Paul the Peddler; Or, The Fortunes of a Young Street Merchant

"Paul the Peddler; Or, The Fortunes of a Young Street Merchant" by Horatio Alger Jr. is a novel likely written in the late 19th century. The story revolves around a determined young street merchant named Paul Hoffman, who engages in selling prize packages filled with candy and the prospect of prizes. Paul navigates the challenges of street life, including competition and unscrupulous rivals, while striving to support his family and improve their circumstances. The opening of the book introduces Paul enthusiastically promoting his prize packages to a crowd of young boys in New York City. As he sells each package, we see his resourcefulness and ambition in action, despite the skepticism of some customers about the hidden prizes. After a successful morning, Paul returns home to share his earnings with his mother and explores business strategies to improve his sales. The narrative hints at his struggles against competition and personal adversities as he tries to create a better life for himself and his family, setting the stage for a series of moral challenges and growth as he continues his street trading endeavors. (This is an automatically generated summary.)

Horatio Alger Jr. was an American author who wrote young adult novels about impoverished boys and their rise from humble backgrounds to middle-class security and comfort through good works. His writings were characterized by the "rags-to-riches" narrative, which had a formative effect on the United States from 1868 through to his death in 1899.