As time when on, papa became so weak. It was hard to see him lying in bed, not able to move so well or breathe without difficulty. “You'll be the man in the family, Hans”, his father told him one day, “I'm just too tired anymore. Seems like the good Lord needs me to tend his fields and fix whatever is broken up there. But that's okay…it's good, honest work, son”. Papa always had a way of putting things, different from mama, but Hans understood the meaning of these times. Knew his papa was the kind of sick that never gets better. “Just wish I could have hung around to see you grow, boy. I can tell you'll be a fine, young man. Now help me up, Hans. You and me need to go and sit on the back porch so I can show you something.” Hans remembers mama being so upset to see papa so weak and trying t
