When I was 15 years old back in the hills of Tennessee a hunting buddy and I were walking along the RR Tracks on our way to the woods to hunt and we came up on a wallet lying on the tracks. My friend picked it up and there was $110 in cash in it plus a pay check and drivers license. I asked my friend Henry who it belonged to and he said I'm not telling you because you'll want to give it back. I said come on Henry who does it belong to? He kept saying lets just take the money out and throw the wallet in the quarry hole and forget about it. Anyway I finally talked him into showing me who it belonged to and I said "Henry that belongs to Mr. Walker who lives over near the old company store and it's one week until Christmas and he's got 4 kids so we can't keep this money!" He started jumping up and down and said "I knew it! I knew it! I should have just throw the dang thing away but...nooooo I had to listen to you."
I finally talked him into letting us take it back and I think he was glad we did as it turned out but he wouldn't ever admit it.
My Dad took us up there in his car and Mr. Walker and his wife and kids all came out when we pulled up at their house and when I gave them the wallet you'd have thought they had won a million bucks. This was back in 1963 so that was quite a bit of money for most people at that time. Anyway the whole family had tears of joy in their eyes. Even Mr. Walker had tears in his eyes he was so happy and relieved.
When we started to leave Mr. Walker tried to give us a reward and suddenly Henry spoke up and said "thanks anyway Mr. Walker, but that's your money and we didn't really do anything but give back what was yours so please just use the money for the kid's Christmas.
I remember as we walked back to the car I must have been smiling because Henry said "what are you smiling about?" As if to act like he was still mad about giving the money back. I said ah nothing Henry, I was just thinking about the kids is all and how happy everybody was. He sorta grinned and I'll never forget him almost beaming with joy as he said "they really were weren't they?" And I said Yep they were Henry.
I lost touch with Henry over the years but my Mom told me back several years ago that she had heard from Henry's Uncle that he was a missionary and had been for many years. She said he travels to Africa on a regular basis with Church groups and helps build Churches in remote areas over there.
I've thought back about that Christmas in 1963 many times over the years and wonder if that moment in time had any influence on my friend becoming a missionary from watching that families happy reaction over the Christmas that almost wasn't for them.
Smitty
He'll NEVER see that dough again! ![:-\](https://www.treasurenet.com/smilies/undecided.gif "Undecided :-\")
