Uncle Charlie McCaskie

Montana
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Uncle Charlie - a favourite relative by Helen McCaskie Wayman

(Charles F C McCaskie, son of James and grandson of James McAskey and Ann Speer
from Ireland - he married Alice Cantrell in Worthington Minnesota
and they had 4 children Florence, Clarence, Lilan and Ella)

Charles McCaskie lived with his daughter, Florence Eby, during his last years. She earned their living by working for a photographer as an artist -- tinting black-and-white photos with oil paints, before the advent of color film.

Near his ninetieth birthday, she decided to have a portrait of her father, and took him to her employer to have it made. But things did not go at all well. Charlie could not relax to have his picture snapped; each trial was increasingly to both customer and professional. Her Dad was trying so hard to do what he was asked that each picture of Charlie was strained, with a wooden smile and clenched hands.

Finally the photographer said " Lets take a break. Would you like a smoke, Charlie?"  

" Sure would!" Charlie sighed. Leaning back in his chair with a newly-lit Camel between his fingers, Charlie finally relaxed.

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"Sure is!" agreed his subject, as he smiled in great relief.

At that moment the clever photographer captured our uncle as we would always remember him:   a man at peace with himself and the rest of the world.......