His masterpiece

Here’s another story from my mother, Dorothy Howard Adler.

Son was growing up. He learned rapidly and relished his farm chores. Many of them were routine but now and again an unusual job needed doing.

One of these was the raising of an old log cabin which stood in the back field at Grandfather’s place. Once a home, then a farm shed, now a trap. Father chose a day, loaded some tools and took Son along to help. The two of them soon had the task completed. They even had a few souvenirs: an old Ford headlight, tiny teapot.

Mrs. S. was Son’s English teacher that fall and in due time she asked her class to write themes. Son decided to write about the old log house. A fine topic. Very good. Mother was pleased, perhaps too pleased. She kept making suggestions until Son began thinking of a new topic. But he did finish and he did complete a masterpiece. Mrs. S was more than pleased with his production. Son was pleased with his grade but not with his masterpiece. He tore it up, wadded it up, threw it in the wastebasket.

Mother was chagrined. What had gone wrong? And anyway what was so wonderful about an old log house? Too late Mother realized that the story was Son’s but the expressions were hers. They both should have written a story. Now it is too late. The words won’t come back.

The house? Old, no good, a thing to dispose of. Father and Son were chased out by a swarm of bumblebees. They are dangerous creatures and both were greatly relieved to get away from them. They had no more than reached a safe place when they were startled by a loud crash. The old house was down! The bees had scared them half to death but had saved their lives by forcing a hasty exit.

Next time write your own story. It’s better that way even if it isn’t so good!

8/9/85

(The old log cabin back the lane at grandpa Carl Adler’s was torn down when I was in the eighth grade. Grandma’s house where aunt Dorothy I. Adler lives had been located back near the log cabin and had been moved forward by horses and large rollers. The model T Ford taillight is still in our library. I restored and repainted it.)