"No, Jimmy," said Paul, joining in the laugh. "I can't draw any better
than an old cow. You've got all the talent in the family in that line."

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

"I'm glad there's one that thinks so, Jimmy," said Paul. "I'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.

"I'll get you a harder drawing book when you've got through with these,"
said Paul; "that 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.

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

"I hope you'll succeed, Paul."

"Better than I did in drawing horses, eh, Jimmy?"

"Yes, I hope so, Paul," said the little boy.

"Don't you show that horse to visitors and pretend it's yours, Jimmy."

"No 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 lit