The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1912-05-19
Book Agents

Book agents. Ny goodness what
wealth of meaning is In those two
wordsl They are really people, hu-
man beings like ourselves. and move
and have their being chiefly In con
gestcd districts. just at tho busiest
hour of the day, whatever time that Is
He is ths first to greet you on your
doorstep in tho morning. and late in
the evening, when you are Just get
ting through with everything his atop
Ia heard on the porch outside. and It
nll has TO be gone over again-all the
things that you told him hours ago
about having plenty NJ books and dox
ems OF encyclopedias and i've iilus-
trated lightweight copies OF Glbbons
pire." But he doesn't bclievs you. dear
me, no. and all the time you are gently
showing him off the front steps ne Is
rafting away the advantages nf own
Ing the greatest Ii, srary. offer of tho
twentieth ccntury-or any other cen
tury. for that matter.
Just a little peep at the other side
lniles. from sunup to shutdown every
day, and they never can be quite re-
Taxed and like other people. To be
very slangy. the book agent may never
he 'om his job" a single minute; some
body else might sell YOU his book.
Nearly every house they go to the peo
pie are merely anrontcd at their sole
itntion, and So many doors are bang ID
In their faces. You know just how
you feel when you see one and hear
tho phrase. Are YOU the lady OF the
house? Well. we are Offering OF
what use to 20 furth sr? You know all
that they are going to say. and more.
\ gent deal Of it is their own fault.
They nut on the most ingratlating aud
charming manner that does not sit
well ON many OF tho profession. and ar,
so terribly agsrcaslvo about getting
into YOUR house, whether you arc en-
tcrtainine London friends or buryinG
your second cousins wife, that som
thlng Just rises M in you TO pat them
down. Generally you succeed.
once upon time, long time ago.
there was "A pretty bride hanging lilo
curtains and pictures iu her nav house.
She was as busy as she WIS happy.
anil there was scarcely minute 10
tb;nk OF the now husband. when the
tell rang and In came the incvitnbie--
book agent The pretty brides
mouth wac full OF curtain pins. and
she surveyed her caller from tho top
of "a very high ladder. but she smiled
The sweetest, most magnetic smile in
the world.
u don't wan, any books" she said.
MY husband has more than have
room for. hut do SIT down ana rest;
YOU look so tired
And down the poor woman did sit TO
rest, and warmed her poor. bitter heart
at the sunshine ard happiness that sh.
found there. can't tell you how
many years n 30 that was, but only the
other day the pretty bride. whose latr
is now turning gray. received n letter
from the book agent who once for a
little time had sat and rested In her
ola woman, and her life has been far
from a pleasant and easy road 10
TRIVIAL. but she sent her blessing for
tho loving kindness and the memory ~
that Wonderful smile and voice that
came into her life just when bitterness
had swamped her soul So many days
had passed when no one had even said
The day is long, the road Il weary
one; turn aside. my friend. and rest
awhile"
There arc so many Of them-those
tired, worn ones. with tho shipwrcciI
of Years in their hearts and tie bur
dons OF dead loves FOR remembrance
Sometimes they wouldn't mind not
selling the book.
BRENT WITT.