Ten Cents a Dozen
The young boys’ dusty legs scrambled down the dirt road on a hot day in the summer of 1945, carrying large buckets in each hand. It was a long walk from town to the Thomas family farm to purchase eggs for their large family.
My Aunt Sue tells the story that her family had a number of producing hens which provided an abundance of eggs, not only for their own large family of nine children, but enough to sell for a small profit to others at ten cents a dozen.
When the two Cox boys finally arrived at Nancy and Albert’s front door, tired and breathless from the long walk, they asked for ten dozen eggs. Sue gathered the eggs for the boys and helped count them, placing them carefully into the buckets. Wiping her hands on her flour sack dress, she asked for the money. But when the boys reached into their pockets, neither could retrieve the dollar bill their mother had given them.
Panicky and near tears after their long walk, the boys discovered they’d lost the money. They dreaded going back home with no eggs. But when Sue’s mother (my grandmother) checked on the situation, she took compassion on the boys. She knew they also came from a large family and money was scarce.
“Sue, let the boys take all the eggs. It’s okay. They need them.”
A few days later, Sue and her twin sister Mary walked into town to McFadden’s Store while their mother was canning. They arrived at the same area the two Cox boys would have walked. And there it was on the road–the lost dollar bill staring up at them. Sue realized right away it was the money the boys had intended to use to purchase the ten dozen eggs.
When the girls arrived home, Sue handed the money to her mother. Mrs. Thomas said, “Girls, next time you go to town, be sure to tell Mrs. Cox you found the dollar bill.”
The situation was made right after all. Young Sue never forgot the compassion her mother demonstrated by not allowing the boys to go home empty-handed.
My Aunt Sue
Ah, Becky, you know this is just the kind of story I love. I hope we are passing along to our grandchildren the importance of showing kindness. People in our parents’ youth depended on their neighbors, sometimes just to survive.
You are right, Debbie. Back in the day, people/neighbors relied on one another, to help each other out.
Oh, Becky, I loved this story! It is through kindness, compassion, and genuine empathy for others that we can contribute to making the world a better place for everyone. Thank you for sharing.
Thank you, Patti. I so agree.
What a lovely story of compassion and God’s provision.
Loved this story, Becky!!! I remember my parents doing similar things for people during tough times and it’s always stuck with me to do the same. I believe lessons like these are still alive in many of us post WW2/post depression era children. Praying we continue to give without pay, continue to love sacrificially, and continue in faith without seeing…
Thanks for sharing this awesome story!! 🙂
Thank you, Erma, for stopping by. Like yours, my parents did similar things, always thinking of others. I hope we can always operate with the mindset of helping one another when needs arise.