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CHAPTER XXVI CONCLUSION
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 When Paul was left in charge of the stand, and realized that it was his own, he felt a degree of satisfaction which can be imagined. He had been a newsboy, a baggage-smasher, and in fact had pretty much gone the round of the street trades, but now he felt that he had advanced one step higher. Some of my readers may not appreciate the difference, but to Paul it was a great one. He was not a merchant prince, to be sure, but he had a fixed1 place of business, and with his experience he felt confident he could make it pay.
“I am sure I can make from ten to fifteen dollars a week,” he said to himself. “I averaged over a dollar a day when I worked for George Barry, and then I only got half-profits. Now I shall have the whole.”
This consideration was a very agreeable one. He would be able to maintain his mother and little Jimmy in greater comfort than before, and this he cared more for than for any extra indulgences for himself. In fact, he could relieve his mother entirely2 from the necessity of working, and yet live better than at present. When Paul thought of this, it gave him a thrill of satisfaction, and made him feel almost like a man.
He set to work soliciting3 custom, and soon had sold three neckties at twenty-five cents each.
“All that money is mine,” he thought, proudly. “I haven't got to hand any of it over to George Barry. That's a comfort.”
As this thought occurred to him he recognized an old acquaintance strolling along the sidewalk in his direction. It was no other than Jim Parker, the friend and crony of Mike Donovan, who will be remembered as figuring in not a very creditable way in the earlier chapters of this story. It so happened that he and Paul had not met for some time, and Jim was quite ignorant of Paul's rise in life.
As for Jim himself, no great change had taken place in his appearance or prospects4. His suit was rather more ragged5 and dirty than when we first made his acquaintance, having been worn night and day in the streets, by night stretched out in some dirty alley6 or out-of-the-way corner, where Jim found cheap lodgings8. He strolled along with his hands in his pockets, not much concerned at the deficiencies in his costume.
“Hallo!” said he, stopping opposite Paul's stand. “What are you up to?”
“You can see for yourself,” answered Paul. “I am selling neckties.”
“How long you've been at it?”
“Just begun.”
“Who's your boss?”
“I haven't any.”
“You ain't runnin' the stand yourself, be you?” asked Jim, in surprise.
“Yes.”
“Where'd you borrow the stamps?”
“Of my mother,” said Paul. “Can't I sell you a necktie this morning?”
“Not much,” said Jim, laughing at the joke. “I've got my trunks stuffed full of 'em at home, but I don't wear 'em only Sundays. Do you make much money?”
“I expect to do pretty well.”
“What made you give up sellin' prize packages?” asked Jim slyly.
“Customers like you,” answered Paul.
Jim laughed.
“You didn't catch me that time you lost your basket,” he said.
“That was a mean trick,” said Paul, indignantly.
“You don't want to hire me to sell for you, do you?”
“That's where you're right. I don't.”
“I'd like to go into the business.”
“You'd better open a second-hand9 clothing store,” suggested Paul, glancing at his companion's ragged attire10.
“Maybe I will,” said Jim with a grin, “if you'll buy of me.”
“I don't like the style,” said Paul. “Who's your tailor?”
“He lives round in Chatham street. Say, can't you lend a fellow a couple of shillin' to buy some breakfast?”
“Have you done any work to-day?”
“No.”
“Then you can't expect to eat if you don't work.”
“I didn't have no money to start with.”
“Suppose you had a quarter, what would you do?”
“I'd buy a ten-cent plate of meat, and buy some evenin' papers with the rest.”
“If you'll do that, I'll give you what you ask for.”
“You'll give me two shillin'?” repeated Jim, incredulously, for he remembered how he had wronged Paul.
“Yes,” said Paul. “Here's the money;” and he drew a twenty-five-cent piece from his vest pocket, and handed it to Jim.
“You give me that after the mean trick I played you?” said Jim.
“Yes; I am sorry for you and want to help you along.”
“You're a brick!” exclaimed Jim, emphatically. “If any feller tries to play a trick on you, you just tell me, and I'll lam him.”
“All right, Jim!” said Paul, kindly11; “I'll remember it.”
“There ain't anybody you want licked, is there?” asked Jim, earnestly.
“Not at present, thank you,” said Paul, smiling.
“When you do, I'm on hand,” said Jim. “Now I'll go and get some grub.”
He shuffled12 along toward Ann street, where there was a cheap eating-house, in which ten cents would pay for a plate of meat. He was decidedly hungry, and did justice to the restaurant, whose style of cookery, though not very choice, suited him so well that he could readily have eaten three plates of meat instead of one, but for the prudent13 thought that compelled him to reserve enough to embark14 in business afterwards. Jim was certainly a hard ticket; but Paul's unexpected kindness had won him, and produced a more profound impression than a dozen floggings could have done. I may add that Jim proved luck in his business investment, and by the close of the afternoon had enough money to provide himself with supper and lodging7, besides a small fund to start with the next day.
Paul sold three more neckties, and then, though it yet lacked an hour of the time when he generally proposed to close, he prepared to go home. He wanted to communicate the good news to his mother and little Jimmy.
Mrs. Hoffman raised her eyes from her sewing as he entered.
“Well, Paul,” she said, “have you heard anything of the ring?”
“Yes, mother, it's sold.”
“Is it? Well, we must do without it, then,” said his mother in a tone of disappointment.
“There won't be any trouble about that, mother, as long as we have got the money for it. I would rather have that than the ring.”
“Did you recover it, then?” asked his mother, eagerly.
“Yes, mother—listen and I will tell you all about it.”
He sat down and told the story to two very attentive15 listeners.
“What did you do with the money, Paul?” asked Jimmy.
“Mr. Preston is keeping a hundred and fifty dollars for me. He will allow seven per cent. interest. But I must not forget that the money belongs to you, mother, and not to me. Perhaps you would prefer to deposit it in a savings16 bank.”
“I am quite satisfied with your disposal of it, Paul,” said Mrs. Hoffman. “I little thought, when I found the ring, that it would be of such service to us.”
“It has set me up in business,” said Paul, “and I am sure to make money. But I am getting out of stock. I must go round and buy some more neckties to-morrow.”
“How much do you pay for your ties, Paul?” asked his mother.
“One shilling; I sell them for two. That gives me a good profit.”
“I wonder whether I couldn't make them?” said Mrs. Hoffman. “I find there is no sewing at present to be got, and, besides,” she added, “I think I would rather work for you than for a stranger.”
“There is no need of your working, mother. I can earn enough to support the family.”
“While I have health I would prefer to work, Paul.”
“Then I will bring round some of the ties to-morrow. I have two or three kinds. There is nothing very hard about any of them. I think they would be easy to make.”
“That will suit me much better than making shirts.”
“Suppose I admit you to the firm, mother? I can get a large signboard, and have painted on it:
PAUL HOFFMAN AND MOTHER,
DEALERS17 IN NECKTIES.
 
