Iowa County democrat. [volume] (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1877-1938, 1916-05-18

lily, when the anguish had somewhat
abated, what do you want to dog
Taken by SURPRISE Bibbs stammered.
"What-What do-I-What-"
IF I'd let you do exactly what you
had the whim for, what would you
do?"
Bibbs looked startled; then timidity
overwhelmed hm-a profound shy
ness. He bent his head and fixed his
lowered eyes upon the toe of his shoe,
which he moved to and fro upon the
rug, like a culprit called to the desk in
school,
"What would you do? Loaf?"
mo. sir Bibbs' voice was almost
inaudible, and what little sound it
made was unquestiOnably guilty
sound. 81 suppose rd-Id try Toto
write"
write what?"
Nothing important-just poems and
essays, perhaps"
II see,' said his father, breathing
quickly with the restraint he was put
ting upon himself THAT is, you want
to write, but you don't want to write
anything of any account"
you think"
Sheridan got up again. 81 take my
hat off to the man that can write
good adj he said, emphatically. 1.-The
best writin' talent in this country is
right spang in the al business today.
You buy magazine for good writin'-
look on the back Of it! Let me tell
you [ pay money for that kind O.
writ ;. Maybe you think it's easy.
just try it. I've tried it, and | can't
do it. tell you an ads got to be writ
ten so it makes people do the hardest
thing in this world to get 'em to do: 1t
got to make 'em give up their money.
You talk about poems and essays:
| tell you when it comes to the actual
skill O. putin words together so as to
make things happen, r. L. Bloss, right
here in this city, knows more in
minute than George Waldo Emerson
ever knew in his whole life!'
"You-you may be- Bibbs said,
indistinctly, the last word smothered in
a cough.
"Of course I'm right! And if it amt
Just like you to want to take up with
the most out-o'-date kind O. Writln,
there is! Poems and essays! My
Lord. Bibbs, that's women's work!
Why, look at Edith! l expect that
poem O. hers would set a pretty high
water mark for you, young man, and
| it's the only one she's ever managed
to write in her whole life! And tIdith'S
a smart girl; she's got more energy IN
her little finger than you ever give me
a chance to see in your whole body,
Bibbs. I'm not sayin' a word against
! poetry | wouldn't take ten thousand
! dollars right now for that poem of
Edith's; and poetry's all right enough
in its place-but you leave it to the
girls. 4 mans got to do mans work
in this world
de seated himself in a chair at his
son's side and, leaning over, tapped
BibbS confidentially on the knee.
This city's got the greatest future in
America, and if my sons behave right
by me and by themselves they're goin'
to have a mighty fair share of it-a
mighty fair share. l love this town. l
love it like do my own business, and
I'd fight for it as quick as I'd fight for
my own family. It's beautiful town.
Look at our wholesale district; look at
any district you want to; look at the
park system were putin through, and
the boulevards and the public statuary.
And she grows. God. how she grows!'
He had become intensely grave; he
spoke with solemnity. NOW, Bibbs, l
can't take any Of it-nor any gold or
silver nor buildings nor bonds-away
with me in my shroud when have to
go. But I want to leave my share in
it to my boys. I've worked for it; I've
been a builder and a maker; and two
blades of grass have grown where one