We've Struck Oil!

We've Struck Oil!

What would you do if you suddenly became rich?

“We’ve Struck Oil!”

Leonard (Age 10)

Pine Bush Elementary School

It was Friday, June 29th. Mr. Shulter walked through the high grass. He was off to feed the animals on their farm in Oklahoma. His legs plowed quickly through the grass. He was in a hurry, for he had woken up late, and the cows and chickens and other animals would be hungry. When he arrived at the barn he fed the animals quickly, and then ran back to his small house.

It was 1935. Times were hard. The Great Depression had struck America 6 years back, and it had hurt the Shulter family badly. They used to have just as much money as any other family in Oklahoma did, until the depression happened. Now, the way they made the small amount of money that they did was by selling milk and chicken eggs in front of their house on Saturday mornings (and they usually didn’t get many customers).

In the Shulter household lived 2 children and 2 adults. The children’s names were Terri and Scott, and they were ten and seven, respectively. Mrs. Shulter was named Mary Anne, and Mr. Shulter’s name was Howard. He took care of the animals.

When Mr. Shulter opened the door into the house, Mary Anne, Terri and Scott were sitting down in the kitchen. The children were having eggs (which came from their own chickens) with a small glass of milk (which came from their own cows). Mrs. Shulter was sitting by the sewing machine, making a plain white cotton dress (the cotton they grew themselves) for Terri.

“How are the animals doing, dear?” she said.

“They’re fine” Mr. Shulter said. “It’s us who’s hurt. We can’t have another bad Saturday. If we do, we won’t be able to pay for our house this month. And our kids may not be able to go to school anymore.”

“And we have so much debt we need to pay off, too,” said Mrs. Shulter.

“I know.” Mr. Shulter said sadly. “We need to get lucky tomorrow. But we say that every Friday, and nothing ever happens.”

When the dress was completed and Terri and Scott went out the door to walk to the schoolhouse, Mary Anne and Howard Shulter went off to do their chores.

The next morning, Mr. Shulter went out to milk the cows once more before their Saturday morning sale. Terri and Scott were sitting at the table eating their eggs and drinking their milk, with Mary Anne sitting beside them putting the eggs into tin buckets by the dozen, when Mr. Shulter burst into the room. “Mary Anne, Terri, Scott! Come quick! We’ve struck oil!” he shouted.

They ran outside and saw a fountain of oil shimmering gloriously in the morning sun. They finally had luck on a Saturday. The family danced around happily for a while before going back into the house and finishing their meals.

“What ever shall we buy with the money we make?” said Mrs. Shulter when they were back in the house.

“We’ll pay off our debt, fix up our house, oh, and maybe we can even get one of those cars!” Mr. Shulter said excitedly.

“Finally-- we don’t have to walk to school anymore!” said Terri and Scott together.

This talk continued for quite a while with ideas starting with things like “a bigger” or “a new” popping up quite often.

Later that day, Mrs. Shulter strolled over to her friend Beth’s ranch down the road. Beth was very poor, as the Shulter’s once were. Mrs. Shulter knocked on Beth’s door. When Beth answered, she welcomed Mrs. Shulter into the small house and asked if she’d like a drink. When they sat down and talked together Mary Anne started the conversation.

“So this morning” she began “Howard went out to feed the cows, and found a gusher on our ranch!”

“You’re joking!” replied Beth

“No.”

“Oh, congratulations, Mary Anne,” said Beth. “So what are you going to do with your riches?”

Mary Anne explained their plans. After she did, Beth said “Oh, I’m so envious. I wish I had you’re luck.”

That night, when Mr. and Mrs. Shulter crawled into their bed and talked for a little while, Mary Anne told her husband about her visit to Beth’s house.

“Howard,” she said.

“Yes” he replied.

“When I was visiting Beth today, she said something. I was talking about our oil, and she said “I’m so envious. I wish I had your luck.”

Now there is something you must understand about the Shulter family. They were kind, caring considerate people. Mrs. Shulter was beginning to feel badly for the other poor families in their area. She discussed this with Howard. The two of them thought about what it was like being poor, and how hard it was.

Mary Anne also proposed an idea. She thought that rather than keeping their wealth to themselves, they would give their riches to the poor. Howard agreed with the idea.

At the dining room table the next morning, the family agreed to give their money to the poor. Mary Anne went back to Beth’s house and gave her her share, and Beth thanked Mary ever so much. Howard and the children went to other homeless shelters and other poor homes.

Their money was spent. No, they were not wealthy in money, but they were wealthy in pride and happiness, for they had done a good deed for their community.

The next morning, Howard went out to the field to feed the animals. When he opened the door, he found an envelope on the steps. He opened it. There was money in it! A little note slipped out. Howard read it. Apparently, everyone the Shulters gave money to gave some money back. It was just enough money to pay off some of their debt, fix up their ranch, and perhaps even get a car.

Try writing 5 minutes per day everyday for a week. Free your voice!

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