A recent writer tells in one of his books of an experience he had as a
boy when he went on a fishing-trip with his father.
They were wading along in brooks with their rubber-boots on. But
sometimes the water was too deep for him, and he was in danger of
getting his feet wet by the water running in over the tops of his boots.
When, however, they came to places like these, his father would take him
pig-a-back and carry him along, and then the boy would fish with his rod
resting on his father's shoulder, and his line dangling in front. And
this writer says that he used to catch many fish in this way. Then he
adds, "How many of our best catches in life are made over someone's else
shoulder?"
I think that fathers and mothers are always allowing their children to
fish over their shoulders, don't you? When they send you to school to
get an education, so that in later life you may enjoy good books, you
are catching fish over their shoulders. When they give you money to
travel, so that you may know what a big, beautiful place the world is,
you are fishing over their shoulders. When they give you beautiful
homes, so that you shall have good friends and grow up thoughtful,
well-mannered men and women, you are fishing over their shoulders.
In fact, it seems to me that we should not catch many fish at all if it
were not for our loving, painstaking, unselfish parents.
And don't you think we ought to be obedient and thoughtful of them when
they carry us along so uncomplainingly and rejoice in seeing us take in
such beautiful catches from life?