The coastland times. [volume] (Mnateo [i.e. Manteo], N.C.) 1947-1959, 1953-06-19

pen ulSSSoSC IISIPAoA W oOuhS
other person. Some of the things
l shall give expression to have
been discussed with other people
who also thought about the sub
ject as myself.
So in the hope that it may
help others find the way to
make amends before it is too
late, and thereby save heartache
in years to come, set down in
type how it was came to find
peace and joy hoping that it is
not yet too late to square things
up with dad.
He was one of those plain,
hardworking men who gained
what he got by the sweat of his
brow, and laborious use of his
muscles. He seemed to content
himself with the simple things
of life, doubtless because he had
no means to obtain the larger
externals of living. He toiled
hard and got little, but was al
ways trying to look ahead to
rainy day, although it seemed
there was nothing ever he could
put aside.
1t never seemed to me that Dad
needed anything. Though his
clothes were old and patched,
he seemed quite content, and
thankful for even those. I
thought he oughtn't to 60 shah
billy dressed, youthfully ignor-
ant that he could do no better.
He was the youngest of a large
family and had remained with
his mother until late in life be-
fore launching out for himself.
1 thought he had little confidence
in his own ability for he would
take few chances. Now l know
he was thinking first of our well
fare and would not risk in any
venture the few pitiful dollars
he sometimes set aside, though
it might promise him greater
security in life, or surcease from
his long days of toll.
Dad worked here and there,
wherever he could get a job, and
somehow kept his little family
together-with such help as mo-
ther could give him. When he
had finished the days work for
others, he came home and in the
waning hours tried to grow
things on his own small farm.
Usually he found insufficient
time to keep the weeds out of his
tiny crop before he must 60 else
where to earn bread for us. Then
he instructed me to look after
his field when he was gone, but
1 neglected it badly and was
soon off trying to earn some
cash of my own. 1 did not rea-
lie that the most profitable
thing l might have done would
have been to tighten his labors
at home. Dad used to sometimes
tell me that what I did at home
I would be doing for myself, be-
cause everything he planned was
with view to my future welfare.
could not see it then.
He urged me to go to school
and to try to get an education,
but too often I played the truant,
/ spurning greater riches I might
then have easily developed the
means of acquiring through life.
He made sacrifices to buy my
school books. He saved old nails
because he did not have the
money to buy new ones. How
carefully he boarded his meager
supply of wood, using scraps and
such timber as he might get
without cutting down his best
trees-because, as he said, he was
saving them for me when l might
need them more. I could not
then appraise his thoughtfulness,
as now when I have little ones
i growing up and sometimes find
it hard to make ends meet.
did not understand then why
he took so much pride in me.
How he planned for my future
welfare. Now I recall that he
saw three sons ahead of me go
into baby's graves and only one
| to live and grow to manhood.
And as l grew up it never occur
ed to me why Dad wanted COM
panionship, above all, the COM
partnership of myself, who was
nearest and dearest to him. used
to disturb him when I came
home at late hour after having
spent my evenings here and
there, sometimes with people to
whom l could mean but little.
Sometimes my careless entry dis.
turbed his slumber. / heard him
groan as he turned to ease aching
limbs and back, rebellious at the
constant punishment frail man
with a purpose in life had given
them. How thoughtless of me,
when SO easily l might have
shared more time with my par
ents and brought much joy where
greater comfort was needed.