The Elbert County tribune., 1903-10-22
The most useful
information is that
which you discover
for yourself.
History Of a Boys Cane.

.Nr. James. you know that cane
You let father have-well. 1t is little
short for him now. and you said you
wanted II back when he was through
with lido you wish to take It with
you now?"
| am MIR James, and Mrs. Hart.
who asked me this question. lived with
her father. The old gentleman bad
Just enjoyed his ninety-eighth birth
day, and had called to enjoy few
minutes chat with him.
This man had an atmosphere OF
hearty good cheer and ! have often
gone out of my way to visit a little
while with him. 1t was real pleas
ure to me to let him take the heavy
cane had used when a boy, because
enjoyed pleasing the old gentleman.
and because had longed to have that
cane give some elderly man enjoyment.
1t was a wholesome looking article.
My father made II for me during the
Philadelphia centennial. while | was
walking with crutches In a little town
hundreds of miles away from the
great show of the nations.
II is one kind of Imprisonment for
n boy to walk with cane. but 1t is
also one kind of liberty for boy TO
hang up his crItches and be able to
walk with cane. The compensations
of nature enable us TO get pleasure
where It would seem at first glance
there could be nothing but sorrow.
The Usage orange fences grew near
us, and good material for canes could
be had with little effort. Except when
land is useless. neglected Usage
orange fence is used only for canes.
1t is good for little canes and big ones.
The polished knots can be made as
bright as birds eyes.
had great variety of walking
sticks and made them to give away
to sell. One succeeds in making sue
cess of work he thoroughly under
stands. was not thorough in the
cane business because while knew
how to make them | lacked CONNER
cial Information necessary to
produce sales. Had known
boy in the city, some boy
with business sense. could have sent
him canes. he could have sold them
and we might haze grown an industry
that would support both of us.
The real reason for this record is
one of regret. One day while was
using the cane came home from
school and found my grandfather had
come for visit. He was the only one
OF my grandparents living and we
thought more OF each other than
then realized. During the last nearly
= ..-rH
many times as | stood in the kitchen
door and refused to give or sell him
that cane.
He admired 1t very much. 1t was
better proportioned for him than for
me, and | have wished more times
than / am years old that had given
ii to him He teased me to Sell 1t to
him and refused several times, In
sisting on keeping 1t.
1t is a mystery to me why such dis
cords are possible in this world. I
never enjoyed that cane a particle
after grandfather left He gave me a
dollar and said goodbye and never
thought for a moment of giving him
the cane.
A few months later my father and I
attended his funeral and since then I
have had love for elderly men. 1t
may be that my selhshness over the
cane has been blessing to others by
the reaction of my emotions. am
forced, by my lack of wisdom In the
past, to study the comfort and pleas.
ure of elderly men. 1t may be that
my grandfather never cared as much
for that cane as l thought he did. and
that Providence permitted me to be
painfully selfish for moment in order
that might be more thoughtful ever
after.
Some time ago n man wrote that hc
now wished he had spent less time in
his den" under the stairs trying to be
n modern Shakespeare and more time
getting acquainted with his father and
mother. sisters and brothers.
Since have learned more about the
hearts of others | am able to recog-
nize the lost opportunities.