"We never buy of peddlers," and she closed the door in his face.
"Not a very good beginning," thought Frank, rather mortified.

"So I am a peddler," he said to himself, and he called to mind the agents and peddlers who in past years had called at the Cedars.
With some compunction, he remembered that he had regarded them with some contempt as traveling nuisances.

Now he had entered the ranks of this despised class, and he began to see that they might be perfectly respectable, and were estimable persons, animated by a praiseworthy desire to make an honest living.
Thus thinking, he called at another door.
It was opened, not by a servant, but by an elderly maiden lady, who had rather a weakness for bargains.
"I've got some nice tea," said Frank, "which I should like to sell you.
It is put up by the Great Pekin Company." "Are you sure it's nice ?" asked the elderly lady.

"We've been getting ours at the grocery store on the avenue, and the last wasn't very good." "You'd better try a pound of ours," said Frank.
"I don't know but I will," said the lady.

"How much do you charge ?" "I have some at fifty cents, some at sixty and some at seventy." "I guess I'll take the sixty." Frank had a pound parcel ready, which he delivered to her, and received his money.
"Seems to me you are pretty young for a peddler," said the lady, regarding Frank with curiosity.
"Yes, ma'am." "How old be you ?" "Sixteen." "Been long in the business ?" "No, ma'am; I've only just commenced." "You don't say so! Do you make much money at it ?" "I haven't made much yet.