27 
     
    
   
   
    
     was composed primarily of fishermen 
     
     and farmers, money became scarce 
     
     during the winter months, especially for 
     
     families who depended on lobster 
     
     fishing. Farming families were always a 
     
     bit better off since they had their own 
     
     food supply. The good merchant allowed 
     
     people to run charge accounts to carry 
     
     their families through the winter until 
     
     cash began to flow again in the spring. 
     
     Because of the confidence he had in his 
     
     customers, no one ever had to sign a 
     
     sales slip for any purchase, and no family 
     
     went hungry because of the lack of cash- 
     
     in-hand. 
     
    

    
     It was always a most fortunate 
     
     time to be in the store whenever a new 
     
     carton of “store-bought” cookies or 
     
     candies was opened. Mr. Hicken would 
     
     insist that very young customers and