More About Son Brent

By Edwin B. Petersen

HELLO FOLKS — I've been told that a successful old age depends on a proper beginning.

There is nothing more harmful to a man's progress than to think he is in the grave when he is really in a rut.

—

I DIDN'T FINISH telling you about our episode with Brent, when we were on our vacation last summer.

When we found Brent and didn't realize that he had had such a good time on shore we didn't want to waste his ticket and deprive him of the opportunity to ride on a river boat. Therefore, we put him on the "Bemidji Belle" which was supposed to be leaving for another excursion soon: while we went to visit Paul and Babe.

The Bemidji Belle didn't leave as scheduled and by the time we had seen most of the sights in the park she was still there, tied up at port.


We were anxious to get to Itaska Park before dark so we decided to get Brent off the boat.


No Refunds


He was getting tired of waiting too, so Vera went over to the ticket office to see if we could get a refund on the ticket. The ticket agent was reluctant to refund the money, but offerend to give each of the children a ball of cotton candy. This made good business, so each of them received the biggest ball of cotton candy they had ever eaten.


It wasn't until then we found out what Brent had been up to and why he seemed so happy despite the fact that he had been left behind. Who wouldn't be happy if they could get free rides in a park just by telling a sob story.


We discovered one thing on the trip. The children had a way of getting us to let them go swimming, whenever they wanted to. One of them would 'accidentally' fall in the water or at least get very wet. Then this 'leader' would say something about changing to a swimming suit or staying in the water as long as he or she was already wet. Soon they were all in the swim.


One of the things the children won't soon forget was bathing in the headwaters of the Mississippi. The water was warm and the bottom sandy, and just deep enough for fun. All in all, we had a very lovely time.


I hope that most of you busy people — especially farmers — will take off a few days and see Minnesota 'first'. A trip through the Twin Cities Duluth, North Shore Drive and across through the Iron Range is worth anybody's time and trouble.


HISTORY
Paul Bunyan Park - Click HERE