Around the World in 88 Years -E Book - Arthur Burt

“It’s my dynamo,” I told him. “It’s not charging. I wonder if I gotunderneath and took the top off, maybe you could help me?”“I’ll try,” he said.So, I lay on my back under the engine, and he looked down atme. “Yes,” he directed. “Get your wrench and undo that nut —no, no, not that one, the other one!” Now he was in a positionof authority, while I continued to act green, not exactly stupid,but simple.“Get your long screwdriver,” he ordered. “That’s right. Look atyour fan belt. It’s flopping up and down. It is loose.”“Shouldn’t it be?” I asked.“Any fool knows it should be tight,” he snorted. “Now then, pullit over tightly. What’s that wire doing trailing down there?”“What wire?”“That wire! Of course it shouldn’t have wires trailing. Any foolknows that. Undo that!” he commanded. “Push that in. Nowtighten it up.”Green as a cabbage, I did everything he said. I put myself undermy brother, humbling myself, and from that time on, there was achange in our relationship. A week or two later, I took sometapes to him and he greeted me warmly, putting those poor burnedarms around my neck. Then, I knew I had destroyed him as anenemy.One day soon afterward, I was returning home after a ministrytrip. Father had been testing me financially, and I didn’t havemuch money to see to my wife’s needs. She was never one to askfor herself but just for the children, and if I didn’t think to offer,she went without. During this period, I knew Marj needed a newcoat and shoes, but money was tight and I could do nothingabout it. All I could do was to commit it to God.As I came in the door, Marj said excitedly, “I’ve got a surprise foryou. You will never guess. While you were away, Brother Brown’scompensation money came through. He and his wife have takenme out, and they have rigged me out with everything! Comeinto the bedroom and see.”116