Red Marbles

[sundrop]

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(sent to me by a friend...)

> Interesting story that makes you think.
>
>
>> > RED MARBLES
>> > >
>> > > I was at the corner grocery store buying some early
>> > > potatoes. I noticed a small boy, delicate of bone and
>> > > feature, ragged but clean, hungrily apprising 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 (the store owner) and the ragged boy next to me.
>> > >
>> > > "Hello Barry, how are you today?"
>> > >
>> > > "H'lo, Mr. Miller. Fine, thank ya. Jus' admirin' them
>> > > peas. They 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?" asked Mr. Miller.
>> > >
>> > > "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" said Miller.
>> > >
>> > > "Here 'tis. She's a dandy."
>> > >
>> > > "I can see that. Hmmmmm, only thing is this one is blue
>> > > and I sort of go for red. Do you have a red one like this
>> > > at home?" the store owner asked.
>> > >
>> > > "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" . Mr.
>> > > Miller told the boy.
>> > >
>> > > "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, when they
>> > > come on their next trip to the store."
>> > >
>> > > I left the store 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 for
>> > > marbles.
>> > >
>> > > 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 visitation 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 wore 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
>> > > reminded her of the story from those many years ago and what
>> > > she had told me about her husband's bartering for 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.
>> > >
>> > >
>> > > The 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 stoplights on your way to work.
>> > > The fastest line at the grocery store.
>> > > A good sing-along song on the radio.
>> > > Your keys found right where you left them.
and, of course, tight lines and a good catch!!!