Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1895-08-24
"Nor TO BE VISITED AGAIN."

The Book Agent Wrote This Note OPP
pOsite the Name of Town.
From the New York Tribune.
Some time ago in the state Of Michigan
a young and enterprising American book
agent was In the country, travelling from
town to town. selling a work called THE
Early Christian Martyrs" which he sold
at IS copy, delivering the books and col
lecting the money as he went along.
He 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 grocer asked
him what he had, seeing from his sample
that he was an agent of some kind. He
replied: I'm taking orders for a work
called The Early Christian Martyrs and
have only a few copies left"
The old mans eyes beamed with delight
as he said, us that SOP Why, 1t was only
few nights ago my wife and I were talk
ing about that book and wondering how
and SO do l." The agent delivered him
copy. and as the old man 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 10 the family
Certainly not" said the book agent
Il wouldn't think of such a thing and.
bidding the old man good morning, he left
the store. 1t was then about quarter
to IL. and the train which was to take him
to Chicago started at 1915 pm. He said
to himself, 4 have just time to sell 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 directory, he at once hurried
there. OF course, he had no difficulty in
making the sale, as she was anxious to get
the work, and, having received the s.. he
made all haste to catch the train.
The old man came home for dinner at
y o'clock. reaching there not long after
the book agent had gone. His wife came
toward him smiling and congra sula ting
herself upon having secured what she had
for so long wished to possess, copy of
THE Early Christian Martyrs" He did
not smile, however, but swore angrily,
and. muttering something about he would
fix him, hurried out mot stopping for his
dinner) in the hope of reaching the station
before the train st:Irted for Chicago, think
ing that the book agent would be sure to
leave town soon as possible after this
When he came within 900 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 consequently
close to the train, he began gesticulating
and shouting 10 him to stop the book agent.
His friend could only catch the words book
agent, so he approached the book agent.
who was smoking cigar on the rear
platform of 2 ear, and asked him what
agent, pretended to scrutinize the figure
in the distance, OF course, knowing full
well who he was and what he wanted.
In a few minutes he said. as an idea
seemed to strike him:
Il know; 1 know now. That is a GUS
toner Of mine. He wants a copy Of The
Early Christian Martyrs and like fool
never called on him. forgot him. If
you want to do him a good turn" he added,
just the train was going to move out,
you had better take the book from me
and give 1t to him, SO he won't be dis
appointed The price is So
The man gave the book agent IS for
his friend and took the book. and the train
started for Chicago. AS the book agent
leaned back in his seat he took small
book, containing a list of towns, and wrote
opposite this town the words, mot to be
visited again."