Part 11 (2/2)

”I will speak to my mother.”

Thomas returned in a short time, and took two dozen of the fish, and paid the money for them. Overjoyed at this success, he proceeded to the next house; but though he was eloquent in regard to the freshness and fineness of his wares, he could not make a trade. He met with no better success at the next three or four places at which he called, and he began to feel a little discouraged. But the next house in his way was a large, genteel boarding-house, and he had the satisfaction of selling four dozen at the price he had before fixed, though he had almost made up his mind to let them go at ninepence. The gentleman who kept the house was pleased to get the perch, and wanted the young fisherman to bring him some three times a week for the present, for his boarders were very fond of them.

Paul could scarcely contain himself for the joy he felt, as he glanced at the only remaining dozen of his stock, and at the very next house he disposed of them. With a dollar and nineteen cents in his pocket, he walked towards home, proud as a lord of his success. The result of this day's work afforded him far more satisfaction than that of the preceding day, though the proceeds were considerably less; for he was conscious of the influence of Captain Littleton's generosity in the transaction. But the second day's triumph was achieved by his own unaided labor and skill. What he had done this day was a fair specimen of what he might hope to do in the future.

”Sold out so soon, Paul?” said his mother, as he entered the kitchen.

”Yes; I had good luck. They took four dozen at the boarding-house. I think if I had had twenty dozen I could have sold them all. There is a great deal of difference between perch just out of the water, fresh and good, and perch which have been dragged about in a fish cart, under a hot sun, for two or three days.”

Mrs. Duncan fully agreed with this sage remark, and did not think it improved any kind of fish to keep them a great while after they were caught.

”One dollar and nineteen cents, mother; here is the money,” continued Paul, emptying the contents of the wallet into her lap. ”What do you think of the fis.h.i.+ng business _now_, mother?”

”It has proved to be a very good business so far: but you must not expect people to eat perch all the year round, Paul. They will get sick of them after a while.”

”Then I shall go farther off; but there are other fish besides perch, and I don't intend to confine my operations to one kind. There are eels, and smelts, and cod, and haddock; and if worse comes to worse, I can go into the clam trade.”

”What a boy!” laughed Mrs. Duncan. ”You are so determined that I have no doubt you will succeed.”

”If I don't, it shall not be my fault,” replied Paul, complacently.

”But you don't mean to follow this business all your life?”

”Why not?”

”The life of a fisherman is not the pleasantest in the world.”

”That's according to one's taste. If I only had a good boat, I can't think of anything that would suit me better.”

”It is hard work.”

”So much the better. You said that five dollars a week would support the family. Now, if you have no objection, I will save up all I make over that sum, till I get enough to buy a boat.”

”Certainly, Paul; and if you give me three dollars a week, or even two, I can get along very well.”

”I shall not do that, mother. I am going to support the family, anyhow; and I wish you wouldn't take any more bags to make.”

”You mustn't think of doing too much, Paul.”

”Too much! I shall be idle half the time, at this rate. Here I am, with my day's work done at three o'clock in the afternoon. I don't want you to do anything, mother, but take care of the house, as you always used to do.”

”There will certainly be no need of it, if you get along as well as you expect. How much will such a boat as you want cost, Paul?”

”Well, I don't know; when I buy I want to get a first-rate one.”

”How much do you think.”

”Fifty to seventy-five dollars; but I won't think of such a thing yet a while. The old one will do very well for the present. I can save up something every week, and little by little, I shall make up enough to get just such a boat as I want.”

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