〃 he said; 〃I'm not much out of pocket。  I've bought three

packages; and it's only cost me three cents。〃



The ten…cent prize produced a favorable effect on the business of

the young peddler。  Five more packages were bought; and the

contents eagerly inspected; but no other large prize appeared。 

Two cents was the maximum prize drawn。  Their curiosity being

satisfied; the crowd dispersed; but it was not long before

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 apiece!〃and

made a purchase; most from curiosity; but some few attracted by

the businesslike bearing of the young merchant; and willing to

encourage him in his efforts to make a living。  These last; as

well as some of the former class; declined to accept the prizes;

so that these were so much gain to Paul。



At length but one package remained; and this Paul was some time

getting rid of。  At last a gentleman came up; holding a little

boy of seven by the hand。



〃Oh; buy me the package; papa?〃 he said; drawing his father's

attention。



〃What is there in it; boy?〃 asked the gentleman。



〃Candy;〃 was the answer。



Alfred; for this was the little boy's name; renewed his

entreaties; having; like most boys; a taste for candy。



〃There it is; Alfred;〃 said his father; handing the package to

his little son。



〃There's a prize inside;〃 said Paul; seeing that they were about

to pass。



〃We must look for the prize by all means;〃 said the gentleman。 

〃What is this?  One cent?〃



〃Yes sir〃; and Paul held out a cent to his customer。



〃Never mind about that!  You may keep the prize。〃



〃I want it; pa;〃 interposed Alfred; with his mouth full of candy。



〃I'll give you another;〃 said his father; still declining to

accept the proffered prize。



Paul now found himself in the enviable position of one who; at

eleven o'clock; had succeeded in disposing of his entire stock in

trade; and that at an excellent profit; as we soon shall see。 

Business had been more brisk with him than with many merchants on

a larger scale; who sometimes 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…handed。 

All his expense; in fact; was the first cost of his stock in

trade; a

返回目录 下一页 回到顶部 0 0

你可能喜欢的