How happy David was then! He had “sold out,” and had made eighteen cents. But he was an honest boy, and he went at once to Mr. Field’s to pay for his papers, and to speak for some more the next day. The express man said he had done well, after he had told his story, and thought he could sell as many as four dozen papers the next day.
David ran home, and told his mother all about it. She was as glad as he was at his success. She was pleased, not only because he had made some money, but because he had tried so hard to do something for her.
Eighteen cents is a very small sum, it is true, but the poor widow could think of a great many little comforts which it would buy. But if her son could earn this sum every day, it would be a real blessing to her; for it would supply the whole family with good clothing. Do you wonder that Mrs. White was proud of her son?
Joe Buck in trouble.
IV.
The next day David sold twice as many papers as he had sold the day before. He carried thirty-six cents home to his mother that night. This was as much money as his mother had earned, and he was as proud as a lord of what he had done.
David now found himself settled in the business; and in a few weeks his mother bought him a suit of clothes with the money he had earned. They had a great many nice things at the cottage, which they had not had since Mr. White’s death.
But the little merchant did not always have such good luck as on the first days. When he sold all his papers one day, and had calls for more than he could supply, he asked Mr. Field to bring him six dozen. Then he could not sell them, and this caused a loss.