The day after the twins' thirteenth birthday, Solon took them to see Mr. D. C. Sherrill in Dellrose. The next Saturday, a rainy December day, found them leaving home at 5:30 am to begin their new jobs at Sherrill - Stone Store. It was a fifteen-minute ride and Solon took them every Saturday in the work wagon teamed by Nash and Monty (for Nashville and Montgomery). During the four months of school, October to March, they had regular chores before and after. Joe was always the most physical. He busted tough rough-cut hickory and oak logs, about 18 inches tall, with a double - edged axe for the fuel needs of the cook stove and fireplaces. He also hauled the chunk coal from the pile to the forge for his mother's work. Jim tended the chickens - 15 docile mixed hens and one mean Rhode Island Red rooster, "Chanticleer." He "mothered", "bossed", and "dispatched" the nesting chickens, the layers, fryers and roasters. His efforts kept the table supplied with eggs and meat. His secondary task was the grooming, clipping and braiding of the manes of the mules and horses. He took care of the coats, manes and tails, his mother their feet- hooves and health. His gentle touch calmed even the most skittish animal.
Solon thought the town job would help the boys broaden their learning. Lou agreed. It did.
Jim worked in the office helping Mr. Sherill and chief clerk, Mr. Flountroy, with posting accounts, checking invoices, copying orders and general helper chores of a business of many departments. He learned enough about clerking to wait on customers during the hectic harvest seasons. Joe spent his work hours between the grocery, men's fine clothing and work clothing department. A stock boy in grocery, Joe was also an apprentice salesman in the clothing areas. He soon learned to love the visit and appreciate the style of the several drummers who called on the store selling their 'line', especially the men's fine clothing. His favorite drummer was Mr. Harwell from Neely - Harwell in Nashville. A snappy dresser and genuinely kind person, Mr. Harwell offered Joe the character of a business person plus traveling man that was positive and an appropriate model for an aspiring "comer".
He soon thought of himself as well versed in men's fancy attire, favoring fine wool Brooks Brothers suits especially ordered from New York for winter season. He fancied Haspel and Company of New Orleans's popular summer linen suits in white and buff for late spring and summer. The summer heat even wilted those suits of fine cotton. He learned to fit suits, shirts, shoes and hats. The fedora was becoming popular. The Derby and skimmer were the hats most favored by the younger men. The classic large brimmed, high crown, slouch hat sold the most, black and brown. It was the farmer's headwear. In shoes the work brogans moved well after harvest time - October through December. For Sunday-go-to meeting, the Nashville manufactured Johnson-Murphy shoes sold the best, in black for the older men and brown for the younger. Mr. Washburn, head floor walker for clothing gave Joe a lesson in how to get his less than well-scrubbed men shoe customers to use the "sizing sock". He explained that, otherwise, the unwashed feet and occasional dirty socks of many customers would soil the shoes. Joe became very adept at this ruse.