"Well then, I suppose there is no use in my trying to get any."
In a few moments he directed me to make out my bill, which I did on a piece of brown paper. It amounted to a little over eighty-two dollars.
I threw off the extra few cents and he paid me the cash, after which I receipted the bill.
This particular sale was the ruination of my jewelry business for the time being, but as will be seen, proved to be the key-note to a very successful business in after years.
Having turned wholesaler, I was wholly and entirely unfitted for the business of peddling. My thoughts were completely turned from the latter and absorbed in the former.
Although I readily understood that it must necessarily take large capital to conduct such a business, I yet determined to give it a trial with my little stock.
I therefore telegraphed for more goods, and began driving from town to town making a few sales to the merchants, but none equal to my first one. I never found another merchant so anxious to look at my goods, nor so ready to buy. However, I readily understood that I must be persistent in showing to them the same as I had always been at private houses, and in many cases more so. I came in contact with one merchant whom I failed to understand perfectly well.
I called at his store and found him reading the paper. After introducing myself and explaining my business, he simply said he didn't want any jewelry.