Alpena weekly argus. [volume] (Alpena, Mich.) 1871-1893, 1877-02-14
~ F1rgg EFip


trio II drummer f,r ~ Crosse
y halesale grocery house W. viii
call him Harry, Harry had work.
ed industriously 10 the store for
two or three years, when the pro-
prietor of the establishment pro-
NOTED him to what he considered
an enviable position, that Of travel
ing salesman. His trip was through
Southern Minnesota. and as far
north as Mantato. He reached the
latter town in three or four weeks
after he started. He had TINS far
met with good success for "a new
man" and was in coed humor.-
After taking supper at the Clifton
House he walked into the billiard
room connected with the hotel.
Thore lie met an old taveler for a
Milwaukee house whom he had
met previously in this city. They
shook hands, aud Harry asked his
friend to take drink and AZ the
same time noticed that the Mil
YANKEE man was wearing an ele-
cant nair of Burt's boots. After
"smiling," Harry asked his friend
the price of the boots and where
he purchased them, saying at the
same time that abe would like first
rate to have a pair OF the same
style. but that he could not afford
it just then"
"why," replied the old traveller,
"the boots didn't cost me anything.
I paid eleven dollars for them and
charged it to expenses so that the
house pays for the boots" Harry
thanked him for the information,
went out and purchased pair
similar to those of his friends's
AMI taking ont his note book en-
tered therein: 1.-TWO boots, 81 co."
About two weeks afterwsrd Harry
returned 10 La Crosse. He went
TO the store, the Proprietors shook
hands with him and congratulated
him on the success of his "maiden
trip" The senior partner asked
him for his expense account, as
they wished to enter it up on the
books. He handed him his note
book in which he had kept COM
plete itemized account, of his ex-
penditures while on the road. The
proprietor looked it over carefully,
and suddenly turning to the "fresh
traveller" said: Harry. what does
this mean! Boots sll.00." It
means that / bought these boots.'
was the reply. "Well," said the
proprietor, "thst i- your own per-
sonal expense. We do not propose
tn stand any charge of that kind
only your travelling expenses
"Scratch them off then" said Harry.
No more was said of the hook ac-
count, and in day or two he re-
ceiyed orders to go over the route
again. He had not been out hut a
few days when he again met the
Milwaukee man. Harry lost no
time in reminding him that his
house would not stand the book
account. "Did you charge the &C
count in one item 7" asked the old
traveller. "Why, certainly" replied
Harry. The Milwaukee man
laughed heartily and said: "You
did very wrong; you should have
charged it in separate accounts,
Tins: When you pay a bill always
add fifty cents "for boots" but
keep the boot in your mind only,
and in that way the boots will he
soon paid for" This was entirely a
new idea to Harry, hut he resolved
to try IL as he was determined the
house Shonld pay for those boots.
The drummers parted in due time.
and Harry again returned to Ia
Crosse, and again handed his ac-
count hook to the proprietor, who
looked it over, app Jared entirely
satisfied With the entries, and was
about to hand it to the book-keeper
when Harry remarked: "Mr.
you don't see any boots In that sc-
count, do you" "No, Harry, l do
not" said the proprietor. "Well,
they're ia there, just the same"
was Harry's rejoinder.-La Crosse
Free Press.