The Princeton union. [volume] (Princeton, Minn.) 1876-1976, 1917-11-08
A College
Peddler
Copyright. 1917. western Newspaper Union.5
By ALAN HlNSDALE

Copyright. 1917. Western Newspaper Union)
Billy Waterman had gone to college
with rich father behind him, and
had gotten away with three thousand
dollars of his fathers money, spend
Ing thousand a year on himself,
when Mr.. Waterman's business went
to smash and there was not thou
sand cents for Billy's senior year.
Billy had good grit and made up his
mind that he would make the money
needed for his senior year. Seeing
an ad for canvassers for a new kind
was invited to call on the advertiser.
He did so, and an arrangement was
made by which he was to sell, on
commission, the wares for the con-
Germ manufacturing the articles.
Billy's social position had been at
the top round of the ladder. He had
not climbed to it; he was born on it.
He had the energy necessary to carry
out his plan, but to go forth as solic-
itor was the great ogre that he had
to combat. He shrank from soliciting
from his acquaintance, combining HIM
self to strangers. He had a good ar
ticle to sell and was we'll fitted to
demonstrate it. Nevertheless, in the
beginning he met with little success.
One morning he mounted the steps
Of stone-front dwelling and was
about to ring the bell when the door
was opened by young lady in walk
ing costume. Billy had his samples
hanging to his arm, peddler-like. The
young lady looked at him in way
that made him feel a desire to vanish,
but he stood his ground, saying:
II have some valuable implements
for cooking which I would like to
show the lady of the house."
''The lady Of the house is not ill.,"
was the reply, ''but will look at your
wares"
She invited Billy in and listened at
tentively to his demonstration. When
he had finished, without asking the
price Of the articles, she said she
would take them. Billy told her that
those he had with him were samples
and took her order in a book he car
ried for the purpose, mentioning that
the goods would be sent from. the fac
tory. He also stated the price, which
did not seem to interest the young
lady. Then he took his departure,
congratulating himself on the ease
| with which he had made the sale, and
at the same time relieved at having
escaped from acting the drummer to
| young lady with whom it would
seem more fitting that he should dance
the cotillion.
A few days later, on going to the
Office Of the firm, he was handed let.
ter written. in delicate hand, his OWL
name being written on the envelope
The writer stated that the culinary
articles he had sold her had been sc
| satisfactory that she had recon-
! mended them to a number of hel
friends. Then followed half a dozeI
names of persons to whom he was re-
quested to send the articles.
Billy was puzzled to know how The
| young lady had learned his name. HI
had not left a card, nor had he spoken
his name to her. He asked the person
who had shipped the goods if his name
had been brought into the shipment il
any way. The man could not remem
Der, but he did not see why the men
ton Of Billy's name should have beer
necessary.
During the vacation period Bill.
succeeded in making commission
enough to put hin, through his senio
year at college. He was puzzled b,
the fact that while he had very poo
success in making sales directly, h
had excellent success in making then
indirectly. Orders were continual,
sent in to be credited to him from per
sons he had no remembrance of hav
ing solicited. He often left his bust
ness card with persons who said the,
would ''think it over" but he did no
often succeed in connecting the name
of those who sent in orders with thes
persons. - y - - S..:;,..
Billy's standing for his senior yea
was far better than any other yeal
He had worked for what he was gel
ting and therefore appreciated it. II
was given an appointment to speak o.
commencement day, and while, deliver
ing his grafton, his eye lighted on
familiar face in the audience. It wa
the girl to whom he so easily sol
set of kitchen utensils. She wa
looking up at him with great interest
Billy came very near being throw
off the thread Of his discourse b.
thus suddenly seeing the girl WHOM
he had supposed only knew him as
peddler of kitchen utensils. II
stopped and stammered for while
but righted himself and proceeded.
That evening the graduating elias
gave dance and again Billy's ey
lighted ON the girl whom he hid me
as peddler. She was dancing wit
) one of his classmates. Billy "cut in
that is, he touched the man wit
whom she was dancing on the shou
der, signifying that he desired t
dance with his partner. The girl, i