In Bountiful Utah, a man, Josh Ferrin, found a bountiful - a $40,000-plus stash in an attic of a house he had just closed on, his first house ever; but decided not to keep it. According to the story, Mr Ferrin gave the money back to the previous owners children because the home's previous owner, Arnold Bangerter, who died last November and left the house to his children did not leave the money for him? In his own words, "I could imagine him (the previous owner) in his workshop. From time to time, he would carefully bundle up $100 with twine, climb up into his attic and put it into a box to save. And he didn't do that for me." Icheoku asks, how did this man know the intention of the previous owner which could have been to make a surprise anonymous bequeath to whoever takes possession of the house? How does this Mr. Ferrin know that the previous owner did not intend that the money should be used for the renovation of the run down house which he purchased probably in an auction; and for its upkeep? Lastly, how did Mr Ferrin known that the previous owner intended his children to inherit the money, otherwise why did he not disclose its existence to them before he died?
What if the previous owner intended that the money be congruous to inheriting the house and that any of his children who takes possession of the house should automatically be the natural recipient of the money. Further that the money becomes a gift based on the happening of a condition subsequent of keeping the house in the family and that it should fail if his survivors decide to offload the family pride which he bought since 1966? Sometime it is just very difficult to impute intent on such deceased owner, who probably preferred a total stranger to inherit his stash than his biological children? Icheoku asks, does anyone even know whether the children were there for their old man when he needed them most to help him live out his natural life or were they the never-available children who never helped their mom and dad in their old age? But like Rumsfeld said, there are so many not knowns and so many things we know that we don't know; so the very decisice intent of this previous owner regarding this money was interred with him when he died without disclosing its existence. Icheoku says, it was purely the magnanimity of Mr. Ferrin that these children got this stash.
Anyway, while Icheoku commends this saintly act of Mr. Ferrin; we are afraid that he will remain the artist he is and for a long time as he declined a fortune that smiled at him? Icheoku do not know about you; but many a person will jump for joy that mother-luck finally remembered to pay them a visit, since the house probably was sold and purchased "as is" including the right to all its contents? And funny enough, the son who received the cash from the finder (Icheoku thought that a finder keepth), never considered it conscionable enough on his part to give Mr Ferrin some of the money in appreciation of his good deed? May be he was not even close to his dad while he was alive and was glad that finally something dropped from that old man; and internally questioning the wisdom of Mr. Ferrin giving back what was ordinarily, rightfully his to keep. Icheoku hopes he also did not think Mr. Ferrin is an idiot for letting a fish in his hook go? Hopefully someday, this Mr Ferrin will win the lottery and Icheoku hopes he will not reject it or willingly, throw away the winning numbers' ticket. Just pulling your legs as this is what honesty really looks like - in the midst of less, a man barely getting by, gave up a bountiful; but only in Bountiful, Utah, United States of America! Way to go, Mr. Ferrin!
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