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> > > A RED MARBLE
> > > > > > Makes you think... > > > > > > During the waning years of the depression in a small southeastern > > > Idaho community, I used to stop by Mr. Miller's roadside stand for > > > farm-fresh produce as the season made it available. Food and money > > > were still extremely scarce and bartering was used, extensively. > > > > > > One particular day Mr. Miller was bagging some early potatoes for > > > me. I noticed a small boy, delicate of bone and feature, ragged > > > but clean, hungrily apprizing a basket of freshly picked green peas. > > > > > > I paid for my potatoes but was also drawn to the display of fresh green > > > peas. > > > I am a pushover for creamed peas and new potatoes. Pondering the > > > peas, I couldn't help overhearing the conversation between Mr. Miller > > and > > > the ragged boy next to me. > > > > > > "Hello Barry, how are you today?" > > > > > > "H'lo, Mr. Miller. Fine, thank ya. Jus' admirin' them peas ... > > > sure look good." > > > > > > "They are good, Barry. How's your Ma?" > > > > > > "Fine. Gittin' stronger alla' time." > > > > > > "Good. Anything I can help you with?" > > > > > > "No, Sir. Jus' admirin' them peas." > > > > > > "Would you like to take some home?" > > > > > > "No, Sir. Got nuthin' to pay for 'em with." > > > > > > "Well, what have you to trade me for some of those peas?" > > > > > > "All I got's my prize marble here." > > > > > > "Is that right? Let me see it." > > > > > > "Here 'tis. She's a dandy." > > > > > > "I can see that. Hmmmm, only thing is this one is blue and I sort > > > of go for red. Do you have a red one like this at home?" > > > > > > "Not 'zackley .....but, almost." > > > > > > "Tell you what. Take this sack of peas home with you and next trip > > > this way let me look at that red marble." > > > > > > "Sure will. Thanks, Mr. Miller." > > > > > > Mrs. Miller, who had been standing nearby, came over to help me. > > > > > > With a smile she said: "There are two other boys like him in our > > > community, all three are in very poor circumstances. Jim just > > > loves to bargain with them for peas, apples, tomatoes or whatever. > > > When they come back with their red marbles, and they always do, > > > he decides he doesn't like red after all and he sends them home with > > > a bag of produce for a green marble or an orange one, perhaps." > > > > > > I left the stand, smiling to myself, impressed with this man. A > > > short time later I moved to Colorado but I never forgot the story of > > this > > > man,the boys and their bartering. Several years went by each more > > > rapid than the previous one. Just recently I had occasion to visit some > > old > > > friends in that Idaho community and while I was there learned that > > > Mr. Miller had died. > > > > > > They were having his viewing that evening and knowing my friends > > > wanted to go, I agreed to accompany them. > > > > > > Upon our arrival at the mortuary we fell into line to meet the > > > relatives of the deceased and to offer whatever words of comfort we > > could. > > > Ahead of us in line were three young men. One was in an army uniform and > > > > > the other two wore nice haircuts, dark suits and white shirts ... very > > > professional looking. > > > > > > They approached Mrs. Miller, standing smiling and composed, by her > > > husband's casket. Each of the young men hugged her, kissed her on > > > the cheek, spoke briefly with her and moved on to the casket. Her misty > > > light > > > blue eyes followed them as, one by one, each young man stopped briefly > > > and placed his own warm hand over the cold pale hand in the casket. > > > Each left the mortuary, awkwardly, wiping his eyes. > > > > > > Our turn came to meet Mrs. Miller. I told her who I was and > > > mentioned the story she had told me about the marbles. Eyes glistening > > she > > > took > > > my hand and led me to the casket. "Those three young men, who just left, > > > > > were the boys I told you about. They just told me how they appreciated > > the > > > things Jim "traded" them. Now, at last when Jim could not change his > > mind > > > about color or size... they came to pay their debt. "We've never had a > > > great > > > deal of the wealth of this world," she confided, "but, right now, Jim > > would > > > consider himself the richest man in Idaho." > > > > > > With loving gentleness she lifted the lifeless fingers of her > > > deceased husband. Resting underneath were three, exquisitely shined, > > > red marbles. > > > > > > > > > > > > Moral: We will not be remembered by our words, but by our kind > > > deeds. Life is not measured by the breaths we take, but by the > > > moments that take our breath. P.S. God Loves You. > > > > > > > > > A wish for you! > > > Today...I wish you a day of ordinary miracles -- A fresh pot of > > > coffee you didn't make yourself. > > > > > > An unexpected phone call from an old friend. > > > > > > Green stoplights on your way to work or shop. > > > > > > I wish you a day of little things to rejoice in... > > > > > > The fastest line at the grocery store. > > > > > > A good sing along song on the radio. > > > > > > Your keys right where you look. > > --- Outgoing mail is certified Virus Free. Checked by AVG anti-virus system (http://www.grisoft.com). Version: 6.0.394 / Virus Database: 224 - Release Date: 03-10-02 |
