Makes you wonder

gregk · Jul 16, 2011

My great uncle passed away this last week at the age of 92 after a good life. At the funeral the deacon delivered a homily telling stories of him and his brothers(my grandpa was one). One of the stories was about my great grandfather during 1936 and the deacon was starting to choke up telling about it.
In the middle of the depression and terrible drought the deacons father ran out of hay for his livestock, as they were sort of neighbors to my great grandfather he asked him if he had any hay he would sell him. The answer was no he was also out of hay and all he had was some straw , but to go help himself and just take what he needed. They took a load of straw and that helped them through the hard times. Fast forward 75 years and that story is still around.
My point is that you really wonder about two things at least. One , giving away your last bit of feed when you can't afford it to someone who is in worse shape than you but not by much. And 2, that is a long memory to still give credit to someone who passed over 60 years ago and still remember that action 75 years ago. I guess times were different back then, but I'm sure things like that happen yet today.

730d se · Jul 16, 2011

The thing that has changed is the morality of men.
We will for sure also remember the likes of Bernie Madoff for many years to come.
Greed is going to finish this once great Nation.

flying belgian · Jul 16, 2011

Yes they do happen today. We just never hear about them as people don't tell the stories to next generation anymore.

Arkansas · Jul 16, 2011

Almost identical story. My Granddad passed last Sept. A son of my Granddads neighbor approached me and told me several stories of when he was a young boy, regarding Granddad. One story was that his dad had run out of hay for the cattle, so he (the boy) and his dad ask my Granddad if had any hay for sale; to which Granddad replied "I don't have any for sale, but I'll split what I have left with you".
Fast forward to today; I see folks around here actually happy to see our neighbors in TX and OK in drought, cause they are ready to get $80-100 a bale

Times have changed

C.R. · Jul 16, 2011

I agree nothing wrong with a fair profit but the stuff thats happening now sheesh no loyalty to anything but the allmighty dollar and using the stock holders as the scape goat when all of the hinky B.S. starts in the board room behind closed doors.

Mike (WA) · Jul 16, 2011

I was born in August, and was not digesting milk- Dr. said dad needed to find a goat to provide milk. Very few goats are still milking by September, but dad heard of an old guy who had one that had just freshened. Dad went and saw him (a crusty old bachelor- dad didn't know the guy)- asked if he could buy or rent the goat, and told him why. Old guy said "No sir, I won't sell or rent her- but you take her and keep her as long as you need." Guy didn't know dad from Adam. Dad tried to pay him something when he took her back about a month later, but he wouldn't take anything.

Anonymous-0 · Jul 16, 2011

(quoted from post at 09:41:10 07/16/11) I agree nothing wrong with a fair profit but the stuff thats happening now sheesh no loyalty to anything but the allmighty dollar and using the stock holders as the scape goat when all of the hinky B.S. starts in the board room behind closed doors.

Careful......Someone'll get their undies in a wad call you a horsey person or sumpin.......

back then, a crook may as well pack up and move.These days, folks sympathize with them and defend their ways....

Goose · Jul 16, 2011

I suspect there are more stories like that out there, they just don't get publicized because the media is too obsessed with sensationalizing all the negative things that go on.

People always seem to be down on teenagers. A number of years ago, I had my back operated on, and the surgeon said swimming would be good for the healing process to build the muscles back up. One afternoon, I took off in my car for a nearby lake to do some swimming and maybe get in a little girl watching. I had a flat tire on the way to the lake, and I was in no shape to change a tire.

While I was sitting there mulling over what to do next, (this was before cell phones were popular), a car with a couple of teenage boys in it stopped. I explained my predicament, and they said, "Oh, we'll change your tire for you". I told them it would sure be worth a few bucks to me if they would.

They changed the tire in short order, and when they were done I tried to give each a $5 bill. They absolutely refused to take any pay, just told me they hoped the rest of my day went better, got in their car, and drove off.

Kinda restored my faith in the next generation.

teddy52food · Jul 16, 2011

I remember dad telling about the hay shortage in the 30's drought. Him and my uncle would go to low spots in the woods & cut grass by hand, lay it on 2 poles to carry it out for winter hay. But as time went on they found the marshes being cut by others as they got farther from home.

Brad Buchanan · Jul 16, 2011

I will probably take some arrows for my views on this but on the Madoff affair there were a group of very wealthy people who gave in some cases most of their assets to a man who they (obviously) did not know well.

I think there was greed, and poor judgement involved on all sides of that situation.

If you really want to see people taken advantage of watch who buys the big handfull of lottery tickets at the convenience store. Hint: it won't be the guy driving the Mercedes.

The state goes full press on advertisment of how YOU could be a millionaire. If a private company ran a game like that the owners would be perp-walked with handcuffs on.

End of rant.

Brad

IndianaRed · Jul 16, 2011

I don't think anything has changed. You think there weren't Madoff's 100, 200, or a thousand years ago? Madoff is a crook and crooks have been around since the begining, haven't they?

And what is greed? Self-interest? Wanting to get the most for one's efforts? You know, there are many a hospital, university, etc., built by people who were very successful and wanted to give back. Just because someone provided a good or service that other people desired and would pay for doesn't make them bad. The people who voluntarily engage in trade with them seem to be happy to do so. Is Bill Gates a bad guy? We wouldn't be here on this forum without him. Was Henry Ford a greedy SOB? We probably wouldn't have won WWII without his invention.

