Wise people protect others by using wisdom and compassion when making decisions. That’s what we learn from Tog Ericson in today’s ‘How-To’s‘ post.

“Does Mister Tanksley really do magic, Uncle Tog?”

Tog chuckled. “Not the kind you saw at the Halloween program last year; but when it comes to fixing broken machinery, Struther does do some pretty magical things. So, in that way, he is a magician.”

“Oh…”

The answer had not fully completed its mission, but the advent of a more interesting alternative allowed it to suffice. “If the tractor isn’t fixed, can I ride Skipper?”

Skipper was a registered palomino gelding, one of several saddle horses owned by the Ericsons. Out of Tog’s own purebred mare, he was the result of an arrangement with the owner of a champion stallion, which would give them a purebred foal. The second birth, a filly then named Lollipop, had been the cause of the mare’s death, and came into the world with little more than lineage as her claim to greatness.

Because of their loss, the stallion’s owner had insisted that they keep Lollipop. Any regrets were soon forgotten, as the Ericsons cared for the wobbly-legged curiosity. She broke beautifully to become an ideal mount for Christine; and her gentle nature made her the perfect choice for what Tog had in mind.

“Skipper? Well, probably not for awhile, but I think you could ride Lollipop, um…there in the coral.”

“OH, Uncle Tog!” The child, unable to control her exuberance, threw her arms about Tog’s neck, trampling her sister who was sitting between them. “Could I, honest?”

Quote taken from page 8 & 9 of Bluebell

Just because someone wants to do something doesn’t mean it’s necessarily in their best interest, and discerning the difference, as Tog clearly does in today’s post, is a ‘How-To’ worth practicing.

Some Other Things on the Horizon

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• Read other posts featuring Tog Ericson
  1. Interpret the Facts Carefully – Another ‘How-To’ post featuring Tog
  2. Moving to America – I interview Tog about something he might wish he never did.