--- title: Improvement Era description: Monthly periodical of the Mormon church, 1897 onward. This library holds the issues of November 1897 to December 1930. authors: - Thyberg, Douglas Brian collections: - periodicals tags: - magazine - improvement-era periodical: Improvement Era volume: 30 number: 1 published: 1926-11 publisher: Young Men’s Mutual Improvement Associations publisher_place: Salt Lake City language: en type: magazine reference: "Thyberg, Douglas Brian, “Borrowed Shade-Trees,” *Improvement Era* 30, no. 1 (November 1926): 26–28." source: url: https://archive.org/details/improvementera3001unse transcription: Transcribed from the Internet Archive scan of each issue (the item for each issue is named in the issue's own source); unnumbered advertising leaves are omitted, printed page numbers are kept as page markers. identifier: improvementera3001unse start_page: 26 end_page: 28 rights: status: public-domain basis: US publication 1930 or earlier (published 1926-11) source: https://archive.org/details/improvementera3001unse publication_year: 1926 note: The Internet Archive item metadata carries a blanket "© Copyright by Intellectual Reserve, Inc." notice. The library owner judged it inapplicable because this issue was published in 1926, before 1931; a scan-level notice does not restore copyright. --- # Borrowed Shade-Trees BORROWED SHADE-TREES By Douglas Brian George Thyberg was slowly digging away at a hole in front of the house. His brow was drawn into a scowl and he labored as if every movement were torture. Presently Jimmie Wells came along and stood watching the perspiration drip from George's face. George raised his head, looked longingly at an old gentleman approaching and began to speak. "It's no use, Jim," he said, with a surly voice, "I can't get off. Ma wants me to plant shade trees and, of course, she'd pick the worst day in the year to have it done. Did you get the tickets printed?" "No, I guess we won't need any," drawled Jimmy. "I hate to think of what Mary'll say about it but Casey says he won't be in on it. Not that he'd do anything much but we'd never get a crowd without him because he's the only one that's got any pull." A slow shuffling of feet on the side-walk became noticeable when it stopped. The boys turned around and the old man, at whom George had been looking, stood facing them. The boys did not welcome the intrusion, 'at this time, so they turned their backs and went on talking. "That affair would be a great success if we could get any backing," remarked Jimmy, "but I'd never try it without Casey. That's always the way with him though, as soon as we get a chance to do something big, he quits." "Yes, that's the way it usually works out," said George, wiping his brow, "but I guess that don't make it any more pleasant planting trees this kind of a day even — ." He felt a tap on the shoulder and turned to find the old gentleman standing very close. George dropped his spade and looked dismally at a newly-formed blister on his thumb. "Say, boys," said the old man with a tremulous voice, "I just thought of a story I'd like to tell you, if you don't mind. The best way I know of to keep from forgetting a thing is to tell it to somebody. In fact the only way to get anything to do you any good is to use it; that's my idea of it." Jimmy seemed to be irritated at the old fellow's interruption, but George's kindly attitude was clearly explained when he remarked, "Let's go over in the 'shade and sit down; I guess Mrs. Blakely won't care." Once seated in the cooling shade of a willow tree, the boys re- signed themselves to listen to the story. The old gentleman was Very well dressed and showed all the signs of culture and character. He leaned back against the tree in a meditative pose and his voice seemed more tremulous than before as he began: BORROWED SHADE-TREES 2 7 "It was somewhere back in the sixties that it starts, when I was a mere lad. I'd studied law some and figured on going into politics. I kept my ears' open pretty much to catch the trend of public opinion, and some weeks before the convention I had decided to take a stand with a few who were for a public lighting system in the town. Most of the people wanted it, but the business men were opposing it on the ground that the town was not large enough to justify the move. And so wherever I expressed my views I found opposition, and I was afraid to standj on my own legs. I was about ready to give Up the whole business when one day Senator Bruell stopped me on the street. I felt a 'thrill at having him speak to me confidentially, because, al- though everyone recognized that he was too old ever to run for office again, his