o put with the miscellaneous line I had
just bought, we started out for the country towns with a large stock,
and advertised to sell at private sale only, and to remain but six weeks
in each town. My reason for giving up the auction sales was this: I had
begun to have some trouble with my throat, and was advised by the doctor
to do no more auctioneering for at least six months.

We continued on with our large stock of goods and traveled through a
section of country where the mud was so deep during the fall and winter
that it took four horses to haul an empty lumber wagon.

We tried to get into a country where the farmers could occasionally get
to town, but the farther we traveled the deeper the mud kept getting. It
usually took about all the money I could take in at one town to pay
freights and the expense of moving to the next.

I had established a very good commercial standing with several wholesale
houses in Chicago with whom I had been dealing, and felt anxious to make
a success, if for no other reason than to sustain my credit. This I
realized was an important feature in building up a business of any kind.

After remaining in Illinois and Indiana till spring, I decided to work
my way back into Michigan, where I felt certain of finding good roads,
if nothing else.

The first day of April found us at Plainwell, Michigan, with a very
light stock of goods and a small roll of money. After taking a careful
inventory of my stock, and figuring up my liabilities, I at once saw
that if I could sell out and receive one hundred cents on the dollar at
what I had invoiced, I could just about pay my debts to the wholesale
houses, and I decided to make an auction sale and close out immediately,
and thus save my credit.

By the first of May I had succeeded in selling out everything I
possessed; and after paying up all of my Chicago debts, had but a few
dollars left.

Of course my first thought was Furniture Polish. But on the very day
when I was about to order some of the preparation put up, I happened
into the express office, and there saw on the shelf a package of jewelry
addressed to my name.

It was an order I had given before deciding to close out, and when it
came I refused to take it, instructing the agent to return to the
shipper. He had neglected to do this, and when I asked him why, he
laughed and said he thought best to hold it awhile and see if I wouldn't
conclude to take it.

At this simple suggestion it ins