Audubon Republican. [volume] (Audubon, Iowa) 1894-1925, 1916-05-25
CHAPTER vIIl-continued.

CHAPTER Vlll-Continued.
He seated himself In a chair at his
sons side and leaning over, tapped
Bibbs confidentially on the knee.
''This city's got the greatest future in
America, and IL my sons behave right
by me and by themselves they're goin'
to have mighty fair share of tia
mighty fair share. | love this town.
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 we're 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,
can't take any of it-nor any gold or
silver nor buildings nor bonds-away
with me in my shroud when have to
lgo. But I want to leave my share in
It to my boys. I've worked for it; I've
been builder and maker; and two
blades Of grass have grown where one
grew before. whenever | laid my hand
Oh the ground and willed 'em to grow.
I've built big, and want the buildin'
Ito go on. And when my last hour
comes | want to know that my boys
ARE ready to take charge. Blbbs, when
I'm up above l want to know that the
big share I've made mine, here below,
is CROWN bigger and bigger In tel
charge of my boys"
He leaned back, deeply moyed.|
l''Theres" he said, huskily. "rve never
spoken more what was in my heart in
my life. / do 1t because I want you
to understand-and not think me
mean father. never had to talk that
way to Jim and Roscoe. They under
stood without any talk, Bibbs."
i 81 see," said Bibbs. "At least
think do. But"
swat a minutep Sheridan raised
his hand. "If you see the least bit in
the world, then you understand what
IT meant to start one O. my boys and
you did, and have to be sent to a sani-
tarium because he couldn't stand work.
Now, let's get right down to 1t, Bibbs.
I've had a whole lot O. talk with ole
Doc Quincy about you, one time and
another, and reckon l understand
your case just about as well as he
does, anyway.
Nov, why did work make you sick
instead Of brace you up and make a
man Of you the way it ought of done?
pinned ole Quincy down to it. says,
Look here, amt it really because he
just plain hated It? Yes he says,
that's it. If he'd enjoyed it, 1t wouldn't
"a hurt him. And that's about the
way it is"
EYES, said Bibbs, "that's about the
way 1t is"
"Well, then, l reckon it's up to me
not only to make you do it, but to
make you like it?'
Bibbs shivered. And he turned upon
his father look that was almost
ghostly. II can't" he said, In low
voice. II can't"
'Can't go back to the shop?"
mo. Can't like it. / can't"
Sheridan jumped up, his patience
gone. To his own view, he had rea-
soned exclusively, had explained
fully and had pleaded more than a IA
Their should, only to be met in the end
with the unreasoning and mysterious
stubbornness which had been Bibbs'
battling characteristic from childhood.
by George, you will" he cried.
"You'll go back there and you'll like 1t!
Quincy says 1t won't hurt you IL you
like 1t. and he says it II kill you If you
go back and hate 1t; so 1t looks as If 1t
was about up to you not to hate 1t.
Well, Gurney's a fool! Hatin' work
doesn't kill anybody; and this isn't
goin to kill you, whether you hate it or
not I've never made mistake In
serious matter in my life, and it wasn't
a mistake my sendin' you there in the
first place. And I'm goin' to prove it
Pm goin' to send you back there and
vindicate my judgment Quincy says
it's all mental attitude Well you're
goin' to learn the right one! He says
In a couple Of more months this fool
thing that's been the matter with you'll
be disappeared completely and you'll
be back in as good or better condition
than you were before you ever went
into the shop. And right then is when
you begin overnight in that same
shop! Nobody can call me hard man
or n mean father. do the best | can
for my children, and l take the full
responsibility for bringin' my sons up
to be men. Now. so far, I've failed
with you. But I'm not goin' to keep
on failin'. l never tackled Job yet