Just then the door opened, and Paul's brother entered.
Jimmy Hoffman, or lame Jimmy, as he was often called, was a delicate-looking boy of ten, with a fair complexion and sweet face, but incurably lame, a defect which, added to his delicate constitution, was likely to interfere seriously with his success in life. But, as frequently happens, Jimmy was all the more endeared to his mother and brother by his misfortune and bodily weakness, and if either were obliged to suffer from poverty, Jimmy would be spared the suffering.
“Well, Jimmy, have you had a pleasant walk?” asked his mother.
“Yes, mother; I went down to Fulton Market. There's a good deal to see there.”
“A good deal more than in this dull room, Jimmy.”
“It doesn't seem dull to me, mother, while you are here. How did you make out selling your prize packages?”
“They are all sold, Jimmy, every one. I am making some more.”
“Shan't I help you?”
“Yes, I would like to have you. Just take those envelopes, and write prize packages on every one of them.”
“All right, Paul,” and Jimmy, glad to be of use, got the pen and ink, and, gathering up the envelopes, began to inscribe them as he had been instructed.