This is a skating number from 1929. Amy has copied over Pete’s writing to preserve its message. It was signed by Pete and it says, “skate number I stole over at Pritchett while I was skating.” Daring young lad!
Since the number was 16 and his age was 16, I guess it was just too tempting for him! I have written before about how fiercely honest daddy was regarding money, I’m sure many in our family will be surprised to see in his own hand about his stealing this skate number!
Pete and Amy did have arguments when I was a child; Amy would cry. And Pete would go back to the field. The arguments were always about money. Amy would make an order from the Sears and Roebuck catalog then ask for money to send it off. Amy was not a spendthrift neither was Pete a tightwad. The money wasn’t available! These years were in the late 30’s and early 40’s. I remember “commodity day.”
Karen (younger daughter) says she remembers a time when Pete told Amy there would come a time when she wouldn’t need to ask him again. He would have what she needed and she could have it. He was true to his word. Amy did not spend what they did not have, and Pete knew she was trustworthy and would not spend beyond their need. I now realize how much Pete loved Amy and how satisfied he must have been when he gave her her own personal check book!
Thinking this over I see the hand of our precious Father God when he says to “ask and ye shall receive.” God’s resources are not limited; however, he may limit us to the amount that we can care for properly. We must prove ourselves to be trustworthy and not to “ask amiss.” There may be other issues beyond what I understand but it is not lack of love.
(Another Pete and Amy story on this Father’s Day week.)
Thank you for sharing! What great family memories!
Thanks for reading and reminding me how blessed I have been in that way. God’s promises are everlasting, and He will faithfully keep them. We had some prompt the other day that asked, “What would you most hate to fail at?” (at least that was close) Immediately I though “I would most hate to fail at being a grandmother.” I didn’t write but the thought is sincere. I want my grand children to see Jesus in me! We are in such a “depressed” culture, they don’t have the opportunity to see Him very many places. I take that back; they do have the opportunity, but most of our .daily living practices tend more to the allure of the wicked.
This is such a sweet and vivid picture of your dad. Thank you for sharing and for making his ordinary, principled life a grand work of art we can all wish we had.
Rebecca, it is so nice to see you again. It has been a long time. Thanks for doing some catch up in my blog. And thanks for your lovely words.