ness in our 18 John Street office. The stamps sent me by London dealers in consignments from time to time, kept my business going. I did some business with stamp collectors, but most of the stamps I sold were to retail dealers, who sold directly to stamp collectors. I also sold large quantities of stamps to jobbers, or those who wanted to wholesale them again. Of course, on the large lots, in many cases, the profits were very small. My business was mostly done during the fall, winter and early spring. During the summer months, when the schools were closed, and many were taking their vacations, the business was dull, but at the opening of the schools, it would revive. The fall and winter of 1914 was soon gone.

O

Chapter XXVI.

A BUSINESS PURCHASED.

"The hand of the diligent maketh rich."

Proverbs 10, 4.

N May 3, 1915 the Empire Stamp Co., doing business on Nassau Street, concluded to

quit, and I purchased their entire stock, including name and good will. The stock consisted of some very good stamps, including a real nice collection, as well as many lots suitable for the wholesale trade. This addition to my stock helped me very much. My son William had passed his 21st birthday, but still remained with me, though I cannot say he had fallen in love with the business. The business was not always good, far from it. There were times when I was making little or no money, but I had made money and I had faith in the business. It is true, I owed money at this time, but I had a valuable stock worth much more than I owed. The Northport Bank with which I had done considerable business, was at my service, and more than I loan had been made me. Mr. Henry Mott, president of the bank, a member of the Northport Methodist Church, was glad to have me do business with the bank, and never once refused me a loan. My personal notes were accepted, as security; such

notes ran for but a short time, and were never renewed, but always paid promptly when due.

I have said little or nothing about Smithtown, during a number of years that have passed. Smithtown, the town in which I was born and the town in which my home has been, during my life, has changed. Take a drive or walk through Main St., Smithtown Branch; a fine state road, the pride of the automobilist, is at your service. Look at the new residences that have made their appearance; the fine town hall, the large school building, The First National Bank, stores of various kinds, a newspaper, "The Messenger," which makes its weekly appearance, a post office, which has increased its business largely during the last few years. An ice plant and other business buildings have been erected. Yes, many changes, many improvements have come to old Smithtown, since I was a boy. Many of my near and dear friends too, have passed over the River, and they are missed. The Churches are still open inviting you to enter, but many pass by not heeding the invitation, and so the Churches are not filled as they might be. New ministers have come and gone. I have not mentioned their names during some years that have passed, but they are not forgotten. Here are the names of most, if not all of those, that have not been mentioned before: Rev. W. S. Harper, Rev. J. N. Cox, Rev. Clyde E. Baker, Rev. Paul Edwards and Rev. R. S. Povey, who was on the charge at this time, 1915. He was unmarried, and got out among the people, perhaps more than

some of the pastors with families did. He was in my home often, and many interesting hours were spent together. He had shortly before made a trip to England, and had passed over some of the same grounds I had, though he was not there during any part of the war. He took special interest in the Sunday School work connected with the charge, and taught the men's Bible Class in the Branch Church, and gladly helped in other ways.

During a number of years, my wife and I have spent a number of weeks, during each summer, at Ocean Grove, N. J. We attend the great Camp Meetings held there by the Ocean Grove Methodist Camp Meeting Association. There are great gatherings there every summer, wonderful music, great Preachers and great Lecturers, coming from various parts of the Country; an Auditorium holding 10,000 people and one of the largest, if not the largest organ in the world. Ocean Grove is an ideal resort for your summer vacation, splendid bathing in the ocean, clear pure air, wonderful religious services and entertainments of various kinds. Probably the largest Bible Class in the world gather each Sabbath in the great Auditorium. The years we missed spending at least a week or more at Ocean Grove, were during the years we were travelling abroad. And so during the summer of 1915 we were at Ocean Grove, for some weeks. My wife would remain there during our entire vacation. I would go to New York, perhaps once or twice each week, to give a little time to my business.

Early in September, at the close of the Camp Meeting session, we returned to our home at Smithtown Branch and I again took up the old business routine, of going to the City mornings, and returning again at night. I had become accustomed to this, and so it was no particular hardship. The business went on perhaps as usual, some good days and also some poor days. The early fall soon passed. We had thought of moving to the City for the winter so I would be nearer business, and would not have to commute during the cold weather and so we thought of renting furnished rooms. This was something of a problem. I had become acquainted with a Mr. Wm. Lloyd who also commuted, coming from Stony Brook, 2 stations east of Smithtown. I learned that he was the president of the Aberdeen Construction Co., and they were building a number of houses in Brooklyn and would sell them at reasonable prices and on very easy terms, so I went to E. 9th. St., to inspect the new houses, and found that they were apparently well worth the money asked for them, so I concluded to purchase a house instead of renting furnished rooms. The houses were not completed, but one or more would be, very shortly, so I selected the one I desired to purchase and this house was to be finished quickly, so it could be occupied very shortly. And so I purchased at 733 E. 9th. St. a brand new up-to-date house. It was not large, but large enough, and a convenient I family house. I then had the house furnished with brand new furniture, and told my wife I had secured