Saturday, July 19, 2008

A Rare Sixty some Year Old Gem

To celebrate finding a scanner driver that works with my Mac and my old Epson, saving me from having to buy a new scanner, and also simultaneously finding this gem from our Sunday School manual of 1948, I wanted to share.  I have not altered the original in any way.  If I get many votes to delete, I can do that, but it does bring back memories of causing great grief to various Sunday School teachers.

29 comments:

Ann said...

So, being one of the younger generation, was this your Sunday School manual? Or ------ . I definitely vote for a non-delete and am very much interested in the rest of the story. Who were the Knowltons?

Dwight said...

The Knowlton's were a family who came to supervise the contract to build all the concrete flumes and irrigation system at Heart Mountain, the project Dad worked on during the summer of 1948. What do you mean was this my Sunday School Manual? Obviously it was. Please double click to appreciate the art work of a talented 15 year old genius.

Ann said...

I guess my hope was that it was something just sitting around that you decided to decorate. Knowing the rest of the story certainly adds dimension to the artistic talent that does indeed appear on the cover. I'm working on the appreciation angle - it has yet to materialize! You were wise to turn to writing. And who was the (un)fortunate Sunday School teacher who got to put up with you? No wonder I needed Mother's protection, at times.

Elizabeth said...

Do you remember Dad talking about "Old Man Knowlton" (who was his boss) as they worked on the project at Heart Mountain? Dad often unceremoniously called certain people "old man", even though they were probably much his same age. He did have respect for this man, but working for someone else did reinforce for him that he really loved independence in the work place - maybe that's why he stuck to farming so long, even though he didn't seem quite suited to it.
By the way, the S.S. lesson manual exhibits more "attitude" than anything else, but the autographs are telling.
And - we're glad about the drive for your old Epson. It has been quite a workhorse. Thanks for all the scanning you've done over the years!

Judy said...

Was Elizabeth also in your Sunday School class, or just Louise? As I remember, you were also good at "planning a party" (for the Sunday School class) as a diversion from the lesson. Bless those teachers who put up with the less than perfect students.

Dwight said...

I'm happy to have so much psychoanalysis of my cover. Actually, you have all missed the mark. The problem was, the original cover needed redecorating as it was a bit much. The cover is battered after taking it to church every Sunday. The inside is in mint, pristine condition from never have been read or opened. On to the next subject. At least it kept everyone busy for a day or two and that's what counts. Only Louise and I were in the class. Liz was with the younger children, as it was. The teacher was probably Burchell.

Dwight said...

I feel this posting did not receive the meritorious comments it deserved. I think I improved on the original cover by a substantial degree, with the girl in puffy sleeves smiling sweetly as she was reading the B of M and the young man with the pompadour hairdo gazing fondly (at the girl in the puffy sleeves) who one presumes is not his sister or he would have a whole lot different demeanor. This manual is probably worth a mint by now. Actually, never having read it to this date, I was alarmed on p. 113 to read "Because the righteous rest from all their troubles, care, and sorrow, it does not mean they suddenly become idle and inactive [when they croak]. Idleness could not bring happiness . . ." Wow. Now there's something to worry about. I want to be idle. I don't want somebody bugging me about doing chores or cheering up the wicked, etc. There is some alarming doctrine in this book (seriously). Good thing I didn't read it 60 years ago.

Elizabeth said...

Ah, but there was a year that I was in the same S.S. class as Louise and Dwight. Roland Hogg was our teacher. He offered a Book of Mormon to anyone who would read it through. I still have it. At the risk of sounding smug (was I that hard to take?), the quote in the front states, "To the most meritorious student in my Sunday School Class." and was signed by the teacher. It was later than Burchell was my teacher - I'm afraid we didn't lead him a very easy time of it - obviously, I had quit being "most meritorious".

Dwight said...

I believe the topic is on the cover to my SS manual, not on good behavior and getting a free B of M. Actually, I read the B of M from cover to cover at age 14 and didn't get no free copy of it, and no "meritorious" praise from anyone for doing so. Is there some injustice here or what?

Elizabeth said...

I was 12.

Dwight said...

There's something out of whack here. 6:18 a.m.? Did you stay up all night thinking of the most terse, succinct, comment you have ever made? Did you giggle and tee-hee after you posted this? I hate to admit it, but you won this round, after I laughed for five minutes when Judy read this to me this morning. But remember, "wo unto those who think they have won the battle after twisting the subject around to something else just to score points" (IV Nephi, 38:22)

Elizabeth said...

Not only "terse, succinct", but also germaine!
By the way, since IV Nephi has only one chapter, to which verse are you referring to make your questionable point?

Dwight said...

you misspelled germane.

Elizabeth said...

You won - on that one tiny point. However, it's such a good word, my spelling makes it more important.

Dwight said...

How can misspelling make germaine more germane? When you balked on explaining intransitive verbs?

Ann said...

It is nice to know the banter goes on, irregardless of how old we all get!

Judy said...

You have lost me. What have intransitive verbs got to do with the SS manual? And we never did get IV Nephi set right. It seems to me that the student is having a hard time sticking to the subject of today's lesson.

Dwight said...

Oh brother.

Elizabeth said...

Now we have reverted to The Curmudgeonly Professor! Actually, it finally dawned on me last night that Dwight's subliminal message in quoting IV Nephi 38:22, which does not exist, was that he is making up his own scriptural reference in order to zap me in a very subtle way. Since I was born "literal", that isn't too difficult to do. Shall we declare a truce on this one - but if we do, please hurry with something else to have a spirited dialogue about.

Dwight said...

Subtle?

Elizabeth said...

Ouch!

Dwight said...

Because of pride, they are puffed up
---2N:28:13

Ann said...

Moving on -------- How is the weather?

Dwight said...

Wo unto the blind that will not see.
--2N9:32

Elizabeth said...

Let's see - is the message that you persecute the meek (me)and the poor in heart 2 Nephi 23:13), or is it that you do not hear (see 2 Nephi 9:31? You are finding some very interesting scriptures - could it be that all of your time in S.S. was not lost, or is this the result of independent study? And, Ann, the weather is hotter 'n. We are just getting experience for what's coming next?

Dwight said...

You exceeded the word limit.

Elizabeth said...

"Word limit?" Are there rules that I don't know about? How can there be a limit for such a scintillating subject as your old Sunday School manual? And how come you got a manual and I never did. Younger sisters are persecuted oft times. (Oh, yes, I forgot about receiving a Book of Mormon with an inscription about being a "most meritorious student".)

Dwight said...

gag; desperation knows no limits

Elizabeth said...

Is "gag" a sublimingal message to stop this back and forth for this particular blog posting? Just say the word, but I'll never say "uncle".