Bartering for Vegetables
During the waning years of the depression in a small 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 day Mr. Miller was bagging some early potatoes for me. I noticed
a small boy, delicate of bone and feature, ragged but clean,
hungrily appraising 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 all the 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. Hmmmmmmm, 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 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 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 had nice haircuts, dark suits and white
shirts.....all very professional looking. They approached Mrs.
Miller, standing composed and smiling 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. With her 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.
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 lights on your way to work
.....the fastest line in the grocery store
.....a good sing-along song on the radio
.....your keys right where you left them
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