business in Chicago. He informed me that he was general
agent in Southern Michigan for C. H. & L. J. McCormick's reapers and
mowers, and if I would come there he would make me their local agent at
that place.

Bidding my girl an affectionate farewell I departed, and arrived at my
uncle's with forty cents in cash and six dirty shirts.

On my way there I fell in company with two gentlemen traveling together,
one of whom was selling horse-rakes and the other threshing-machines.

I explained to them that I was on my way to Three Rivers, where I
expected to become an agent for my uncle. They then remembered having
met him somewhere on the road, and one of them suggested that I might
also be able to sell horse-rakes and threshing-machines. I told them I
had thought some of putting in a few later on. They then became anxious
to have me take the agency for their implements, but as I had in my
mind the goods of other manufacturers which I believed had a better
reputation, I hesitated about handling theirs.

They became very much interested and urged me to let them send on
consignment a car-load of horse-rakes and four threshing-machines. I
finally consented on condition that they prepay the freight, which they
agreed to do.

I informed my uncle of my intentions of starting in the
agricultural-implement business. He asked how I expected to do so on
forty cents capital.

I answered that all I needed was a sign over some good shed, and a
boarding house where they would be willing to wait till after harvest
for their pay.

Sign-painting had been his trade, so he said he would furnish the sign,
and I could live with them until I got returns.

That afternoon I arranged to have the use of a vacant lot which was in a
good locality, and as soon as possible erected a sign as large as the
broad-side of a barn, which read as follows:

"J. P. JOHNSTON, DEALER IN ALL
KINDS OF AGRICULTURAL IMPLEMENTS.
C. H. & L. J. McCORMICK'S
REAPERS AND MOWERS FOR SALE."

In less than two months I had several thousand dollars' worth of all
kinds of implements, which had been consigned to me, freight prepaid.

I very soon made the acquaintance of a young man who owned a good horse,
which he kindly offered to loan me to canvass the farmers with. I then
began looking about to find some one who would loan me a harness and
carriage, when my attention was called to