Good and bad will always be with us. And so will envy.

Fullers Farmalls · Jul 16, 2011

After my pap retired from the steel mills he was a master plumber. We live in a low income area but always had enough to go around. My Pap had 5 boys and my gram didn't work. Hard life on a steel workers salary. He did plumbing on the side and weekends to help get extra money. He was very good at what he did. But again a lot of people needed help and didn't always have money. He would do free work but people didn't want charity. So he would accept what people gave him so as to not hurt their pride. He brought home used toys, bushels or turnips, and many other things. All with a smile and never said a word. He was a truly great man who taught me many things. Wish he was still around today...

bobs old iron · Jul 16, 2011

today's disasters are one man's greed for profit... no more of helping thy neighbor, it's helping thy bank account.

John Harmon · Jul 16, 2011

I remember when growing up in the late 40's ,early 50's If I heard of of a neighbor needing help in any form I can almost still hear the old Chevy Truck starting up and heading out as my Dad was always the first one to the peoples house seeing what the situation was and what help was needed. Within 8 hours every one around would know the situation and plans were made to help with what was needed.Was it Cows to be milked,Livestock to be tended to,Feed to grind,Field to be plowed,worked,planted,harvested, and a lot more that my Dad and his neighbors pitched in with their time and help. When he got hurt by an onery Gurnsey Bull we had and was bed ridden the neighbor hood showed up in mass to help for about 7 months. Me,My Mom and the rest of the siblings never worked so hard or felt more pride in the outpouring of help when needed.

PJH · Jul 16, 2011

Good story Fuller!

I have an old friend who is a small town HVAC installer/repairman. His wife was grumbling to him about some of the work that he does for "no charge". One morning she was at him again, and he asked her to come help him on a little job. On the way over, he told her to help him keep track of his time and materials while he did the repair. They got to the old widow's house, and the old gal was delighted to see Betty and got her to the kitchen table for a nice friendly chat. After the furnace was up and running and they were ready to go, the old lady got her purse and asked how much she owed for the repair. My friend said that Betty was in charge of the bill. Betty had tears in her eyes. No charge. . .

Betty never grumbled about his "donate work" again.

A lot of this foolishness (greed) that we see in this world today is being done by people who obviously don't believe in a judgement day.

Paul

Fullers Farmalls · Jul 16, 2011

I agree with you 100%. My Pap knew a lot of stuff about a lot of things. And he knew to take care of his family, his faith, and his friends. He did that it so many ways. I don't think he ever took a dime for helping anyone. He would even buy the parts/supplies but you could never pay him.

PopinJohn · Jul 16, 2011

When I was growing up, there was a fellow who had a small shop about 1/2 mile from our house, out in the country.
He was in a wheelchair, (polio when a child) but still managed to do some welding, some mechanic-ing, some tinkering. Taught me how to gas weld.
The great thing was, his shop was almost always open, and most of the men in the community stopped by pretty often, and shared information about what was going on in the community, who needed help, who was being cantankerous, etc.
It was a good gathering place, no one stayed very long, but we all kept in touch through Emmett's little shop.
Boy, do I miss those days.

Spook · Jul 16, 2011

I have worked on Special Olympics, the Juvenile Diabetes, and several other groups. One thing I have noticed, is that the same people are volunteering everywhere. And they aren't the "Big" name guys in the community, they sure aren't the local politicians, or the big businessmen. All the guys with the big jobs, they don't volunteer, they are too busy. It's the guys that work in a factory or put up sheetrock or do landscaping. I think the professional class of managers view any volunteer work as something to do only for PR value.

Anonymous-0 · Jul 16, 2011

yep, I think there is a big difference in having to volenteer and wanting to volenteer

806man · Jul 16, 2011

I think it was about 12 or 13 years ago I had cut hay till I was blue in the face. This one fella called me and said he had some land that he really needed cleaned up and I could have the hay off of it for the taking. I thought "what the heck might need it this winter". Went over, cut it (and it was really some pretty good fescue / orchard grass mix) made about 60 rolls. I hauled it home, stacked it up and would you believe? Gave it all away. Turned off so dry we had no fall hay and had to start feeding in late August. One neighbor who only got to do his first cutting before the drought suddenly died of a heart attack. You should of seen the look on his widows face when my Brother-in-law and I came pulling up with those first 2 big gooseneck loads of rolled hay. I gave her those 60 rolls and it got her through the winter just fine. Of course she tried to pay me for it but I felt I owed it to her late husband for being the good neighbor he was to my Dad. He was that kind of person who would give you his last of whatever you needed.

Anonymous-0 · Jul 16, 2011

Smart man there also opened her eyes at the same time. Introduced her to the World outside..

Will- Tx.-Mn. · Jul 17, 2011

I agree with you Paul, many will have "rude" awaking on that day

~Will

Billy Shafer · Jul 17, 2011

I have been asked many times why I will help without charging. I tell them. Because it is the right thing to do. Money is not the only reward you can get in life.It makes me feel good when I can help someone. Plus the breads,cakes,pies and vegatables I get at times. Mean more to me than money.

Makes you wonder

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