480 PEESONAL EXPElllENCE. 



My real difficulties now commenced ; had I realized at 

 the time what they would be, nothing could have induced 

 me to engage in such business. First, I was very youthful 

 in appearance, and undersized — points A^ery greatly against 

 me ; and secondly, I was without the address necessary to 

 interest others in my efforts. I at first made but one small 

 class in two weeks, and to add to my difficulties, my 

 expenses had about exhausted my means. At my last 

 place of engagement, notwithstanding I made a suj^reme 

 effort to get a class, I failed. Still I was determined to 

 succeed, and by the influence of this effort I made a success 

 at a neighboring town. This became a turning point in my 

 fortunes, for from that time, my success was almost 

 continuous, the citizens frequently clubbing together to 

 form a class for me, and I was often iuAnted back several 

 times to the same place. Some time after this, a chance 

 circumstance occurred which had great influence in increas- 

 ing my success. I was advertised in a little town called 

 MinaA'ille, in Montgomery Co., N. Y. Upon arriving there. 

 I not only found no interest at all in my efforts, but those 

 present commenced ridiculing and blackguarding me until 

 I was finally driven to defend myself. 



After this, to my surprise, those who had abused me 

 most were the foremost in proposing to form a class for me. 

 It being then too late, and having no suitable subjects 

 upon which to illustrate treatment, I declined. They then 

 made the request that I would come another day, promis- 

 ing, if I wouhl do so, not only to come out themselves, but 

 to do all they could io bring out a general attendance of 

 their neighbors. A week later I returned, and was 

 successful in making a large class. 



Some time afterward, at a small town across the river 

 from Amsterdam, when about ready to make up a class, 

 three of the Minaville members then present requested a 



