The Pride of Howard County
Page 29
Chapter 27
John couldn’t help remembering his thoughts when he left New York about this may not be something he would always do. And when he hired on with Gus it was initially just for a year. And yet, he loved farming and the thought of not doing it saddened him. He couldn’t bear the thought of leaving this beloved slice of heaven here in Howard County. And yet, there was a restlessness stirring within the young farmer.
One Sunday morning the trio of John, Abby and Terry were sitting in a coffee shop in Columbia enjoying a cup of coffee when John brought up the subject.
“Hey guys, I’ve been thinking.” Terry and Abby looked up from their newspapers. “I’ve been thinking lately maybe I’d like to get back into counseling.” Abby immediately smiled, looked at Terry and said, “I told you so.” Terry pulled out his wallet and handed Abby a dollar.
John said, “What is this?”
Terry explained that they had a bet that something like this was coming. Terry explained, “Abby thought you wanted to get back into counseling but I know how much you love farming and bet her a dollar you would never give it up.” John sat back in his chair and crossed his arms. Terry and Abby both knew that pressing the matter at this point wouldn’t be wise so they went back to reading their newspapers.
John broke the silence by saying, “Well?”
It was Abby, who said, “Whatever you decide to do we’ll support you, but frankly John, I think it’s just a matter of time.”
John said, “A matter of time for what?”
Abby looked at Terry and it was he who took over the conversation. “Well, John we just kinda thought that farming without Gus wouldn’t be the same for you.”
John knew he was right and he was glad they were having this conversation but he was at a loss for words. Terry and Abby took a sip of coffee and went back to reading the news. John went and got another cup of coffee and sat back down at the table.
“Don’t you think that Gus would have wanted the farm to continue?” Again they laid down their newspapers and it was Abby who said, “Let me ask you a question.” John readied himself. “Do you think Dad would have wanted you to do what makes you happy?”
John knew that giving back to others what had been given to him would bring him the greatest fulfillment. He had been trained to counsel others and from somewhere deep inside he knew what his fate would be although he didn’t yet know how this would all work out.
That evening John called George and discussed the matter with him. George’s advice was, “Have faith and that somehow it will all go like it is supposed to.”
John tended to the cattle, cut and baled hay and serviced the equipment. Abby would be gone a few days raising money for the shelters and Terry managed the office at the electric company and did the books for the farm. Lucky and Muncie swam in the Big Piney and napped under the porch.
Lucky was due any day now and delighted in the extra can of Alpo Meaty Chunks she was getting every day. Normally she had to make due with Ol Roy but for some reason her handlers were giving her the good stuff. And lately, she seemed to be getting a lot more attention for some reason but she didn’t mind at all.
One mid summer evening Abby and John were pulling weeds out of Graces flower beds when she brought up an idea that had been on her mind lately.“John, I have an idea.” John straightened up and pitched a handful of weeds onto the pile and gave her his attention.
“I’ve been thinking of donating half of my one thousand acres to the Department of Conservation to go along with the nine hundred and sixty acres Dad already donated.”
At first, this was almost unbearable for John to even think about. Abby read his reaction and told him, “Please don’t reject the idea but to think about it for a few days.” Abby reminded him, “No one loved this land more than Dad and it was he that had donated nearly a thousand acres for others to enjoy.” John promised he would give it some thought.
Gus’s wisdom was more than even John and Abby could have foreseen. For Gus had already given this matter much thought and had blazed the path for John to take. And so even after his death Gus was still teaching his youngsters about the gift of giving.
John came to realized if he and Abby would follow Gus’s lead and donate five hundred of their inheritance that would be a total of one thousand nine hundred and sixty acres of Missouri countryside that would forever be preserved and enjoyed by future generations of Missourians. And besides that would still leave him with five hundred acres and in combination with Abby’s five hundred acres they would still have one thousand acres between the two of them.
John’s dilemma was solved; he would gain employment in the counseling profession and still have a weekend job as a farmer on the farm he had come to love.