The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1895-08-19
"NoT TO BE VISITED AGAIN.
How the Book Agent Came 20 Write
This Note Opposite the Name of u
Town.

This Note Opposite the Name of a
Town.
From the New York Tribune.
Some time ago in the state OF Michi-
gan a young and enterprising American
ing from town to town, selling a work
called THE Early Christian Martyrs"
which he sold at IS a copy. delivering the
books and collecting the money as he
went along.
lie had been two days in a certain
town and had taken a fair number OF
orders there. when a little before noon
he called in a grocery store, where he
found the proprietor alone. The old gro
Ger asked him what he had, seeing from
his sample that he was an agent of some
kind. lie replied: Il am taking orders
for work called The early Christian
Martyrs and have only a few copies
left"
The old mans eyes beamed with de-
light as he said rs that so? Why il was
only few nights ago my wife and l were
talking about that book and wondering
how we could get IL. She wants the
book bad and SO do l." The agent de-
gave him a s. bill in payment. he said:
Now, look here, don't you go over to
the house and sell copy to my wife,
because we only want one in the FAM
ily."
Certainly not" said the book agent.
II wouldn't think of such thing" and
bidding the old man good morning he
left the store. 1t was then about a quar-
ter to ]. and the train which was TO take
him to Chicago started at l2:15 p. m. He
said to himself, Il have just time to sell
a copy to the old lady and get on that
train"
So he entered the nearest drug store
and getting the home address of the
old man from a directory he at once
hurried there. OF course he had no diff
ficulty in making the sale. as she was
anxious to get the work, and, having
received the S., he made all haste to
catch his train.
The old man came home for dinner at
II o'clock, reaching there not long after
the book agent had gone. His wife came
toward him smiling and concentrating
herself upon having secured what she
had for 80 long wished to posses a copy
of The Early Christian Martyrs" He
did not smile, however, but swore angrf-
ly. and muttering something about he
would fix him, hurried out not stopping
for his dinner in the hope of reaching the
station before the train started for Chi
cago. thinking that the book agent would
be sure to leave town as soon as possible
after this.
When he came within 200 yards of the
station he saw from the top of the hill
which sloped down to the station that
the train was on the point OF starting,
so recognizing a friend OF his who was
nearly at the bottom of the hill and con-
sequently close to the train, he began ges-
ticulating and shouting TO him to stop
the book agent. His friend could only
catch the word book agent. so he ap-
preached the book agent. who ~ $ smok-
ing a cigar on the rear plati~rm of a
car, and asked him what the old man on
the hill wanted. The book agent pretend
ed to scrutiniza the figure In the distance.
OF course knowing full well who he was
and what he wanted; in a few moments
he said. as an idea seemed to strike HIM
Il know, know now; that is a customer
OF mine. He wants a copy of the Early
Christian Martyrs. and like fool ! never
called on him: / forgot him. II you want
10 do him a good turn. he added. just
as the train was going 10 move out. you
had better take the book from me and
give It TO him 50 he won't be disappointed.
The price Is s."
The man gave the boog agent S. for
his friend and took the book. and tho
train started for Chicago. As the book
agent leaned back Ia hia scat he took q
small book. containing q list o. towns.
and wrote opposite this toEn the wofdss
mot 70 be visited aeain-'