le of the forenoon. I think I will open my stand as usual, and
return at ten, and then we can go out together."

"Very well, Paul. I will help Mrs. Norton, if she will let me, till
then."

"There is no need of that, Mrs. Hoffman."

"I would rather do it. I want to make some return for your kindness."

So the two women cleared away the breakfast dishes and washed them,
and then Mrs. Hoffman sewed for two hours upon a shirt which his
mother had commenced for Sam. Jimmy amused himself by copying another
picture from the comic paper before mentioned.

Meantime Paul got out his stock in trade, and began to be on the watch
for customers. He bought a copy of the _Herald_ of his friend Sam, and
began to pore over the advertisements headed "FURNISHED ROOMS AND
APARTMENTS TO LET."

"Let me see," soliloquized Paul; "here are four elegantly furnished
rooms on Fifth avenue, only fifty dollars a week, without board. Cheap
enough! But I'm afraid it would be rather too far away from my
business."

"I suppose that's the only objection," said Sam slyly.

"There might be one or two others, Sam. Suppose you pick out something
for me."

"What do you say to this, Paul?" said Sam, pointing out the following
advertisement:

"FURNISHED NEATLY FOR HOUSEKEEPING. Front parlor, including piano,
with front and back bedrooms on second floor; front basement; gas,
bath, hot and cold water, stationary tubs; rent reasonable. West
Twenty-seventh street."

"That would be very convenient, especially the piano and the
stationary tubs," observed Paul. "If I decide to take the rooms, you
can come round any time and practice on the tubs."

"Thank you, Paul, I think I'd rather try the piano."

"I thought you might be more used to the tubs. However, that's too far
up town for me."

"Are you going to get furnished rooms?"

"I haven't spoken to mother about it, but as we have had all our
furniture burned up, we shall probably get furnished rooms at first."

"Perhaps this might suit you, then," said Sam, reading from the paper:

"TO LET--FOR HOUSEKEEPING, several nicely furnished rooms; terms
moderate. Apply at -- Bleecker street."

"That must be near where Barry used to live."

"Would it be too far?"

"No, I don't think it would. It isn't far to walk from Bleecker
street. But it will depend a little on the terms."

"Terms moderate," read off Sam.

"They might call them so, even if they were high."

"I wish there were some rooms to let