"I've been drawing a picture," said Jimmy. "Would you like to see it?"

"Now, isn't that illigant?" exclaimed Mrs. Donovan, admiringly, taking
the picture and gazing at it with rapt admiration. "Who showed you how
to do it?"

"Paul bought me a book, and I copied it out of that."

"You're a rale genius. Maybe you'll make pictures some time like them we
have in the church, of the Blessed Virgin and the Saints. Do you think
you could draw me, now?" she asked, with curiosity.

"I haven't got a piece of paper big enough," said Jimmy, slyly.

"Ah, it's pokin' fun at me, ye are," said Mrs. Donovan, good-humoredly.
"Just like my Pat; he run into the room yesterday sayin', 'Mother,
there's great news. Barnum's fat woman is dead, and he's comin' afther
you this afternoon. He'll pay you ten dollars a week and board.' 'Whist,
ye spalpeen!' said I; 'is it makin' fun of your poor mother, ye are?'
but I couldn't help laughing at the impertinence of the boy. But I must
be goin'."

"Thank you for your kind offer, Mrs. Donovan. Jimmy shall go to your
room for the sewing."

"There's no hurry about that," said Mrs. Donovan. "I'll jist bring it in
meself when it's ready."

"She is very kind," said Mrs. Hoffman, when Bridget Donovan had gone. "I
shall be glad to have her wash. I am apt to feel weak after it. What are
you going to do this afternoon, Paul?"

"I'll try to sell out the rest of my stock of packages. Perhaps I shan't
succeed, but I'll do my best. Shall you have another picture to show me
when I come back tonight, Jimmy?"

"Yes, Paul; I love to draw. I'm going to try this castle."

"It's rather hard, isn't it?"

"I can do it," said Jimmy, confidently.

Paul left the room with his basket on his arm.

He was drawn by curiosity to the spot where he had met with his first
success, as well as his first failure--the front of the post office.
Here he became witness to an unexpectedly lively scene; in other words,
a fight, in which Teddy O'Brien and his confederate, Mike, were the
contestants. To explain the cause of the quarrel, it must be stated that
it related to a division of the spoils.

Teddy had sold out his last package, seventy-five in number. For these
he had received five cents apiece, making in all three dollars and
seventy-five cents, of which all but a dollar and seventy-five cents,
representing the value of the prizes and the original cost of the
packages and their contents, was profit. Now, according t