that I didn't even think of going to see a girl visit my boy friends in town. If I could Just get upstairs I was doing well.
I must admit that at times during this period I thought that Grandpa was a bit hard on me even though he let me keep what I had made. He had retired of course and did very little work, mostly just about the house, and where I had to work hard all day, except Sundays. Yet I have come to see how wise he was in many ways. I suppose tat at times he too, it he had done what he very well may have wanted to do, would have forgotten about work let me loaf and hunt and swim. However, he knew this was not wise for a boy to have nothing to do all summer, so I am thankful that he stood firm and made me work. It kept me out of trouble in the first place by keeping me busy and then it developed in me a sympathy for men who had to work all the time with their hands to make a living. 1 knew how hard they worked and how tired they were and this I knew from first hand experience, and not from reading some textbook on sociology!
Let me say, too, that now I can see the wisdom of Grandpa's dealing with me, that is he did it not to profit in any way, but out of a true and deep love for me as his grandson; he had at all times my welfare at heart first and last. Now I know that as human beings we make mistakes in many ways, for we are fallible. At the same time we can make a big mistake if we do not try to teach our children to do what wisdom tells us we should. God has, in his wisdom, left most parents to guide their offsprings in order that they may fulfill their responsibilities as parents, and not to surrender to the easier way, temporarily by letting their children do as they please. I am thankful that Grandpa made me do what he did. All this talk in the schools that a teacher should let the children do what they want to do is to admit that they do not know what is best for the child or that they are easy, and are just following the line of least resistance. Any school teacher will know how to both develop a youngster's talent and direct it into useful and constructive areas. There are some things one learns by experience, and the earlier we recognize this fact end that a true parent has this interest, the happier we all will be. This what I learned from Grandpa. 1 believe he was one or the wisest men I ever knew, in many ways the wisest.
While Grandpa smoked, none of his sons smoked, Grandpa did use a little whiskey poured over rock candy for his colds during the winter and possibly to help his digestion. None of his children ever drank. It is possible that they may have taken a drink at times but I never saw one who gave any evidence of a drink and I never heard of any of them doing this.