I explained to them that I was on my way to Three Rivers, where I expected to become an agent for my uncle. They then remembered having met him somewhere on the road, and one of them suggested that I might also be able to sell horse-rakes and threshing-machines. I told them I had thought some of putting in a few later on. They then became anxious to have me take the agency for their implements, but as I had in my mind the goods of other manufacturers which I believed had a better reputation, I hesitated about handling theirs. They became very much interested and urged me to let them send on consignment a car-load of horse-rakes and four threshing-machines. I finally consented on condition that they prepay the freight, which they agreed to do. I informed my uncle of my intentions of starting in the agricultural-implement business. He asked how I expected to do so on forty cents capital. I answered that all I needed was a sign over some good shed, and a boarding house where they would be willing to wait till after harvest for their pay. Sign-painting had been his trade, so he said he would furnish the sign, and I could live with them until I got returns. That afternoon I arranged to have the use of a vacant lot which was in a good locality, and as soon as possible erected a sign as large as the broad-side of a barn, which read as follows: "J. P. JOHNSTON, DEALER IN ALL KINDS OF AGRICULTURAL IMPLEMENTS. C. H. & L. J. McCORMICK'S REAPERS AND MOWERS FOR SALE." In less than two months I had several thousand dollars' worth of all kinds of implements, which had been consigned to me, freight prepaid. I very soon made the acquaintance of a young man who owned a good horse, which he kindly offered to loan me to canvass the farmers with. I then began looking about to find some one who would loan me a harness and carriage, when my attention was called to the advertisement of a lot of carriages to be sold at auction that very day. I called on the owner and told him I needed a carriage, and asked what the terms of the sale would be. He said a note payable in one year, would be acceptable from responsible parties, and then asked my name. I said: "I am J. P. Johnston, the agricultural man." "What! the man with the big sign across the street?" I replied: "The same." "O, well," he said, "your note is good." I bid in a fine carriage, giving my note, which, by the way, was paid in less than six months. I then borrowed a harness and began a general raid on the farmers, and succeeded fairly well.