The interior journal. [volume] (Stanford, Ky.) 1872-1881, 1873-02-14

nearly up 10 my boot-tops; and oh J the
cold rain. go TO the farmers" said
the little book, and to the farmers I
went. Slowly and wcarily I dragged
myself on. Mile after mile, hour after
hour, brought no pause in the rain, no
diminution in the depth Of the mud, no
rest to my tired limbs, and no names on
my canvassing books. Ibargaincd for =
stormy day, but the contract was little
too we'll filed. Twelve o'clock came,
and not book sold. My faith in that
little book received a fresh shake, and
my teeth many a one. Undaunted, |
pushed on. I hinted at every place l
called for the next two hours that | had
had nothing to eat since morning. Ev-
erybody said must be hungry, but no
one asked me to eat. BY three o'clock
had walked forty miles, visited thirty
houses, and had not sold a book. | was
getting little despondcnt, when told
that a man just ahead wanted "hoss
doctor book" That was balm to my
tired soles and food to my empty stom-
ach. Following the instruction of the
little book, ] inquired his name and pc
culiarities, and started for him. l hast
ened on as fast as possible, and made
pretty good time, considering | had to
% back every few rods to hunt for q
boot. At last reached the entrance Of
the uppretentious domicile, and, while
engaged in the operation Of cleaning the
real estate from the protectors Of my un-
derstanding, l thought what a gem q
rough exterior often hides. Perhaps
within this humble dwelling there lies
concealed some mind that, with a slight
cultivation, nigh, s-sp the lightning
with victorious hand and shake the sun
from pole to circumference. Instructive
ly the words Of Gray passed through my
mind, and found myself repeating
"Full many gem Of purest ray serene
The dark unfathomed caves Of ocean bear
Full many flower is born to blush unseen
And waste il. fragrance on the desert air. "
BY this time my boots were in tol-
cradle presentable order. Raising up,
raped q gentle knock upon that con-
glomeratiou Of boards and nails falsely
denominaied door. but no one came
another, and another. with considerable
detriment 10 my cold knuckles, but with
the same result as before. Finally l got
desperate, and pitched into that door
with a series of kicks that would have
done honor to any jackson in the
land. As expected, this brought some
body. / heard the old man say, rather
fearfully, "Sal, take the shovel and see
if that amt the darned old black ram at
the door agin." ! heard Sal coming,
and put myself in the most favorable
attitude to give her stunning bow; for
my little book had fully advised me Of
the importance of first impressions. l
say had fixed myself to give her a
handsome salutation, but the confoun-
the young lady, mean, did not give me
a chance. She just opened the door and
struck blow that would have shaken
Gibralter from center to summit, with.
out looking to see whether was sheep
or not. l didn't make a graceful bow,
for it was all l could do to dodge the old
shovel Without permitting her to come
to an examination Of what she had done,
l rushed by her and greeted the old man
thusly:
"How do YOU do, Mr.. -" says /.
"Jest as / please" says he. "A pretty
stormy day." observed |. "It's a stormy
one, but the purity | can't see," he re
piled. was not abashed. had learned
that day to stand anything. "Mr. =
says l. II heard that you wanted horss
doctor book, and have called to show
you one of the best that is published j,
is plain, complete, comprehensive
comp" "Yes,' says he, 81 do want
one. Is yours a good oner "You shal
see for yourself" i replied, as ! produced
my largest canvassing-book and handed
il to him for inspection. Taking it bot
tom upward, and perusing it left-hand
edly for about fifteen minutes (all tn,
while l felt like juvenile angler with .
catfish nibbling at his hook, he handef
ii back to me, exclaiming, "well, stran
ger, I'd like to have the book; what
the price'" ats put up in two style
of binding; $3.50 in boards and "a il
, sheep" answered. swell, stranger,
, would like to have the book mought,
well, but hain't got bit Of board tim
Der on my land, nor no chance of gittin
} any round here as TO sheep, hahn
|, got but one darned old horny ram on tn
place, and, to tell the truth. stranger
| he's not worth his salt; but If you'll
take him l reckon he can out-butt any.
} l did not hear the rest Of that sentence
, for. with one yell Of despair, and leal
, that would have done honor TO Twain
"jackass rabbit" left that unhallowe'
spot and started for home.
. l made the first fifty yards in half Al
hour. and babe fair 10 make the next il
{ double the time. when. in desperat
attempt to extricate my left foot iron
/ the mud where it had seemingly take
5 up winter quarters, l pushed my righ