The citizen. (Frederick City, Md.) 1895-1923, 1915-04-09
REVIVED SPR|NGR|LL
Richards New Drug Store Made
the Town a Busy and Pros
porous One.
ey LAWRENCE ALFRED CLAY.

Hpyinghill added stock of drugs tc
that of his hardware folks said the
town was looking up, but at the END
of two years nobody had been sich
and the sales had not amounted tC
S5, For the next FIVE years Spring.
hill was known as being such a
healthy place that a doctor could no,
earn enough to pay for oats for his
horse. There was no further call for
drug store and none was established
One night, to the amazement OF
gpringhill and the surrounding coun.
tries, Jonas Bebee, a farmer, living
about two miles out of town, was
taken with serious case Of bilious
colo and had to send seven miles for
a remedy.
"Begosh! but this won't happen
again." exclaimed Jonas when he was
able to get out
Two weeks later he had sold his
farm and had blossomed out as a
druggist in Springhill. He didn't
know anything about prescriptions,
but he didn't realize this necessity.
The novelty of a farmer, fresh from
ahe plow, turning druggist, brought
considerable trade for year or two.
Then several citizens had a narrow
escape for their lives, trade began to
slacken UP, and for several years it
was confined mostly TO the sales of
copperas and hair dyes.
Bebee's drug store become the
fdllng place Of farmers and villagers.
And every evening except Sundays
there was crowd of a dozen or
twenty men talking politics or play
ing checkers. Jonas was not selling
nifty cents worth of drugs a week
Jonas asked a farmer one night
as he entered the store. have you got
any porous plasterse l fell of the
fence today and wrenched my old
back"
why. yes" said Jonas, "I've got
three OF them, but they are on my
own back! A teller cant bend over
q checker board as much as do with
out some support for his spine.'
why don't you give up your gosh
hanged business?" asked the farmer
as he turned away
Cant do it, Jeptha, can't do It.
I'd have to go back 60 farm work il
] did"
A stranger-a young man-had ar
rived In town about two hours before,
and he entered the drug store at the
same time as the man in search of
porous plasters and heard what was
said. He took a general LOOK around
and then went out without saying
anything to anybody.
At ten o'clock the next morning the
stranger called and found Jonas sit
ting on the steps of the store Iazily
whiting at pine sbingie.
"Are you the owner of this drug
store?"
"The sole and only owner" Jonas
replied
"Your stock seems TO have got pref
ty low"
swell. believe have got some
logwood left, and I don't know but
what could scare up bottle of vas
cline"
want to sell out?" inquired the
stranger.
Il dunno whether do or not Some.
times I've thought ! would accept
fair offer and then again I thought
how lonesome / would be without THO
place"
do you fill prescriptions"
mot for my doctor, but when any
one tells me what ails him / give him
whatever think will cure him"
The young man turned away to
smile.
"Supposine you wanted to sell?
What would be your price?"
"A regular druggist, eh?" o
Eyes. ] am looking for a location.
I want to buy the building ITSELF
''Weil. young man. ! will be honest
enough to tell you that If you are
thinking OF starting out of here as a
regular druggist you win last about
two weeks, This is the healthiest
town for a hundred miles around.
There has been only one case Of sick
ness in the last FIVE years, and they
cured that with hot vinegar and red
pepper without coming to me-"
"Of course. will take my chances"
replied the young man. Give me
your lowest cash price"
Jonas got up and walked up and
down the sidewalk for five minutes.
At last he stopped. win you let the
crowd continue TO come here eve
nings?"
mo, sir" was the prompt reply.
Then I will have to charge you
$50 more than I otherwise would, for
the boys will have no meeting place
unless they go down to the sawmill."
His price, as he named 1t, was at
once accepted, and the young man,
whose name was Frank Richard, was
the owner Of the place before night.
The next two weeks were full Of bust