the watkins man

"Author: Beverly Hembrecht
Poem: THE WATKINS MAN

I was always delighted each time that he came.
And I was surprised he remembered my name.
Each visit, we watched as he opened his case.
He always wore a bright smile on his face.
Mother studied all his wares, asking each price.
She bought vanilla and almond extract and spice.
I remember the medicines, some I still have,
Tins of menthol camphor and petro-carbo salve.

After she had paid him the total sum
He opened a pack of Juicy Fruit gum.
He gave each one of us kids, a stick.
We accepted it kindly and enjoyed every lick.
Mom got all that was needed in a bottle or can,
Right there on the porch from the Watkins man."

and as much as i love the puzzling sentence "He gave each one of us kids, a stick", it doesn't answer my question

I do not know why my mother purchased these vile things, but once she had the unfortunate idea that my siblings and I should all take our Watkins vitamins with a steaming mug of cocoa. The hot cocoa melted the seam on the capsule and the oily insides oozed into our mouths. It was horrid beyond words. We none of us would put another one into our mouths so long as we lived. The partly full jar sat around for the following decade until it was thrown out.