Paul the Peddler

Book excerpt: Paul the Peddler. Horatio Alger, Jr's Children's book, 19th Century's title, here is a piece of the content as it began; "Here's your prize packages! Only five cents! Money prize in every package! Walk up, gentlemen, and try your luck!" The speaker, a boy of fourteen, stood in front of the shabby brick building, on Nassau street, which has served for many years as the New York post office. In front of him, as he stood with his back to the building, was a small basket, filled with ordinary letter envelopes, each labeled "Prize Package." His attractive announcement, which, at that time, had also the merit of novelty-for Paul had himself hit upon the idea, and manufactured the packages, as we shall hereafter explain-drew around him a miscellaneous crowd, composed chiefly of boys