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Chapter 6: A Child’s Hobby Can Be A Great Teacher

As a preface, it is important for the reader to recognize two
changes in American life compared to conditions prevailing when I
grew up: In my childhood and youth it was standard breakfast fare in
most homes to eat one or two eggs each – fried, boiled or poached,
with ham or bacon on the side. Cholesterol fears, principally, have led
Americans to almost abandon these habits. In addition, wives at that
time made cakes and pies at home using eggs. As a result, egg con-
sumption in those days far exceeded what you see today. The second
major change is the introduction of “hen cages,” which occurred years
after I quit growing chickens. Each hen has her own tiny space. Her egg
production is known and selective breeding has resulted in hens that are
virtually live “egg machines.” These hen cages exist in stacks inside
buildings where the light comes from electricity. The old days of long
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are now long gone.
With the above background you can now understand the story I
am telling. My Dad loved people and animals. When I was about eight
years old he suggested that he would buy some hens if I would feed and
water and care for them. We had a chicken coop attached to our garage.
The plan was that the family would buy the eggs from me, I would buy
the feed and I would gradually pay for the hens as well. I agreed to the
plan. Dad bought the hens. After a few months, however, I started taking
some of the egg money and buying a dozen cinnamon rolls at a store,
giving my friends a treat as well as myself (My Mother didn’t “waste”
money on buying bakery goods). My Dad asked me one day if I was
saving the egg money as I had agreed to do. I assured him that I was.
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container where I kept the egg money. Of course, there was little money
there – my lie was obvious. Dad didn’t discipline me directly – he sim-
ply sold the chickens and that ended the matter.
A couple of years later, Dad asked me again if I would like to
keep some chickens and earn some money. I agreed. That fall he bought

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