How would that sound?”
“I think I would leave the business part in your hands, Paul.”
“I begin to feel like a wholesale18 merchant already,” said Paul. “Who knows but I may be one some day?”
“Many successful men have begun as low down,” said his mother; “with energy and industry much may be accomplished19.”
“Do you think I'll ever be a wholesale painter?” asked Jimmy, whose small ears had drank in the conversation.
“Better try for it, Jimmy,” said Paul. “I don't know exactly what a wholesale painter is, unless it's one who paints houses.”
“I shouldn't like that,” said the little boy.
“Then, Jimmy, you'd better be a retail20 painter.”
“I guess I will,” said Jimmy, seriously.
     Note: Thus far we have accompanied Paul Hoffman in his
     career.  He is considerably21 better off than when we met him
     peddling prize packages in front of the post office.  But we
     have reason to believe that greater success awaits him.  He
     will figure in the next two volumes of this series, more
     particularly in the second, to be called “Slow and Sure; or,
     From the Sidewalk to the Shop.” Before this appears,
     however, I propose to describe the adventures of a friend
     and protegee of Paul's—under the title of PHIL THE FIDDLER;
     OR, THE YOUNG STREET MUSICIAN.

The End

点击收听单词发音收听单词发音  

1 fixed JsKzzj     
adj.固定的,不变的,准备好的;(计算机)固定的
参考例句:
  • Have you two fixed on a date for the wedding yet?你们俩选定婚期了吗?
  • Once the aim is fixed,we should not change it arbitrarily.目标一旦确定,我们就不应该随意改变。
2 entirely entirely     
ad.全部地,完整地;完全地,彻底地
参考例句:
  • The fire was entirely caused by their neglect of duty. 那场火灾完全是由于他们失职而引起的。
  • His life was entirely given up to the educational work. 他的一生统统献给了教育工作。
3 soliciting ca5499d5ad6a3567de18f81c7dc8c931     
v.恳求( solicit的现在分词 );(指娼妇)拉客;索求;征求
参考例句:
  • A prostitute was soliciting on the street. 一名妓女正在街上拉客。 来自《简明英汉词典》
  • China Daily is soliciting subscriptions. 《中国日报》正在征求订户。 来自《现代英汉综合大词典》
4 prospects fkVzpY     
n.希望,前途(恒为复数)
参考例句:
  • There is a mood of pessimism in the company about future job prospects. 公司中有一种对工作前景悲观的情绪。
  • They are less sanguine about the company's long-term prospects. 他们对公司的远景不那么乐观。
5 ragged KC0y8     
adj.衣衫褴褛的,粗糙的,刺耳的
参考例句:
  • A ragged shout went up from the small crowd.这一小群人发出了刺耳的喊叫。
  • Ragged clothing infers poverty.破衣烂衫意味着贫穷。
6 alley Cx2zK     
n.小巷,胡同;小径,小路
参考例句:
  • We live in the same alley.我们住在同一条小巷里。
  • The blind alley ended in a brick wall.这条死胡同的尽头是砖墙。
7 lodging wRgz9     
n.寄宿,住所;(大学生的)校外宿舍
参考例句:
  • The bill is inclusive of the food and lodging. 账单包括吃、住费用。
  • Where can you find lodging for the night? 你今晚在哪里借宿?
8 lodgings f12f6c99e9a4f01e5e08b1197f095e6e     
n. 出租的房舍, 寄宿舍
参考例句:
