"'Our doubts are traitors, And make us lose the good we oft would win, By fearing to attempt.'"
"That means," he added, seeing that the fisher-boy did not quite understand it, "that we ought not to pay any attention to our doubts; that if we don't risk any thing, we certainly will never gain any thing. I have often heard my father say so, and it's my opinion exactly. Now here's what they say in the letter. Listen with all your ears, Bob, for it will astonish you:"
DEAR SIR: Being desirous of increasing our business in your part of the country, we have decided that you are a proper person to act as our agent. We are the managers of the Maryland Lottery--an institution known all over the United States and Europe as being the most reliable one in existence. It is authorized by the State, and incorporated by special act of Congress, and its patrons are to be found in every civilized country on the globe. Of course, with such an immense business, we require a multitude of agents, and, in order to secure your services, we make you the following proposition:
On receipt of ten dollars, we will send you a package of tickets, which we will guarantee to draw one of the capital prizes in our splendid scheme. When you remit the money, please state whether or not you are willing to act as our agent, and we will send you the tickets by return mail. When you receive the prize, all we ask of you is to show it to your friends and acquaintances, and tell them that you drew it at our office. We will select the lucky package for you, and we faithfully promise you that, if it does not draw a prize of FIVE THOUSAND DOLLARS, over and above all expenses, we will give you a package of tickets in one of our magnificent special lotteries for nothing.
We can afford to make you this generous offer, because we shall all gain by it: you will be benefited by receiving a nice little fortune, while our business will be greatly increased by the extra amount of orders for tickets which we shall expect to receive from your neighborhood.
We venture the assertion that this is the best offer you ever received, and that you will never have another like it as long as you live. Remember that
"There is a tide in the affairs of men Which, if taken at the flood, Leads on to fortune."