CHAPTER XXIX.
IN THE AUCTION BUSINESS AGAIN—A NEW CONVEYANCE FOR STREET SALES—MY TRIP THROUGH THE LUMBER REGIONS—A SUCCESSFUL SUMMER CAMPAIGN—A WINTER'S TRIP THROUGH THE SOUTH—MY RETURN TO GRAND RAPIDS, MICH.—A TRIP TO LAKE SUPERIOR—SELLING NEEDLES AS A SIDE ISSUE—HOW I DID IT—STATE LICENSE DEMANDED BY AN OFFICER—HOW I TURNED THE TABLES ON HIM—BUYING OUT A COUNTRY STORE—A GREAT SALE OF PAPER CAMBRIC DRESS PATTERNS—A COMPROMISE WITH THE BUYERS—MY RETURN TO CHICAGO—FLUSH AND FLYING HIGH.
As my goods had arrived at Elkhart, I started out immediately, selling from a trunk, and met with splendid success. I concluded to make a trip north, through the lumber country. As my facilities were going to be poor for hiring livery teams in the majority of those towns, with which to drive out upon the streets to make a sale, I began trying to invent something to take with me on which to put my trunks when selling.
One day I saw a gentleman pushing a two-wheeled cart, and it occurred to me that I could put end-boards on it, and after placing a trunk on each end I could stand up very nicely in the center, which would bring me at just about the proper height above my audience.
Acting accordingly, I bought the cart, and after having the end-boards put on and a standard made to fasten at the rear end of the box to keep the thing from tipping backward, I bought another trunk and made "a pitch" with it.
