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Chapter VI

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Chapter VIII

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CHAPTER VII

CLOUDS - SUNSHINE: "After the Alps comes Italy"

I worked on until May, when my partner recalled me to Charlotte to put up more Remedy, as the stock was nearly exhausted.

I put up another lot of 5000 bottles, and again went on the road to sell it. I was again recalled in September to put up more, as my partner wrote me it was nearly all sold.

Subdued by my old experiences, I tried not to build any more castles but I was bound to be very hopeful at the outlook.

In September, I returned to Charlotte to put up my third lot of Remedy. According to my partner's instructions, I went to the House of Messrs. Elliott and Remley, and ordered ten barrels of whiskey sent to the Laboratory. Two barrels were sent and then the supply seemed to stop. I went to the store to see what was the matter, and one of the proprietors said to me: "Mrs. Person, I have something to say which I regret to say to you, but business is business. When your Company pays me for the whiskey I have already furnished, I will be glad to send up all you need. You now owe me $540 for what I furnished in February and May, and until it is paid, I cannot furnish any more."

I was shocked at such a state of affairs. I knew we had done a big business, and I had no idea we owed a dollar.

Knowing that we had bought our bottles from Dr. McAden, I went direct to him and asked him how much we owed him for bottles. He told me we owed him for all we had used; between three and four hundred dollars, he believed, as we had never paid a dollar on them.

I couldn't exactly take it in, how such a thing could be.

Ten thousand bottles sold, and the whiskey and bottles not paid for! I couldn't understand it.

More dazed than ever, I went to my partner, and told him the situation. I asked him what it meant, and how we were going to put up any more Remedy. He said he was sure he "didn't know" and he didn't suppose we could put up any more. "And the fact of the business is, we're busted, Mrs. Person, broke, dead broke, and we will just have to go to work and wind up the concern."

I asked him how much money was on hand; he said he would "see". He went and took out a little drawer and brought it forward and said: "Exactly one dollar and fifty cents:"

One dollar and fifty cents in Cash, less than a gross of Remedy

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WHAT IS HAPPINESS?

I stopped in a little town in Eastern Carolina once and there was a travelling wagon in a vacant lot, next to the Hotel. The landlady expressed a wish that I could know its occupants, as they were so nice, she said. I did see them and from them I learned a lesson that has done me good. There were only two--man and wife--and for ten years they had worked together. The man gave Stereoptican Exhibitions. They were only wayside musicians, singing, performing tricks, working together always, but--they were the happiest people I have ever met. Their little wagon was their Kingdom. They had no other home, but that was enough they said, as long as they were spared each other.

I asked them if such a life was not terrible in cold weather. "Terrible? Why in cold weather we have our happiest time. Our little

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stove is the best I ever saw, our little room the cosiest; we have it all to ourselves, and we enjoy it, don't we Jack? We are both well, and we make money enough to get along on and be comfortable. Come over, and let me show you our little home.”

I did go--into their home on wheels--and went into one of the daintiest, most homelike and inviting nests I have ever seen, and she was as proud as a Queen of her palace.

I could but sigh as I left.

After all, it is not one's surroundings that bring happiness, but something else. Let those wiser than I say what.

I have often thought of my little wagon acquaintance, for every one who saw her looked upon her as a Sunbeam, and wished there were more like her.

I have been in the home of the rich, where there was everything to make life bright and beautiful, but there was one thing lacking: the Sunbeam. The mistress of it all was a walking monument to Discontent. With no Power behind, forcing her out of herself, she had no thought except for self. Her aches, her pains! Her head, her back, her knees, they were always "aching". She was always "tired". When she got up, she was "tired". When she lay down, she was "tired". She had more "trouble" than anyone else ever had, and yet she had none, save that she loved self too well, and "ached" too badly to know it. She looked so well and ate so heartily that when she burdened the air with her complaints, I chafed under the infliction, but it did me good.

I firmly resolved that never, so long as I lived, would I ever plead guilty to a headache, or a back ache, or ever say I was "tired".

Wherein lay the difference between the two homes?

In one there was a Sunbeam. In the other, a Shadow.

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There are things too manifold to mention that we never think of in the light of appreciation, but enjoy them as a matter of course. Our beaten biscuit, our delicious steak, our broiled chicken, our country hams, our homemade sausage, our buckwheat cakes, our hot waffles, our good butter, our unskimmed milk, our fragrant coffee, with sugar and cream, because we have never entered homes where such a bill of fare is an unknown quantity.

There are scores, in our own State, who never know what it is to partake of a meal properly cooked, and I do believe that one-half

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of all the physical and mental ailments which distress mankind come from the lack of nutritious food, properly prepared.

Starting the day with a good substantial breakfast starts the man a better man and when I see one now irritable and cross, I jump right straight to the conclusion "poor fellow", he couldn't have had a good dinner. Traced back that would be found to be the source of a large proportion of the discontent, the nervousness, the unreasonableness of man and womankind.

What man can sit down to a good dinner and not feel his heart swell with charity for his fellow man?

And then we do not appreciate the luxury of a good bed, when so many never know what it is to go to bed between two sheets, and a great many crawl in on one--and that a colored one!

