“So you are a book agent?” said Frank, and now looked at the young man with increased interest. “May I ask what books you sell?”
“I am taking orders for three works—a new and beautifully illustrated set of Cooper’s works, an Illustrated History of the United States, and a new cook-book. Here are some samples,” and the young man brought them forth from his bag.
“They certainly look very fine,” answered Frank, after inspecting the volumes.
“Perhaps I can sell you a set of the Cooper.”
“Thank you; I can’t afford them.”
“Or a cook-book for your wife,” and the book agent laughed. “Get her a cook-book and she won’t kill you off when she cooks for you.”
“I’ll have to get the wife first—and means to support her,” and now Frank laughed, too. “May I ask if there is much money in selling books? If I can’t get a steady job I might take it up,” he went on, seriously.
“Selling books is a great speculation, my friend. You might make fifty dollars a week at it, and you might not make a dollar. It all depends on what you have to sell, what territory you cover, and what your abilities as a salesman are.”
“Yes, that must be true. But, somehow, I think I could sell books, if I had the right kind.”
“Many think they can do the same, but out of a hundred who try, not a dozen succeed. It’s very discouraging at the start. To make a success you’ve got to have lots of ‘stick-to-it’ in you.”