gist, who had plenty of varnish, but only four
empty bottles in stock.

We got a tin pail, and bought one gallon of varnish and the four
bottles.

The druggist exhibited some brushes, saying we would have to use one to
apply the varnish while showing it up.

"No, thank you," I replied. "All I want is a piece of Canton flannel.
It won't do to apply it with a brush. I understand your people here are
up with the times. If so, they want something new."

He said he thought it extremely new to apply varnish with a cloth.

We started immediately after dinner, and commenced operations one mile
out of town.

The very first house we stopped at--and an old log one, at that--I sold
the lady three bottles for one dollar, one each for herself, her mother
and her sister.

When I delivered them out of my coat pocket (we had no valise or sample
case), I said to her:

"Madam, I put up this preparation myself, and I have run short of
bottles. Can't you empty the polish into something else and let me
retain these?"

"Certainly," she answered, and stepping to the pantry, she opened the
door, when I noticed several bottles on the shelf.

"Now, I'll tell you what I'll do. I will trade you some more of my
preparation for a few of those bottles."

"All right. It's a trade."

I returned to the buggy loaded down with bottles of all sizes, shapes
and colors, and a dollar bill, which looked the size of a barn door to
both of us.

I then carried our pail of varnish into the house and paid her liberally
for the bottles.

I called at every house thereafter, and never missed making a sale till
the eighth was reached, when the old lady declared emphatically that she
didn't have fifty cents in the house.

Then I asked if she had any eggs. She said she had.

"Very well; I'll allow you twenty cents per dozen for them, but you must
give me an old box of some kind to put them in."

She was anxious to trade, and when I started off with two and one-half
dozen, she said she believed I might have the other five dozen if I'd
give her two more bottles. I accommodated her, and as I left she said
she was sorry John hadn't gathered the eggs the night before, so she
could let me have more of them, as I was paying more than they had been
getting.

I told her I'd wait while she gathered them.

She started to do so, but suddenly changed her mind, saying she thought
I had sold her enough of my patent staff, anyhow.

When I rejoined my new partn