Quote:
Originally Posted by Arthur Shaffer
Phil
I had a similar experience with a gun, one which actually never existed.
When my dad was young (11 years old in 1926) he lived on a dirt poor farm with his 12 siblings. He badly wanted a rifle to hunt rabbits and squirrels. Ammo was 1 cent/round at the general store. He decided to sell Rosebud Salve to his neighbors who were as poor as they were. He worked all summer while not working on the farm, walking and selling salve in order to win a Stevens Boy's Rifle. At the end of the summer he completed the order for the several cases he needed to sell and sent in the order along with the collected money. The orders arrived and were delivered. He waited and waited, but his rifle never arrived.
The first year after I graduated from engineering school, I located a mint condition rifle of that model. When he unwrapped the rifle at Christmas, I saw my Dad break down in tears for the first time in his life. He sat and held it for an hour after opening. Often you can't over estimate the importance of some of the memories in your life.
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Great story and gesture on your part Art.