Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1916-10-05

whatever in the course Of your life?
Have you ever been right upon any
subject or question you've thought
about or talked about? Can you men
ton one single time when you were
proved to be right?''
He was fourishing the banda ged
hand as he spoke, but Bibbs said only,
IF I've always been wrong before,
surely there's more chance that I'm
right about this. It seems reasonable
to suppose something would be due to
bring up my avera ge."
eyes, 1 thought you wouldn't see the
point. And there's another you prob
ably couldn't see, but I'll take the lib
erty to mention it. You been baIkin'
all your life. Pretty much everything
l ever wanted you to do, you'd let out
some kind of a boiler, like you are
now-and yet can't seem to remem-
Der once when you didn't have to lay
down and do what l said. But go on
with your remarks about our city and
the business of this country. Go on"
I don't want to be part Of it." said
Bibbs, with unwonted decision. II
want to keep to myself, and I'm doing
1t now. l couldn't, if I went down
there with you. I'd be swallowed into
it. l don't care for money enough
to-"
mo-" his father interrupted, still
dangerously quiet. you've never had
IN +-O1
that by what you say. Now, let me
remind you; you're sIeepin' in a pretty
good bed; you're eatin' pretty fair
food; you're wearin' pretty fine
clothes. Just suppose one O. these
noisy housekeepers-me, for instance
decided to let you do your own house
keepin'. May I ask what your propo-
sition would be?"
I'm earning nine dollars a week."
said Bibbs, sturdily. Its enough. [
shouldn't mind at ALL"
"Who's payin' you that nine dollars
week?"
''My work. Bibbs answered. "And
I've done so well on that clipping ma
chine l believe I could work up to fif-
teen or even twenty a week at another
job. I could be a fair plumber in
few months, I'm sure. I'd rather have
trade than be in business-I should.
fnfnitelyP'
"You better set about Iearnin' one
pretty dam Quick!' But Sheridan
struggled with his temper and again
was partially successful in controlling
1t. ''YOu better learn a trade over Sun
day, because you're either goin' down
with me to my Office Monday morn
ing-or-you can go to plumbing!'
Gail right" said Bibbs, gently. ST
can get along"
Sheridan raised his hands sardon-
ically, as in prayer. 30 Cod he said,
''this boy was crazy enough before
he began to earn nine dollars a week,
and now his moneys gone to his head!
Can't you do nothin' for him?" Then
he flung his hands apart, palms out
ward, in a furious gesture of dismis-
sal. Get out O. this room! You got
a skull that's thicker'n a whales
thigh-bone, but it's cracked spang all
the way across! You're cracked! Oh,
but l got a fine layout here! One son
died, one quit, and ones loon! The
looms all [ got left! Well, mister, loon
or no loon, cracked and crazy or what
ever you are, I'll take you with me
Monday morning, and I'll work you
and learn you-yes' and I'll lam you,
if I got to-untitl I've made something
out of you that's fit to be called a
business man! I'll keep at you while
I'm able to stand and if l have to lay
down to die I'll be whisperin' at you
till they get the embalmin' fluid into
me! Now go on, and don't let me hear
from you again till you can come and
tell me you've walked up, you poor, pitt
full, dandelion-pickin' sleep-walker!'
Bibbs gave him a queer look. There
was something like reproach in it, for
once; but there was more than that
he seemed to be startled by his fathers
last word.