His wife cheered him up and bade him to not be despondent, telling him that a man of his talents would beyond all question be sure to succeed in life.
Belton began to cast around for another occupation, but, in whatever direction he looked, he saw no hope.

He possessed a first class college education, but that was all.

He knew no trade nor was he equipped to enter any of the professions.

It is true that there were positions around by the thousands which he could fill, but his color debarred him.

He would have made an excellent drummer, salesman, clerk, cashier, government official (county, city, state, or national) telegraph operator, conductor, or any thing of such a nature.