which I
stated my intention of going into the spectacle business.

He informed me that he was the owner of a fine horse and carriage, and
suggested that I take him in partnership with me; he to furnish the
traveling conveyance and I the money. This I agreed to, and wrote him my
intentions to start for Kirkersville on a certain day, where I would
expect to meet him, and we would drive to Columbus, a distance of twenty
miles, and buy our stock.

On my arrival at Kirkersville I found him ready to start. We drove to
Columbus and called on a wholesale jewelry firm.

After looking their stock over I decided that there was more money in
cheap jewelry than spectacles. I had about forty dollars in cash, and
after buying one dozen pairs of spectacles, for one dollar, invested the
balance in jewelry, after which I prevailed on the firm to give me a
traveling sample case. In this we displayed our jewelry nicely and
started down the Portsmouth pike.

My first effort to make a sale was at the toll-gate, a short distance
from the city. Finding an old lady in attendance, I introduced the
spectacles. She declared she never would buy another thing from a
peddler.

[Illustration: THIS, MADAM, IS THE STEREOSCOPIC LENS.--PAGE 101.]

I told her I had not asked her to buy, and said: "Madam, I have here a
stereoscopic lens."

"A stereo-what?" she quickly asked.

"A stereoscopic lens," I repeated.

"Well, my!" she ejaculated, "they ought to be good ones, if the name has
anything to do with them," and began trying them on.

She very soon found a pair which suited her and pleased her exceedingly.

While she was looking my glasses over, I picked up her old ones, and
while examining them the thought occurred to me, that as my stock of
spectacles consisted only of a dozen pairs it would be a good idea to
try and trade spectacles each time instead of selling outright, and by
so doing always keep my stock up to the original number.

Acting on the suggestion, I remarked to the old lady that her glasses
must have cost at least three dollars, and if she so desired I would
give her a trade.

She asked the price of my glasses.

"Four dollars," was my reply.

She said she didn't just remember how much she did pay for hers, but it
was about the price I had mentioned.

She then asked me how I would trade. I offered to allow her two dollars
for her glasses on the deal.

She said she would if she had the money. On counting it she found bu