By: Sarah Chase

Let me share with you a little story about how I first came to know Mr. Gilbert:

1n 1911 a magician turned businessman by the name of Alfred Carlton Gilbert invented a children's construction toy now known globally as the Erector Set.  His company, the A.C. Gilbert Company, quickly became the most successful toy company in the world.  That's how history knows Mr. Gilbert.

Let me share with you a little story about how I first came to know Mr. Gilbert:

"That man loved to fish," said dad over his slice of pumpkin pie. 

"Grandfather was the gameskeeper of the Mountain Club in those days, I reckon must have been about 1930 or so." 

Mom poured the coffee for our Thanksgiving dinner guests, as forks dug deep into the sweet desserts.  Dad continued ...

Those two would take the canoe out on the pond nearly every day in the summer, until that one day. 

Grandfather said Mr. Gilbert was the first one to see it swimming off in the distance.

"Do you see that, Ed?" said Mr. Gilbert.  "What do y'spose that is?"

"Rattlesnake."

"What?" 

"It's a rattlesnake Mr. Gilbert." 

"Are you daft, rattlesnakes can't swim!"

"Sure they can." 

Grandfather paddled the canoe in closer.

"Haha, you're pulling my leg, you ol' (censored)!" 

"No I ain't, it's a rattlesnake.  See ..."

And with that ... grandfather dipped the paddle under the belly of the swimming serpent and flipped it, fangs and all, into the canoe. 

As grandfather told it, "Mr. Gilbert never found out if rattlesnakes could swim.  But the snake and I sure found out that Mr. Gilbert could swim."

Regardless of country or creed ... I do hope you'll share this story your own family and friends and enjoy a happy moment together.