The interior journal. [volume] (Stanford, Ky.) 1872-1881, 1873-02-14
For the fs,srior Journal
We Book Agency.

itself in my early childhood; for, when
a little boy at school, my motto was
ut is more blessed to give than to re
ceive." How I labored to impress this
upon my fellow-pupils-espccially when
one had nice apple or cake; and how
my heart thrilled with benevolent Joy
when I could thus make one Of my play.
mates happy ! never saw but two per.
sons in the world that understood this
doctrine too well-my father and the
instructor Of my tender years--and I
sincerely believe they are the only per.
sons ever made happy and did not ex.
perience the same blissful feeling. Now,
the same spisit that prompted my early
acts Of beuevolence urges me to write
this warning. that others may avoid the
reefs upon which was wrecked.
At the age Of nineteen I was anxious
to begin life "for myself" as called it,
and | obtained q situation S teacher in
one Of our public schools. All went
merry rs n wedding hell till my school
was out, then ! was out Of employment.
Instead of waiting. however, for some,
thing to turn up. I determined to turn
something up, and | did. I got news
paper and read over the advertisements.
Every few lines | could see Book
Agents Wanted" 5000 Per Month,
Unparalleled Success" Strike While
the Iron is Hot"--and l struck.
sat down and wrote to fortyseven
publishing houses. The next week re-
ceived two hundred and thirty.four let
te- from different firms, each declaring
It's own books 10 be the best and most
salable. Here was dilemma had not
antici,...ssi. 7 could not take nil Of
them, but at last | selected six Of tn,
largest titles, and sent the money for out
fits. Impatieutly waited, and at last
they arrived. After opening the pack
age, and while examining the books, q
little white pamphlet dropped from be
tween the leaves Of one Of them. wa
sick Of circulars" and was about I,
leave the pamphlet where it had fallen
when an evil spirit that always attend
me urged me to pick it up. i did so
and, on turning over the first leaf, read
Private Hints to Agents-(Strictl,
Confdentisl.)" | closed the book in les
than no time, for several persons wer,
standing around, and did not wish Il
betray the confidence of my employers
l left the post-ofice and struck for home
got ~ my room, locked the door. drew
down the curtains, lighted my lamp, and
after peeping under the bed to see thai
no one was present, ! sat down and be
gan to imbibe the contents Of the myste
rious document. Enraptured' 1t ism
the word. Language fails me to express
my feelings. i was not aware Of tn
height Of the calling in which | wa
about To engage till that little book en-
lightened me. The preacher was no
where. The world was clay in my hands
and could shape it as pleased! q
confess that WAS little too tough, con
sidering that my books were all difieren
editions Of Masons "Farrier.' but tn,
book reassured me, and ! read on.
Presently ! came to something like this
"Do not stop for weather; the stormies
weather is the best. just put your pant
in your boots and 20 ahead an industri
Gus, energetic young man doesn't min'
the weather"
had always longed for a chance T.
convince the world of my business quail
ties, and that would do it, l read
over and over. read it again then
jumped up, and, initiating Archimedes
l cried out. loud and long, Eureka J
That would look like business. Tha
would show energy. That, o gloriou
that, would make people say. Hell be
business man, wont he! Just look a
him Amt that energy''
| could read no farther. could no
let myself down to earth again; no
never. pressed the little book to m.
throbbing breast, as would have done
pretty girl. and replaced it in my YES,
pocket. Was going to start out imm'
diatelyi Not |! / knew my own in
terest better than that. just sat down
perfectly at rest, determined to wait 70
the first stormy day and make boil
business beginning.
l did not have to wait long. Ths
was on Monday. Well, Wednesda
evening, cold and stormy, gave place
a colder and stormier night, and that :
still colder and stormier morning. Th
rain was pouring in streams Of thre
feet diameter. and 50 cold that the
would have frozen an iceberg until
cracked into million atoms. l will nc
attempt to describe my feelings this
morning; language is too weak. sufiC
it to say that that was the proudest M
ment of my life. How true that "whe
ignorance is bliss, It's folly to be wise
but in the present circumstance, it wOul
have conduced much 10 my bliss to ha,
had little more worldly wisdom. Ig'
equipped according 10 the instruction {
the little book, and when about 10 star