50_ cts for which
pleas place to my credit and return receipt to me for same. I cant
praise your Dr Morse pill two high never before in all my
recolection has there bin a meddison here that has given such
general satisfaction. I hope the pills will always retain their
high standing and never bee counterfeited.... I could sell any amt
Pills allmost if money was not so scarce. I have to let some out on
credit to the Sick and Poor & wait some time though I am
accountable to you for all I recd & will pay you as fast as I sell
& collect ... I have about one Doz Box on hand.

Mollohan's complaint about the shortage of money and the long delay in
collecting many accounts reflected a condition that prevailed throughout
the nineteenth century. Money was scarce, and the economy of many rural
communities was still based largely on the barter system, so that it was
very difficult for farmers to generate cash for store goods.
Consequently, country storekeepers had to be generous in extending
credit, and, in turn, manufacturers and jobbers had to be lenient in
enforcing collection.

Not all of the storekeepers could write as neatly and clearly as
Mollohan. The following letter, quoted in full, from Thomas Cathey of
Enfield, Illinois, on January 23, 1880, not merely presented a problem
relating to the company's policy of awarding exclusive territories but
offered considerable difficulty in deciphering:

mr CumStock der ser i thaut i Wod rite yo
u a few lineS to inform you that i was the fir
St agent for you pills in thiS Setlement but th
as iS Several agent round her and tha ar interfer
With mee eSpeSly William a StavSon he liveS her
at enfield he Wanted mee to giv him one of you Sur
klerS So he Wod be agent but i Wodent let hi
m hav hit an he rote to you i SupoSe an haS got a
Suplye of pillS an ar aruning a gant mee he iS Sell
ing them at 20 centS a box i Want you to St
op him if you pleeS

mr CumStock i Sent you too dollars the 21 p
leeS Credet my a Count With hit mr. Cumsto
Ck i Want you to Send mee Sum of you pam
pletS i Want you to Send mee right of three tow
nShipS aS i am Working up a good trad her i wan
t indin Cree an enfield an Carnie tonnShipS rite
Son aS poSSible an let me know whether you will let
me have thoSe townShipS or not for my territory
i Sold a box of pillS to melven willSon his gi