n the
business offices, as Paul had supposed, but are obliged to go into
some room nearer the presses, and where they will be out of the way of
more important customers. Therefore, when Johnny led him into a room
lighted by gas, even though it was in the day-time, and filled by a
crowd of noisy, pushing, eager boys, all wanting to be served first,
Paul felt quite as much alarmed as surprised.

"It's all right," said Johnny, as he saw his companion was about to
draw back; "there won't anybody try to hurt you here, an' you'll git
used to it after you've come two or three times."

Paul hardly believed that he should become accustomed to anything of
the kind; but before they had finished their rounds--for Johnny
carried four of the different morning papers--he could look upon the
scene, which was almost the same in each case, with something very
nearly approaching interest.

When at last the stock was procured, Johnny divided it, giving half to
Paul, and saying, as he did so,

"I'll git all the papers for a while, till you kinder git used to it,
an' then you can git 'em for yerself. Now come over here on the Square
an' sing out, as loud as you know how, jest what I do."

Then, for example, Johnny began shouting his wares in a way that was
more noisy than distinct. But after he had repeated it several times,
selling two papers in the meanwhile, Paul had no more idea of what he
said than if he had been speaking in a foreign tongue.

Johnny would have lost a good deal of the morning trade, which was
quite brisk, in his efforts to start Paul aright, if Ben had not come
along, and offered to give the beginner his first lesson.

Paul found it rather difficult to make as much noise as Ben seemed to
think necessary, for the sound of his own voice frightened him; but in
the course of an hour, during which time his instructor alternately
blackened boots and gave him lessons, he had got along so well that he
was selling quite a number of papers. His success did a great deal
towards helping him fight off the homesick feeling that would come
over him.

At first none of the other newsboys paid any attention to him, perhaps
because they were too busy; but as trade began to grow dull they
commenced to gather around Paul, until he was thoroughly alarmed at
some of the demonstrations they made.

One boy, considerably larger than he was, insisted that if he wanted
to sell papers he should go somewhere else to do it, because that
p