Red Marbles

During the waning years of the depression in a small southeasternIdaho community, I used to stop by Brother Miller's roadside stand forfarm fresh produce as the season made it available. Food and money were still extremely scarce and bartering was used extensively.

One particular day Brother Miller was bagging some new potatoes forme. 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 mypotatoes but was also drawn to the display of fresh green peas. I am apushover for creamed peas and new potatoes.

Pondering the peas, I couldn't help overhearing the conversation between Brother Miller and the ragged boynext 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. Hmmmm, 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."

Mrs. Miller, who had been standing nearby, came over to help me. Witha 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 withthem for peas, apples, tomatoes or whatever. When they come back with their redmarbles, and they always do, he decides he doesn't like red after alland he sends them home with a bag of produce for a green marble or anorange one, perhaps."

I left the stand, smiling to myself, impressed with this man. A shorttime later I moved to Utah but I never forgot the story of this man,the boys and their bartering.

Several years went by each more rapid than the previous one. Justrecently I had occasion to visit some old friends in that Idahocommunity and while I was there learned that Brother Miller had died.They were having his viewing that evening and knowing my friendswanted to go, I agreed to accompany them.

Upon our arrival at the mortuary we fell into line to meet therelatives of the deceased and to offer whatever words of comfort we could. Aheadof us in line were three young men. One was in an army uniform and theother two wore nice haircuts, dark suits and white shirts ...veryprofessional looking.

They approached Mrs. Miller, standing smiling and composed, by herhusband's casket. Each of the young men hugged her, kissed her on thecheek, spoke briefly with her and moved on to the casket. Her mistylight blue eyes followed them as, one by one, each young man stopped briefly andplaced his own warm hand over the cold pale hand in the casket. Each left themortuary, awkwardly, wiping his eyes.

Our turn came to meet Mrs. Miller. I told her who I was and mentionedthe story she had told me about the marbles. Eyes glistening she tookmy hand and led me to the casket. "Those three young men, that just left,were the boys I told you about. They just told me how they appreciatedthe things Jim 'traded' them.

Now, at last, when Jim could not change his mindabout color or size...they came to pay their debt. "We've never had a greatdeal of the wealth of this world," she confided, "but, right now, Jimwould consider himself the richest man in Idaho."

With loving gentleness she lifted the lifeless fingers of her deceasedhusband. Resting underneath were three, magnificently shiny, redmarbles.

We will not be remembered by our words, but by our kind deeds.