[Letter of 1873 June 30]

[Letter of 1873 June 30]

1873-06-30

African American authors

African American businesspeople

African American abolitionists

Books

Door-to-door selling

Wiley, Edward A. [recipient]

image/jp2

Correspondence

This material is made available for private study, scholarship, and research use. For access to the original letter, or high-resolution reproduction, please contact the Charles L. Blockson Afro-American Collection (blockson@temple.edu; 215-204-6632).

Temple University Libraries, Charles L. Blockson Afro-American Collection

William Still Collection

Blockson manuscripts

William Still Collection

Philadelphia, PA: Temple University Libraries

blockson@temple.edu

BMS010X0065

Philadelphia, June 30th 1873/ Dear Edward:/ Your Letter of the 28th/ inst. Came this morning and I have since/ put up your order, namely, 33 paneled,/ 14 cloth & 1 Sheep U.G.R.R. which shall be/ sent off speedily for Pittsburg./ Ever I am just about warm enough./ Ever since 5 oclock this morning I/ have been on the go. At 6 I was at the yard/ and had the men ready to start for West/ Phila to deliver 37 tons of coal shipped/ for the Home, and in the cars quite/ near by[sic]. So to get them started right/ I drove over and waited untill[sic] each/ cart had hauled 2 loads a pin John/ showed oposition[sic], the first load, and/ by his action declared he would not/ do his share. In order to prove to him/ that he was not master I had about/ one third of his load taken off and in this way got him to work. Gave/ orders to chase not load him quite/ full untill[sic] he performed nicely,/ so that no further balking might occur./ I gave them their task, 13 loads each- They have to haul not 2 squares./ I wrote Cowgill on Saturday, &/ laid down the law to him, if he complys/ it he can have an agency at any time./ It is strange whatever become of that/ missing letter. With regard to Har/ risburg & Baltimore, I wrote you that/ in my judgement the season for/ successfull[sic] canvassing, can only/ be after the watering season is over./ Many are out of town in both cities./ Hence it would not pay so well as when/ all would be at home. We shall have/ no difficulty however in finding good/ territory for your labor, when you/ come home. Caddy promised to copy/ that missing letter and she should have/ done so e[x?]e this, but it seems she has/ not done so./ You will find in the Post office/ a copy of the New National Era,/ with notice in it of how agents are/ doing. Be sure and get it./ Bro. Carr has just passed an hour/ at our house. His time is up on the 20th/ July_. The church is to be closed from the 15th/ to the 1st Sept. 6 weeks, “for repairs.” Carr seems to be/ in good spirits./ Yours affec./ W Still/