uld turn them over to my
side-show partner, recommending it as absolutely the most singular and
remarkable show I had ever seen.

I took the precaution to hire a man to take the tickets, so I had no
occasion to interfere with the show; but the last day, in the afternoon,
the Professor became almost exhausted; and leaving my wagon I took the
blower's stand and relieved him, and through the excitement, soon
discovered myself talking Curiosities with as much earnestness as if
Barnum's whole menagerie had been inside the tent.

When we figured up and had deducted all expenses, we found ourselves six
hundred dollars ahead, which was divided between us; but I had talked
so much that I couldn't speak above a whisper.

I wrote home to my wife narrating my success in the show business
exhibiting another man's wife and children, and suggested that she get
herself and the little boy ready to start at a moment's notice, as I was
liable to send for them very soon and start a circus of our own.

As I had no particular taste for that sort of business, however, I
thought it best to quit while I was ahead. Consequently I stuck to
auctioneering.

My business increased so rapidly as to render me unable to do any thing
more with the polish, for which I was very glad. I made several horse
and wagon trades, paying boot whenever it was necessary, as I made it a
practice of always trading for something better, till at last a nice
pair of horses and carriage became my property, with two trunks of
goods.

[Illustration: A NOVEL TURN-OUT--PAGE 490.]

I then worked north through Michigan, and began making regular street
parades prior to opening my sale. I would drive around town ringing an
auction bell and crying:

"AUCTION, AUCTION! EVERYBODY TURN OUT UPON THE STREETS TO-NIGHT!
BARGAINS, BARGAINS AND NO IMPOSITIONS!"

My success was almost invariably splendid.

Mr. Keefer wrote me about this time, that he was in need of assistance.
His crops had been almost a total failure that year, through which he
was unable to meet the payments due on a piece of land he had purchased.

I began an immediate search for a buyer for my horses and carriage, but
without success, till one day an old gentleman bantered me to trade the
entire outfit for a yoke of oxen and a two-wheeled cart, and was
somewhat surprised when I showed my readiness to "swap" for five hundred
dollars to boot.

He offered three hundred.

I fell to four.

He