Bernie was smart and wanted to be his own boss.
Bernie
was
smart
and
wanted
to
be
his
own
boss
.
When Bernie was 25 he took a wife.
When
Bernie
was
25
he
took
a
wife
.
Bernie had saved some money and decided on a dry goods and grocery store combined.
Bernie
had
saved
some
money
and
decided
on
a
dry
goods
and
grocery
store
combined
.
Marie had a knack for arranging the merchandise to appeal to customers and Bernie didn't mind the long hours.
Marie
had
a
knack
for
arranging
the
merchandise
to
appeal
to
customers
and
Bernie
did
n't
mind
the
long
hours
.
He was happy, and life was good.
He
was
happy
,
and
life
was
good
.
The business thrived until the great depression hit the entire country.
The
business
thrived
until
the
great
depression
hit
the
entire
country
.
No one had money to purchase pretty things or even food.
No
one
had
money
to
purchase
pretty
things
or
even
food
.
In 1930, Marie had a heart attack and left Bernie alone.
In
1930
,
Marie
had
a
heart
attack
and
left
Bernie
alone
.
Following Marie's death, which Bernie felt was brought about from worrying about the store, He lost interest in everything.
Following
Marie
's
death
,
which
Bernie
felt
was
brought
about
from
worrying
about
the
store
,
He
lost
interest
in
everything
.
He had few customers and did not make them feel welcome, Bernie wandered about the store, dusting a bit and sweeping the floor.
He
had
few
customers
and
did
not
make
them
feel
welcome
,
Bernie
wandered
about
the
store
,
dusting
a
bit
and
sweeping
the
floor
.
His inventory remained almost the same, as nothing much was sold.
His
inventory
remained
almost
the
same
,
as
nothing
much
was
sold
.
A deep depressing set in.
A
deep
depressing
set
in
.
He had lost Marie, his true love, and now his business seemed lost as well, Why did he want to live?
He
had
lost
Marie
,
his
true
love
,
and
now
his
business
seemed
lost
as
well
,
Why
did
he
want
to
live
?
A few houses down the street lived a family who had also fallen on hard times.
A
few
houses
down
the
street
lived
a
family
who
had
also
fallen
on
hard
times
.
They seldom had three meals a day.
They
seldom
had
three
meals
a
day
.
Julie, the youngest girl, was fourteen.
Julie
,
the
youngest
girl
,
was
fourteen
.
Julie worried about Mr. Mears' getting so thin.
Julie
worried
about
Mr.
Mears
'
getting
so
thin
.
At meal time, she would take a portion of their meal to Bernie.
At
meal
time
,
she
would
take
a
portion
of
their
meal
to
Bernie
.
She would stay and talk to him, dusting and cleaning.
She
would
stay
and
talk
to
him
,
dusting
and
cleaning
.
After several months Bernie began to improve.
After
several
months
Bernie
began
to
improve
.
He still had no customers to speak of, but from what he had left in the stor, he would sack a few cans to take to Julie's family.
He
still
had
no
customers
to
speak
of
,
but
from
what
he
had
left
in
the
stor
,
he
would
sack
a
few
cans
to
take
to
Julie
's
family
.
In early spring, Julie saw her father planting a garden.
In
early
spring
,
Julie
saw
her
father
planting
a
garden
.
This gave her an idea.
This
gave
her
an
idea
.
She suggested Bernie making a garden in the big space beside the store, which they had once thought would become a parking lot, and sell the produce really cheap in the store.
She
suggested
Bernie
making
a
garden
in
the
big
space
beside
the
store
,
which
they
had
once
thought
would
become
a
parking
lot
,
and
sell
the
produce
really
cheap
in
the
store
.
It would help the neighbors and also Bernie to have money for new merchandise.
It
would
help
the
neighbors
and
also
Bernie
to
have
money
for
new
merchandise
.
They would plant half the garden space now and half in three weeks giving them fresh produce for a long time.
They
would
plant
half
the
garden
space
now
and
half
in
three
weeks
giving
them
fresh
produce
for
a
long
time
.
Julie prayed hard as they placed the seeds in the ground.
Julie
prayed
hard
as
they
placed
the
seeds
in
the
ground
.
When the seeds sprouted, Julie looked anxiously at the rows and there were no empty spots.
When
the
seeds
sprouted
,
Julie
looked
anxiously
at
the
rows
and
there
were
no
empty
spots
.
They all came up and produced the best crop of vegetables Bernie had ever seen.
They
all
came
up
and
produced
the
best
crop
of
vegetables
Bernie
had
ever
seen
.
They soon became well-known in the community for having the best prices and finest produce in town.
They
soon
became
well-known
in
the
community
for
having
the
best
prices
and
finest
produce
in
town
.
They also extended credit to their neighbors and accepted various items as trade for merchandise.
They
also
extended
credit
to
their
neighbors
and
accepted
various
items
as
trade
for
merchandise
.
The two of them worked hard throughout the 1930s and made a very successful business.
The
two
of
them
worked
hard
throughout
the
1930s
and
made
a
very
successful
business
.
Julie earned a salary.
Julie
earned
a
salary
.
As the economy picked up, so did sales at the store.
As
the
economy
picked
up
,
so
did
sales
at
the
store
.
Bernie was smart and wanted to be his own boss. When Bernie was 25 he took a wife. Bernie had saved some money and decided on a dry goods and grocery store combined.  Marie had a knack for arranging the merchandise to appeal to customers and Bernie didn't mind the long hours. He was happy, and life was good. The business thrived until the great depression hit the entire country. No one had money to purchase pretty things or even food. In 1930, Marie had a heart attack and left Bernie alone.  Following Marie's death, which Bernie felt was brought about from worrying about the store, He lost interest in everything. He had few customers and did not make them feel welcome, Bernie wandered about the store, dusting a bit and sweeping the floor. His inventory remained almost the same, as nothing much was sold. A deep depressing set in. He had lost Marie, his true love, and now his business seemed lost as well, Why did he want to live?  A few houses down the street lived a family who had also fallen on hard times. They seldom had three meals a day. Julie, the youngest girl, was fourteen. Julie worried about Mr. Mears' getting so thin. At meal time, she would take a portion of their meal to Bernie. She would stay and talk to him, dusting and cleaning.  After several months Bernie began to improve. He still had no customers to speak of, but from what he had left in the stor, he would sack a few cans to take to Julie's family.  In early spring, Julie saw her father planting a garden. This gave her an idea. She suggested Bernie making a garden in the big space beside the store, which they had once thought would become a parking lot, and sell the produce really cheap in the store. It would help the neighbors and also Bernie to have money for new merchandise. They would plant half the garden space now and half in three weeks giving them fresh produce for a long time.  Julie prayed hard as they placed the seeds in the ground. When the seeds sprouted, Julie looked anxiously at the rows and there were no empty spots. They all came up and produced the best crop of vegetables Bernie had ever seen. They soon became well-known in the community for having the best prices and finest produce in town. They also extended credit to their neighbors and accepted various items as trade for merchandise.  The two of them worked hard throughout the 1930s and made a very successful business. Julie earned a salary. As the economy picked up, so did sales at the store.