And then we do not half appreciate our bowl and pitcher as we should. I stopped at a house not long ago, and the next morning (a cold December morning it was, too) I called for a bowl of water. They "lowed" I'd have to go out into the yard to the bench. I opened the door and viewed the prospect. The "old man" went to the bench and washed in the tin basin. (As the "old 'oman" was getting breakfast, I hoped she had done the same.) Then "the boys", and it was my turn next, and right manfully did I march to the rack.

I poured some water into the pan to rinse it out, but they cautioned me not to waste the water, as it was "low", so with closed eyes and clinched lips, I performed my morning ablutions. A11 the family wiped on a towel that had hung there Heaven only knows how long, but I had to draw the line there, and went to my grip and availed myself of the provision made against emergencies. I had to "bunk" that night in the room with "the gals" but was fortunate enough to secure a bed to myself. A girl of about fourteen looked on in wonder and amazement as I disrobed, but when I took off my braid, made of my own hair, it was too much for her and she called out, "Oh Ma, come here, the lady's taking off her hair--come quick!"

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Traveling in one of the lower counties of the State, it was a source of wonder to me how the working people obtained water to drink. I went miles and miles, consumed by thirst. Plenty of wells did we pass, but not a bucket or any available way to get at the water.

At last we came to an old farm house where we saw a darkie standing by the well. I asked him to be kind enough to hand me a

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drink of water, as I was very thirsty. "There's plenty o'water here”, he said, “but we all drink out o'the bucket. There's nothin' to hand any in."

An old man came out (the owner of the place) and after exchanging the customary greetings, I asked him if I could not get a drink of water, as I was so thirsty. He said, "Lor' bless your soul honey, there's plenty of water here, but nothing to hand it in, but I've got plenty of good grape juice, and you'll find that monstrous good to lay thirst when you can't get water". He went and brought the grape juice and I found it as he said, "monstrous good", brought in a gourd, colored with the accumulated juice of many seasons.

And yet this old man had planted out grapevines, on either side of the road, for a distance of about three hundred yards, and kept them in good condition, well arbored and trained. I expressed my surprise and he said, "I planted them vines with my own hands. When the grapes are ripe, I sit here in my porch and enjoy seeing travelers feast themselves. They are my pets, and have given refreshment to thousands. I've done that much good in my life. When the season lasts nearly all who pass stop and eat grapes, and there's always enough for all, as long as they last."

I reverently shook the old man's hand when I left. A man, so full of love for his fellow man, that he gladly worked to give them pleasure, and yet so regardless of self.

in stock, and $1700 in debt, was the outlook.

I called for the expense book. There was none.

My partner said he had had no time to keep a record of the expenses; he only knew the medicine was all sold and the money all spent--for expenses.

He added that all the available assets on hand now was the Trademark; he supposed that would bring something; in fact, he might buy it himself, and he should, at once, advertise it for sale at the Courthouse in Charlotte to the highest bidder, within 30 days.

Sell my Trademark! Why that meant robbing me of everything! Taking from me all means of earning my living!

It meant ruin in its ''baldest meaning"!

All other sorrows I had seen seemed naught compared with this. To take from me the right to put up my own Remedy and sell it to someone else! It was monstrous. It was inhuman and yet it was before me.

The fiat had gone forth and the deed was to be done.

In the depth of my despair, I went to Dr. John. H. McAden told him of the great wrong going to be done me and all it meant to me, and we can draw aside the curtain here and give you a glimpse of a scene that must have made the angels in Heaven rejoice.

The sight of a rich man who was good, and noble, and true, and loyal to his manhood--a man who, for humanity's sake, put his hand into his pocket to relieve the distress of one whose narrative meant an appeal. He told me my Trademark should not be sold, that he would save it for me. He asked me how much money would be required to save it. I told him if I could put up five thousand bottles of Remedy and have control of the sales, I could not only repay the expense of their cost, but could also pay every dollar we owed and my Trademark would be saved.

Dr. McAden asked me how much would that cost.

I told him, "Every cent of a thousand dollars".

He said he would advance it for me, and not only said so, but he did it. He at once ordered whiskey, bottles, everything necessary to put up five thousand bottles of Remedy. I put them up and we were solvent and - I was saved.

I then forced a dissolution of co-partnership, as I told my partner I would never work with him another day, as a partner. He transferred back to me his interest in my Trademark, while I relinquish-

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ed all interest in the stock and he assumed the debts. This was satisfactory to Dr. McAden, who, in his turn, gave me a release in full.

I then agreed to work for my partner at the same salary for six months, to help him dispose of the stock, which he could not have done alone.

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This act of Dr. McAden's was one of those grand acts sometimes done that redeem mankind and hold us on to our faith in man, but I shall always believe it never could have happened anywhere except in Charlotte and never would have been done except by a Charlotte man. Dear, dear Charlotte! There is no place like it, and she may well be called the garden spot of the Old North State.

Writers ascribe her prosperity to the progressiveness of her citizens, to their liberality and public-spiritedness, but the cause reaches higher and further and beyond that.

It is because they are animated by that broad spirit of Humanity, which makes one man extend a helping hand always to his brother in need; they had rather help than hinder, build up than to tear down. They had rather see a man rise than fall, and if he does not rise it will not be their fault. They have the kind word and broad sympathy which brings a man nearer his brother man, and keeps one's faith in human nature firm and unquestioned.

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