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Jed, The Poorhouse Boy

Creator: Horatio Alger (author)
Date: 1899
Publisher: The John Winston Company. Philadelphia
Source: Available at selected libraries
Figures From This Artifact: Figure 2

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2065  

"Yes, probably; I didn't think of that. By the way, what have you in view?"

2066  

"I hardly know yet."

2067  

"Come round and see me some day," and Foster handed Jed his card.

2068  

"Thank you, sir."

2069  

"Will you have a cigar?"

2070  

"No, thank you, sir. I don't smoke."

2071  

"It would be money in my pocket if I didn't. My cigars cost me last year five hundred dollars."

2072  

"I wish I was sure of that for my entire income," thought Jed.

2073  

They parted at the entrance to the hotel. It was clear from his manner and speech that Howell Foster thought Jed in easy circumstances.

2074  

It made the boy feel almost like an imposter, but he reflected that he had done nothing to give Mr. Foster a false impression.

2075  

It was about half-past one when he left the hotel. The dinner had occupied an hour. The world was still before him, but he had eaten a hearty meal and felt that he could get along, if necessary, till the next morning, so far as eating was concerned.

2076  

Where to sleep presented a perplexing problem, but it would be some time before it required to be solved. How to spend the afternoon puzzled Jed. He went back to City Hall Park, and on the seat he had formerly occupied he found a copy of the New York Herald which somebody had left there. He took it up and looked over the advertisements for Help Wanted.

2077  

He found the following:

2078  

WANTED. -- Smart, enterprising agents to sell packages of stationery. Fifteen dollars a week can easily be made. Call at No. 182 Nassau Street, Room 22.

2079  

This struck Jed as just the thing. It could not be very hard to sell stationery, and fifteen dollars a week would support him comfortably.

2080  

"Where is Nassau Street?" he inquired of a bootblack who took a temporary seat beside him.

2081  

"There 'tis," said the street boy, pointing in the direction of the Tribune building. "You just go down in front of the Tribune."

2082  

"Is No. 182 far off?"

2083  

"No, it's close by. You can get there in less than no time."

2084  

"Thank you!" and with hope in his heart Jed rose and walked in the direction indicated. He found the building. At the entrance was a list of occupants of rooms. He went up two flights of stairs, and halted in front of No. 22. He knocked at the door and was bidden in a deep, hoarse voice to "Come in!"

2085  

Opening the door, he found himself in the presence of a short, humpbacked man, whose voice was quite out of proportion to his size.

2086  

"I suppose you come to see me about the advertisement in the Herald," said the dwarf.

2087  

"Yes, sir," answered Jed, gazing as if fascinated at the stunted figure, huge head and long arms of the person before him.

2088  

"I have engaged several agents already this morning," went on the dwarf, turning over a large book on the desk before him.

2089  

"Then perhaps you don't need any more?" said Jed despondently.

2090  

"Oh, yes, I do if I can get the right ones," was the answer.

2091  

"It is to sell packages of stationery, I believe. Can you show me some?"

2092  

The dwarf handed Jed a flat package, on the outside of which was printed a list of the contents. They included a pen holder, pens, a quire of paper, a supply of envelopes, and several other articles.

2093  

"This is the best package in the market for the money," said the dwarf. "Observe how varied are the contents, and only a paltry twenty-five cents for the whole."

2094  

"Yes, it seems a good bargain," said Jed.

2095  

"You are right there," said the dwarf confidently. "Why, you can make money hand over hand. Our agents are actually coining it. We allow them to retain ten cents on each package. Two or three, and sometimes five, are sold to the same person. Would you like to have me read one or two agents letters?"

2096  

"Yes, if you please."

2097  

"Here is one from Theodore Jenkins, who is operating in Pennsylvania:

2098  

"Hugo Higgins, Esq.

2099  

"Dear Sir:

2100  

"Please send me at once two hundred packages of stationery. They sell like hot cakes. I got rid of forty yesterday, and it rained half the day, too. I have held several agencies for different articles, but none that paid as well as this. I shall be disappointed if I don't make forty dollars per week. It looks as if it might exceed that sum."

2101  

Yours respectfully, Theodore Jenkins

2102  

"That letter speaks for itself," remarked the dwarf as he folded it up and replaced it in an envelope.

2103  

"Yes," said Jed, "it is certainly very encouraging."

2104  

"I will read you another from a party who has been in our employ for fourteen months. He is operating in Ohio.

2105  

"Dear Sir:

2106  

"You may send me three hundred packages by Adams Express, and please don't delay, for I need them at once. I have been working for you for fourteen months. During that time I have supported my family and bought a house, on which I have paid cash down a thousand dollars. In the course of the next year and a half I expect to complete the payment and own the house clean. It was certainly a lucky thing for me when I saw your advertisement for agents and engaged in your service.

2107  

"Yours gratefully,

2108  

"Arthur Waters.'

2109  

"That is another letter that speaks for itself," observed Mr. Higgins. "I have plenty more, but I don't think I need to read any others to convince you that the business will pay any one that takes hold of it."

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