Hugh Message

Babs Miller was bagging some early potatoes for me.  
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 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 alla' 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.  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?"

"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 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,
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 that 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 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 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 stoplights on your way to
work.  The fastest line at the grocery store.  A good
sing-along song on the radio.  Your keys right where you
left them.