human
Well, mother, said he briskly,
gpt
I am glad supper is ready, for I am as hungry as a wolf.
human
I think there will be enough for you, said his mother, smiling.
gpt
If not, we will send to the baker's for an extra supply.
human
Is a wolf hungry, Paul?
gpt
I'll draw you one after supper, Jimmy, and you can judge,
human
Your animals all look like cows, Paul,
gpt
I see you are jealous of me, said Paul, with much indignation,
human
After supper you can look at my last picture, said Jimmy.
gpt
It is copied from _Harper's Weekly.
human
Pass it along now, Jimmy. I don't think it will spoil my appetite.
gpt
Excellent, Jimmy. I couldn't do it better myself, said Paul.
human
You are a little genius.
gpt
I like drawing so much, Paul. I hope some time I can do something else besides copy.
human
No doubt you will. I am sure you will be a famous artist some day, and make no end of money by your pictures.
gpt
That's what I would like--to make money.
human
Fie, Jimmy! I had no idea you were so fond of money.
gpt
I would like to help mother just as you are doing, Paul. Do you think I will ever earn as much as you do?
human
A great deal more, I hope, Jimmy. Not but what I am doing well, added Paul in a tone of satisfaction.
gpt
Did you know, mother, it is six months to-day since I bought out the necktie stand?
human
Is it, Paul? asked his mother with interest.
gpt
Have you succeeded as well as you anticipated?
human
Better, mother. It was a good idea putting in a case of knives. They help along my profits. Why, I sold four knives to-day, making on an average twenty-five cents each.
gpt
Did you? That is indeed worth while.
human
It is more than I used to average for a whole day's earnings before I went into this business.
gpt
How many neckties did you sell, Paul?
human
I sold fourteen.
gpt
How much profit did you make on each?
human
About fourteen cents. Can you tell how much that makes?
gpt
I could cipher it out on my slate.
human
No matter; I'll tell you. It makes a dollar and ninety-six cents. That added to the money I made on the knives amounts to two dollars and ninety-six cents.
gpt
Almost three dollars.
human
Yes; sometimes I sell more neckties, but then I don't always sell as many knives. However, I am satisfied.
gpt
I have made two dozen neckties to-day, Paul,
human
I am afraid you did too much, mother.
gpt
Oh, no. There isn't much work about a necktie.
human
Then I owe you a dollar and twenty cents, mother.
gpt
I don't think you ought to pay me five cents apiece, Paul.
human
That's fair enough, mother. If I get fourteen cents for selling a tie, certainly you ought to get five cents for making one.
gpt
But your money goes to support us, Paul.
human
And where does yours go, mother?
gpt
A part of it has gone for a new dress, Paul. I went up to Stewart's to-day and bought a dress pattern. I will show it to you after supper.
human
That's right, mother. You don't buy enough new dresses. Considering that you are the mother of a successful merchant, you ought to dash out. Doesn't Jimmy want some clothes?
gpt
I am going to buy him a new suit to-morrow. He is eight years old to-morrow.
human
Is he? What an old fellow you are getting to be, Jimmy! How many gray hairs have you got?
gpt
I haven't counted,
human
I tell you what, mother, we must celebrate Jimmy's birthday. He is the only artist in the family, and we must treat him with proper consideration. I'll tell you what, Jimmy, I'll close up my business at twelve o'clock, and give all my clerks a half-holiday. Then I'll take you and mother to Barnum's Museum, where you can see all the curiosities, and the play besides. How would you like that?
gpt
Ever so much, Paul, said the little boy, his eyes brightening at the prospect.
human
There's a giant there, isn't there? How tall is he?
gpt
Somewhere about eighteen feet, I believe.
human
Now you are making fun, Paul.
gpt
Well, it's either eighteen or eight, one or the other. Then there's a dwarf, two feet high, or is it inches?
human
Of course it's feet. He couldn't be so little as two inches.
gpt
Well, Jimmy, I dare say you're right. Then it's settled that we go to the museum tomorrow. You must go with us, mother.
human
Oh, yes, I will go, said Mrs. Hoffman,