The girls helped us to decorate the wagon attractively with asters, dahlias, goldenrod and other autumn flowers, and they lined the wagon body with paper.

It really did look fine, with all those yellow melons in it.

We hired our neighbor, Tom Edwards, who had a remarkably resonant voice, to act as a "barker" for us.
The second day of the fair--the day on which the greatest crowd usually attends--we arrived with our load at eight o'clock in the morning, took up a favorable position on the grounds and cut a couple of melons in halves to show how yellow and luscious they were.
"All ready, now, Tom!" Addison exclaimed when our preparations were made.

"Let's hear you earn that two dollars we've got to pay you." Walking round in circles, Tom began: "Muskmelons! Muskmelons grown under glass! Home-grown muskmelons! Maine muskmelons grown under a glass roof! Sweet and luscious! Only ten cents! Walk up, ladies and gentlemen, and see what your old native state can do--under glass! Walk up, young fellows, and treat your girls! Don't be stingy! Only ten cents apiece--and one of these luscious melons will treat three big girls or five little ones! A paper napkin with every melon! Don't wait! They are going fast! All be gone before ten o'clock! Try one and see what the old Pine Tree State will do--under glass!" That is far from being the whole of Tom's "ballyhoo." Walking round and round in ever larger circles, he constantly varied his praises and his jokes.

But the melons were their own best advertisement.