"If you must be so foolish as to set up for yourself, take this," said
the farmer, placing half a dollar in his hand. "You may reach the city
after the banks are closed for the day, you know," he added, jocularly.

But it was in the morning that Paul came in sight of the city. He
climbed up into a high tree, which, having the benefit of an elevated
situation, afforded him an extensive prospect. Before him lay the great
city of which he had so often heard, teeming with life and activity.

Half in eager anticipation, half in awe and wonder at its vastness, our
young pilgrim stood upon the threshold of this great Babel.

Everything looked new and strange. It had never entered Paul's mind,
that there could be so many houses in the whole State as now rose up
before him. He got into Broadway, and walked on and on thinking that
the street must end somewhere. But the farther he walked the thicker the
houses seemed crowded together. Every few rods, too, he came to a cross
street, which seemed quite as densely peopled as the one on which he was
walking. One part of the city was the same as another to Paul, since
he was equally a stranger to all. He wandered listlessly along, whither
fancy led. His mind was constantly excited by the new and strange
objects which met him at every step.

As he was looking in at a shop window, a boy of about his own age,
stopped and inquired confidentially, "when did you come from the
country?"

"This morning," said Paul, wondering how a stranger should know that he
was a country boy.