p. 20 | How We Celebrated the Fourth of July by C. G. Bellah

Review and Herald Publishing Association · Takoma Park, Washington, D. C. · Jul 25, 1912

How We Celebrated the Fourth of July

By C. G. Bellah

Brother Rockwell, a new canvasser, and the writer arrived in Hanna, Wyo., July 4, at 8 A. M. We found the city nearly wild over a big celebration, the first in the town for nine years. There were the usual foot-races, horse-races, ball games, gambling, drinking, etc., that are common on this national holiday.

The enemy told us we absolutely could not sell books that day, and from a human viewpoint it seemed true. But we knew better. In less than five minutes from the time we stepped off the train, we booked the first order. Once before I had sold forty-eight dollars' worth of "Great Controversy" on the fourth of July, so I knew this would be a splendid day for us.

We worked right through the day, scarcely stopping for meals, till eight o'clock at night. We made sales for "Patriarchs and Prophets" in about two thirds of the homes visited, seventy per cent of the orders being for the leather bindings. That night we went to bed very tired, but so happy we could scarcely sleep. Our total sales for the day amounted to $62.25.

The next morning the enemy tried to convince us that we simply could not sell books the day after the fourth, but we knew in whom we trusted. We had only a half-day to work together, as I had to take an early train for headquarters. In five hours we sold $42.50 worth. Altogether, we put in fifteen hours, and sold $104.75 worth.

We are thankful to be connected with a message that can not be stopped by holidays, droughts, floods, panics, or anything else, but will march gloriously on to final and complete victory.

C. G. BELLAH.