judgment was tempered by long experience and his opinion always proved powerful. ' "He asked me what I thought about running for office, and I told him I hadn't thought much about it. A position as city attorney looked pretty big just then, and I was a little shy about admitting that I had thought myself capable of handling the job. I was afraid to assert myself. "'Young man,' said he, 'if you'll , support us in getting that lighting system, I'll nominate you for mayor. Furthermore, if you'll follow my instructions we can win in a walk.' "My breath came in short gasps; the bubble of success flitting before my eyes made me dizzy, and yet — with the Senator at my back I was sure to win. "And so, at the convention, Senator Bruell's fine reasoning suc- ceeded in getting me nominated. At once I was cast into the spotlight of the public. I was looked up to as being something which I was afraid I was not. I was called upon to speak at public meetings and was startled at the sound of my own voice, but I, was perfectly sure that I could stammer and blunder without fear, because my stal- wart friend was always near to smooth over my mistakes and hold me up lest I should fall from my lofty pedestal with a crash equaled only by my colossal ignorance. "One morning, however, I was forced to change my tactics. I picked up the paper to get an idea of the situation as it had developed since the last edition. As my eyes fell on the headline I dropped back into my chair fairly gasping for breath — Senator Bruell was dead! "Cold sweat came out on my face and my arms hung limply at my sides. The situation before me was plain and simple. I had staked my all on the campaign — my money, my reputation, even my home — I had staked it all on a sure thing and lost. My head swam giddily and I lay back staring with a stupidity that was pitiful. "I was too weak to go out. I was afraid to step from my own doorstep. I felt as a child who, being unable to swim, is taken out into the deep water and left. The Senator had launched me in a fight that I should never have dared to enter otherwise, and now he had died 28 IMPROVEMENT ERA and left me in the middle of the fray. Nothing -happened until late in the afternoon and then a note came. It was from my opponent and simply said: 'The world gets pretty hot at times for men who depend upon other people's shade trees. I hereby challenge you to a debate upon the principal issue of this campaign. This will be made pubic in to- morrow morning's issue.' "I was trapped. They knew my weakness and were not long in taking advantage of it. In the frantic hours that followed I could have died many times without the least degree of sorrow for having to do so. My despair was almost complete when another note came. It was not signed by anyone, but the writing looked very much like my father's. It said: 'There are two ways to win a fight. Senator Bruell had pull — have you any push?' "Long I sat and pondered over these words and my thoughts simmered down to two or three things. I was a full-grown man with a fair education — my spine was perfectly normal and I decided that it would allow me to stand alone if I would only give it a chance. By nine o'clock I was studying harder than I had ever studied in my life. "Well, to make a long story very short, the debate was held and my opponent, seeming to under-estimate the job ahead of him, lost. I kept on working night and day and when the election came off he had the same kind of luck. Since that time I have become a Senator myself and may be said to have a pull, but the thing that got me there was push. "Well, boys, I just wanted to repeat that little tale so I could keep it in mind, and I appreciate your listening; anyway I guess we've taken enough advantage of borrowed shade-trees." A week later George and Jimmy .were sitting quietly on George's front porch when a certain lady friend came up. "Hello boys," she said, laughing, "wasn't Casiey excited when he saw that crowd begin to roll in? Why everyone's talking about what a grand success it was and say — what a splendid lot of shade- trees you've planted." Route No. 2, Ogden, Utah. The fun of life is in growing rather than in possessing. Every success- ful man will tell you this. We really enjoy only the things which we our- selves make or earn. When you get married be content to start in a humble way, as your parents did. Don't try to start where your parents now are. Make up your mind to work. Do a little more and do it a little better than the boss expects. Honesty is not only the best policy, but it is the foundation of civilization. The time to save money is when you are making it. — Roger W. Babson.