Mr. D.—“All right, then. Put my name down.”
This little scheme of tickling a man’s vanity worked every time when the individual approached had any vanity at all to tickle. As I usually averaged ten subscribers every day my profits ought to have been highly satisfactory—and so they were for some months, and it was only when there was a change in the liberal policy of the Rooster, including the cutting down of commissions fifty per cent., and also taking away the premiums, that I thought it time to take hold of something else. By this time I had a fair little bank account.
I had acquired the taste of canvassing for reading matter, and from this on to reading matter I stuck, save at odd times when I picked up again almost any old thing and made it pay while I looked around and drew breath. I believe my next venture was in selling bibles, and I dropped into it while corresponding with eastern houses with a view to selling their books. While awaiting developments in that line this new one came to my hand.
CHAPTER XVI.
Selling Bibles—Selling Books—What Was Said—Working the Customers—Curiosity—Public Meetings and Library Clubs.
It was altogether an accident that I ever got into bible selling. I stumbled across a man who was probably in many respects better fitted than I to handle the business.
Unfortunately for him, he was overtaken by sickness, and I did him a favor in financial as well as other ways when I allowed him for a time to turn his employment over to me. Of course, I went at it as a simple business proposition, and brought to bear all my resources rather than to lose a customer. They say if a man can’t use his tongue he may as well shut up shop. As I never had any difficulty in the former, I never was compelled to do the latter for any other purpose than temporary repairs. The agent told me what to say and gave me all his business methods.
The way I worked an ordinary sale was something like this: