Re: Good deed

It’s always refreshing, when our newspapers and other media are filled with tales of vicious crimes, terrorist acts and full-scale wars, that something which catches our attention in a positive way occurs most unexpectedly.  Such a thing happened to me several weeks ago as a result of running some errands in the Hope Street area.

After stopping at several retail establishments and grabbing a light lunch, I realized that my briefcase did not contain my wallet. With the bewildered and reluctant approval of my waiter, I promised that when my wallet was found, I would come back to pay for my meal. I then made that all-too-familiar search of my automobile and briefcase and retraced my movements over the previous hour, without success.  

I immediately canceled my credit cards. Twenty-four hours later, I received an envelope, postmarked “Pawtucket, R.I.,” with the left-hand corner containing, not anyone’s name and address, but the following language: “That which was lost, now found” followed by the all-too-familiar smiley face, and signed “David.”

To folksong aficionados, particularly fans of Judy Collins, that reference, instead of a full name and address of the person who found my wallet, is based on an 18th century poem which became the popular 19th century Christian hymn titled  “Amazing Grace”:  

Amazing Grace, how sweet the sound,

That saved a wretch like me,

 I once was lost but now am found

Was blind, but now I see.

I immediately returned to pay my modest bill to a stunned waiter. I was absolutely floored to receive my wallet with credit cards, driver’s license, other documents and cash all intact, however, I felt cheated by not knowing who had found it and promptly returned it to me.  

My visits to the post office to find out if I could at least determine which branch the package was mailed from met with no success, as did my return visits to the shops I had visited earlier inquiring about “David”.

So, now, I must publically thank David for his good deed, done with amazing grace.

Thanks, David.  Hope you have as great a day as I did when I received your package.


Allan M. Shine

Exeter, R.I.