We recently purchased and are in the process of restoring a 1920's home in a historic neighborhood. I had a few hours one late afternoon and I took my newly purchased DFX out in the yard for a few swings. I found a buffalo nickel, a Roosevelt dime and some various clad. It was turning dark when I had a signal indicating something other than coinage. Digging down about 4 inches, I pulled out a muddy clump of metal and popped it in my pocket as the sun was almost completely down.
When I arrived out our apartment, (we're not living in the house until it is substantially complete) I pulled out my finds for the day and began cleaning them. I saved the unidentified metal until last and in the process of cleaning it, I realized it was a gold bracelet which had been in the ground a significant amount of time. Additional cleaning revealed an inscription which read "Cindy" and a second line "4-11-47".
I put the bracelet in my drawer and didn't think about it until a couple of months later as I was relaying my find to our 97 year old neighbor-to-be. She is a wonderful lady who is as sharp as any reading this story. As soon as I shared the bracelet inscription with her she exclaimed, "I bet that's Cindy, the daughter of Jack Abernathy! She died a few years ago, but her father (now in his late 80's) is still alive. I grew up with him!"
I was determined to return Cindy's bracelet to her father.
A few days later, I paid him a visit. After introducing ourselves, he invited me into his home. We sat down and I begin to tell of my hobby of metal detecting and where our home is located. (Knowing that his father, Cindy's grandfather, had built their house in 1910 next door to ours) As I told of finding a bracelet and describing the inscription, I pulled it out of my pocket and placed it in his hand. As soon as he realized it belonged to his now deceased daughter, tears welled up in his eyes and he exclaimed over and over, "Thank you. Oh thank you so much!"
THIS is what detecting is all about.
"Always Do Good...It'll Please Some and Confuse the Rest"
Behold, ye despisers, and wonder, and perish: for I work a work in your days, a work which ye shall in no wise believe, though a man declare it unto you. Acts 13:41
I know this is an older post....but I'm just getting around to it. What a wonderful story....it made me tear up! Thanks for sharing it with us....and making us look good to boot!
Happy Hunting and Bless you for your kindness!
Moon
Even the mightiest Oak in the forest is just a little nut that held it's ground!!
When I saw the title 'Nice return-years later', I figured it was going to be about something you purchased for short $$$ years ago, that had gained in value.............Know what?...............I like your story better!
Nice going
When you get into a tight place and everything goes against
you till it seems you could not hold on a minute longer,
never give up then for that is just the place and time that
the tide will turn.
Bringing happiness to this man is more rewarding than any amount of money! WTG!
"Agitate! Agitate! Ought to be the motto of every reformer. Agitation is the opposite of stagnation...... one is life, the other death."
-Ernestine L. Rose-
Excalibur - Sovereign Elite - Cscope CS1220XD - Discovery TF900
11
Re: A Nice Return - Many Years Later
What a wonderful story !!! Thanks for sharing that, it's so wonderful ! That's all the story about meatl detecting. Sharing our passion and angels...giving back lost items.
good stuff...thats awesome,the bracelet was worth a thousand times its weight in gold to that man.you did a great deed,for that man,yourself and the detecting community. and for that i thank you.and hope for many treasures to come your way...hh
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Originally Posted by Moonshadow
i bet it ment more to that man then we'll ever know.
