During this period, it was common to see itinerant wanderers, who were called pack peddlers. Most were newly-arrrived immigrants, usually Jewish or Irish, whose relatives had staked them to enough goods to make up a "pack," tied in blue or gray denim squares, which they tied up in a compact bundle by knotting the diagonal corners.

They seemed able to carry incredible loads on their backs all day long. The Irish went in more for linen and lace from Ireland, but the Jews carried more practical goods, like work shirts, but they were apt to have about any household need, from needles to combs.

Grandmother Wherry was a pushover for any of them if she had any money at all in her pocket. She even bought a nice pair of gold earrings to be worn through pierced ears. Of course, her ears were pierced as were the ears of most of the generation, but since she wore a black lace cap constantly, she couldn't show them off.

Oscar has mentioned Philip Frantz, but Clara and Bess reminded me of another story about him. He rode a horse down to the store one day, to loaf principally, as he had only a dime in his pocketbook. But he discovered his pocketbook was missing, and so he had all the other loafers help him to hunt it without success.

He then went into the store, bought a new pocketbook on "tick," as we used to say, and rode off happily even if his new pocketbook had no money in it.