d　standing。　〃In　fact；〃　he　said；　〃in　many　ways　the　donkey's　carrot　was　more　valuable　than　money。〃

He　talked　about　the　gold　standard　that　America　was　on；　and　that　each　dollar　bill　was　actually　a　silver　certificate。　What　concerned　him　was　the　rumor　that　we　would　someday　go　off　the　gold　standard　and　our　dollars　would　no　longer　be　silver　certificates。

〃When　that　happens；　boys；　all　hell　is　going　to　break　loose。　The　poor；　the　middle　class　and　the　ignorant　will　have　their　lives　ruined　simply　because　they　will　continue　to　believe　that　money　is　real　and　that　the　pany　they　work　for；　or　the　government；　will　look　after　them。〃

We　really　did　not　understand　what　he　was　saying　that　day；　but　over　the　years　it　made　more　and　more　sense。

Seeing　What　Others　Miss

As　he　climbed　into　his　pickup　truck；　outside　of　his　little　convenience　store；　he　said；　〃Keep　working　boys；　but　the　sooner　you　forget　about　needing　a　paycheck；　the　easier　your　adult　life　will　be。　Keep　using　your　brain；　work　for　free；　and　soon　your　mind　will　show　you　ways　of　making　money　far　beyond　what　I　could　ever　pay　you。　You　will　see　things　that　other　people　never　see。　Opportunities　right　in　front　of　their　noses。　Most　people　never　see　these　opportunities　because　they're　looking　for　money　and　security；　so　that's　all　they　get。　The　moment　you　see　one　opportunity；　you　will　see　them　for　the　rest　of　your　life。　The　moment　you　do　that；　I'll　teach　you　something　else。　Learn　this；　and　you'll　avoid　one　of　life's　biggest　traps。　You'll　never；　ever；　touch　that　Tar　Baby。〃

Mike　and　I　picked　up　our　things　from　the　store　and　waved　goodbye　to　Mrs。　Martin。　We　went　back　to　the　park；　to　the　same　picnic　bench；　and　spent　several　more　hours　thinking　and　talking。

We　spent　the　next　week　at　school；　thinking　and