d his blarney was a commodity that stood him
in good stead. Stewart's new-found friend promised to sell the stock in
short order, by going right out among the people. He had no money of his
own, and Stewart was doubly pleased to think he could set a worthy man
up in business, and help himself at the same time. On reaching New York,
the friend was fitted out with all the goods he could carry, and duly
headed for New Jersey. In two days he came back. He had sold most of the
goods all right, and with the money gotten gloriously drunk; also, he
had bought drinks for all the Irishmen he could find, and naturally they
were many. Stewart even then did not give up the case. He rented a small
store at Two Hundred Eighty-three Broadway, and decided that by staying
close to his friend he could keep him in the straight and narrow path of
probity. As for himself he would teach school as usual; and he and his
agent could use the back of the little store for a sleeping-room.

It was a week before his school was to begin, but in that week he became
convinced that his friend was not a merchant, and to get that first
month's rent he would have to run the store himself. So he put the
disciple of Bacchus on the slide, and started in alone.

Stewart had a little inconvenient pride which prevented his turning
pedler.

Instead of going to the world he would bring the world to him. With this
end, therefore, in view, the New York "Daily Advertiser" for September
Second, Eighteen Hundred Twenty-five, contained this notice:

A. T. Stewart, just arrived from Belfast, offers for sale to the
Ladies of New York a choice selection of Fresh Drygoods at Two
Hundred Eighty-three Broadway.

The advertisement was a good one--the proof of which was that many
puffick ladies called to see the stock and the man just arrived from
Belfast. Stewart was a wise advertiser. His use of the word "ladies"
showed good psychology.

The young merchant hadn't much more than taken down his shutters before
a lady entered the store and acknowledged she was one. She lived in the
next block, and as soon as she read the advertisement in the paper, yet
damp from the press, she came right over.

Stewart spread out his wares with shaking hands--he must make a sale to
his first caller or he would never have luck. The lady bought "scallops"
and lace to the extent of two dollars, on Stewart's throwing her in
gratis sundry yards of braid, a card of buttons and a p