to contemplate adopting either of these employments. But the night came
when he felt he must do it or beg.

He naturally preferred the newspaper line to that of polishing shoes, and
he resolve to make his venture early the following morning.

Tom was unusually strong and active for one of his years, and he expected
to have trouble from the envy of the other boys.

When he purchased his fifty _Heralds_, long before daylight, there seemed
to be an army of newsboys ahead of him, and he was looked upon and
muttered about in the most threatening manner.

He had scarcely reached the sidewalk when he was set upon by a couple of
vigorous gamins, with the evident intent of discouraging him in the new
business.

The others gathered around to see the fun.

They saw it.

The fiery urchins, though both were as large as, and no doubt older than,
Tom, were literally "nowhere" in the fight.

He conquered them in less than a minute without receiving a scratch, and
then, turning to the crowd, remarked that if there was any one or two or a
dozen there that wanted to tackle him, all they had to do was to come
forward. No one came, and Tom sauntered off to sell his newspapers.

It was exceedingly distasteful; but he was spurred on by necessity, and he