Morning journal and courier., 1889-01-23
complied a set of rules, which, if strictly

followed, IS sure to result ln success:
 "First-Dress like lady or gentleman.
 "Seeond-Have no book or parcel visible.
 "Third-To gain the confidence of the person approached and obtain admittance to the house proceed as-"
 There it left off just at the most exaspera- ting point. Not even ito be continued" at the end of it. The paper was torn across, how the agent got in and how she won my confidence.
 The week after that I wasn't at home much. House cleaning time is populsrly supposed to be the most trying period of life for the unfortunate man of the family. of course try to avoid the dwelling then as much as possible: but in my opinion house cleaning isn't circumstance to the tomato canning struggle. Then the place takes on 8 fearful and sanguinary appearance. There is to me something appalling in the sight of the woman of the house with sleeves rolled up to the elbow and the formerly fair arm dripping with the crimson gore of the slaugh- odor of boiling tomatoes. Rows of grim bluebeard jars stand on the shelves of this vegetarian butchery and others empty yawn for blood. "In such place as this and at such an hour" it is just as we'll for the insig- nifcant man person to keep away from home. In the heat of the carnage the lady of the house doesn't want to see the best friend she has on earth-much less her hus band.
 Just as the tomato saturnalia was at it's height there came 8 ring at the door bell. The girl went to the door and came back with neat card in her hand, on which were beautifully engraved the words, 'Edith Blot terwick."
 ssDear me-" said the lady of the house, wiping her tomato stained hands on the kitchen towel and taking the card, "I don't want to see anybody. don't remember that name. What did she look like? Had she a parce1a'
 'No, maam."
 s'Is she an agent, do you thinka''
 ''She don't look like one."
 ''Had she a subscription book in her haud?"
 "No, ma'am, nothing but nice parasol with lace on it,"
 ''Did you show her in the parlor?'
 'tYes, ma'am."
 "Then tell her, please, that I'll be down in a few minutes"
 With that the worried woman ran up stairs, hastily removed all traces of the to- mato fight, put on nice dress. fixed up her hair bit, pinned brooch in place, slipped on an assortment of rings, gave her flushed face few dashes of powder, took 6 back ward glance at the mirror to see that the drapery hung all right, and then came down to the parlor with the stately air of 6 lady of infinite leisure rather than the manner of an over-worried amateur farmers wife.
 She approached her visitor with that air of non- committal reserve that may in moment brighten into genial welcome or free into a frigid dismissal, which ladies seem to know how to assume towards those about whom there is doubt as to the desirability of fur ther acquaintance.
 The visitor arose with pleasant smile and said:
 s1 am so pleased to meet you, but am afraid I have come at an inappropriate time. ''
 "Oh, not at all, !" was the uncandld reply.
 q was talking about literature with Mrs. Blank the other day, and she said that you were very fond of reading"
 "Yes, I am, but am sorry to say that at this season of the year it Is hard to get much time for reading"
 It was certainly most inappropriate time for the discussion of literature. Only too plainly was in the air the scent of burning tomatoes, and the mistress was certain that the maid would pour the red hot mixture into an ice cold glass jar and split it into @ thousand fragments.
 s'That's just it," resumed the visitor airi- ly. "1f person desires to read one must take it i'll sections. Now I am selling"-here | shs whipped out from under her cloak a large, thin paper covered tinstalment"-"a most remarkable work, "The Pictorial His | tory of Spain,' superbly illustrated-com- plete in thirty-six parts-one part month, | or two or tour, Just as you choose-at eWen- | ty-6ve cents 8 part. Agents usually sell | such art numbers at fifty cents or one dollar l each; but this with complete" etc., etc. I am sure that if an indignant look could I have obliserated book agent that voluble | lady would not still be selling this valuble literary production. But it shows the heroic bravery of the lady agent. I wouldn't have \ been in her place for farm. ! And yeti could hardly believe it, be- I haap orria6 OraQt al years-nothing terrible happened. The lady of the house merely said that when she | bought book she was in the habit of going | to a book store and selecting for herself. Thex she went back to the final conquest of the luscious tomato.