  • When he reached his lodgings the sun had set. 他到达公寓房间时,太阳已下山了。
  • I'm on the hunt for lodgings. 我正在寻找住所。
9 second-hand second-hand     
adj.用过的,旧的,二手的
参考例句:
  • I got this book by chance at a second-hand bookshop.我赶巧在一家旧书店里买到这本书。
  • They will put all these second-hand goods up for sale.他们将把这些旧货全部公开出售。
10 attire AN0zA     
v.穿衣,装扮[同]array;n.衣着;盛装
参考例句:
  • He had no intention of changing his mode of attire.他无意改变着装方式。
  • Her attention was attracted by his peculiar attire.他那奇特的服装引起了她的注意。
11 kindly tpUzhQ     
adj.和蔼的,温和的,爽快的;adv.温和地,亲切地
参考例句:
  • Her neighbours spoke of her as kindly and hospitable.她的邻居都说她和蔼可亲、热情好客。
  • A shadow passed over the kindly face of the old woman.一道阴影掠过老太太慈祥的面孔。
12 shuffled cee46c30b0d1f2d0c136c830230fe75a     
v.洗(纸牌)( shuffle的过去式和过去分词 );拖着脚步走;粗心地做;摆脱尘世的烦恼
参考例句:
  • He shuffled across the room to the window. 他拖着脚走到房间那头的窗户跟前。
  • Simon shuffled awkwardly towards them. 西蒙笨拙地拖着脚朝他们走去。 来自《简明英汉词典》
13 prudent M0Yzg     
adj.谨慎的,有远见的,精打细算的
参考例句:
  • A prudent traveller never disparages his own country.聪明的旅行者从不贬低自己的国家。
  • You must school yourself to be modest and prudent.你要学会谦虚谨慎。
14 embark qZKzC     
vi.乘船,着手,从事,上飞机
参考例句:
  • He is about to embark on a new business venture.他就要开始新的商业冒险活动。
  • Many people embark for Europe at New York harbor.许多人在纽约港乘船去欧洲。
15 attentive pOKyB     
adj.注意的,专心的;关心(别人)的,殷勤的
参考例句:
  • She was very attentive to her guests.她对客人招待得十分周到。
  • The speaker likes to have an attentive audience.演讲者喜欢注意力集中的听众。
16 savings ZjbzGu     
n.存款,储蓄
参考例句:
  • I can't afford the vacation,for it would eat up my savings.我度不起假,那样会把我的积蓄用光的。
  • By this time he had used up all his savings.到这时,他的存款已全部用完。
17 dealers 95e592fc0f5dffc9b9616efd02201373     
n.商人( dealer的名词复数 );贩毒者;毒品贩子;发牌者
参考例句:
  • There was fast bidding between private collectors and dealers. 私人收藏家和交易商急速竞相喊价。
  • The police were corrupt and were operating in collusion with the drug dealers. 警察腐败,与那伙毒品贩子内外勾结。
18 wholesale Ig9wL     
n.批发;adv.以批发方式;vt.批发,成批出售
参考例句:
  • The retail dealer buys at wholesale and sells at retail.零售商批发购进货物,以零售价卖出。
  • Such shoes usually wholesale for much less.这种鞋批发出售通常要便宜得多。
19 accomplished UzwztZ     
adj.有才艺的;有造诣的;达到了的
参考例句:
  • Thanks to your help,we accomplished the task ahead of schedule.亏得你们帮忙,我们才提前完成了任务。
  • Removal of excess heat is accomplished by means of a radiator.通过散热器完成多余热量的排出。
20 retail VWoxC     
v./n.零售;adv.以零售价格
参考例句:
  • In this shop they retail tobacco and sweets.这家铺子零售香烟和糖果。
  • These shoes retail at 10 yuan a pair.这些鞋子零卖10元一双。
21 considerably 0YWyQ     
adv.极大地;相当大地;在很大程度上
参考例句:
  • The economic situation has changed considerably.经济形势已发生了相当大的变化。
  • The gap has narrowed considerably.分歧大大缩小了。


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