Vermont phÅ“nix. [volume] (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1834-1955, 1896-01-24
"Not TO be YIrIteh AgnIn.n

Some time ago in the state of Michigan
young and enterprising American book
agent was in the country, travelling from
town to town, selling a work called 1.-THE
Early Christian Martyrs" which he sold at
So a copy, delivering the books and collect
ing the money as he went along.
He had been two days i'm certain town
and had taken fair number of orders
there, when a little before noon he called
in grocery store, where he found the pro-
prietor alone. The old grocer asked him
what he had seeing from his sample that
he was an agent of some kind. He re-
piled: "rm taking orders for work
called The Early Christian Martyrs and
have only few copies left"
The old mans eyes beamed with delight
as he said, as that so? Why, it was
only few nights ago my wife and | were
talking about that book and wondering
how we could get it, She wants the book
bad and so do l." The agent delivered
him a copy, and as the old man gave him
So 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 house."
Certainly nCt," said the book agent. 81
wouldn't think of such thing" and bid
ding the old man good morning, he left the
store. 1t was then about quarter to II,
and the train which was to take him to
Chicago started at 1915 p. NJ. He said
to himself, 81 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 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 for dinner at II
| o'clock, reaching there not long after the
book agent had gone His wife came to-
ward him smiling and congratuating her
self upon having secured what she had for
so long wished to possess, a 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 started for Chicago, think
ing 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, rec
ognizing friend of his who was nearly al
the bottom of the hill and consequently
close to the train, he began shouting and
gesticulatng to him to stop the book agent
His friend could only catch the words, "book
agent" so he approached 10 HOok agent
who w.s smoking cigar on the rear plat.
form of a car, and asked him what the old
man on the hill wanted. The book agent
pretended to scrutinize the figure in the dis
lance, of course, knowing full well who he
was and what he wanted. In few minute;
he said, as an idea seemed to strike him:
81 know; know now. That is a Gus
toner of mine. He wants copy of "ThC
Early Christian Martyrs" and like fool
never called on him. If you want to dc
him a good turn" he added, just as the
train was going to move out, ''you had
better take the book from me and give it tC
him, so he won't be disappointed. The
price is So
The man gave the book agent So for hi:
friend and took the book, and the train
started for Chicago. AS the book agent
leaned back in his seat he took out small
book containing a list of the towns, anC
wrote opposite this town the words, mo
| to be visited again"