The Turmoil - Booth Tarkington (good books to read for 12 year olds .txt) š
- Author: Booth Tarkington
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Bibbs jumped to his feet, blanched. āOh no!ā he cried.
Sheridan took his dismay to be the excitement of sudden joy. āYes, sir! And thereās some pretty fat little salaries goes with those vice-presidencies, and a pinch oā stock in the Pump Company with the directorship. You thought I was pretty mean about the shopā āoh, I know you did!ā ābut you see the old man can play it both ways. And so right now, the minute youāve begun to make good the way I wanted you to, I deal from the new deck. And Iāll keep on handinā it out bigger and bigger every time you show me youāre big enough to play the hand I deal you. Iām startinā you with a pretty big one, my boy!ā
āBut I donātā āI donātā āI donāt want it!ā Bibbs stammered.
āWhatād you say?ā Sheridan thought he had not heard aright.
āI donāt want it, father. I thank youā āI do thank youā āā
Sheridan looked perplexed. āWhatās the matter with you? Didnāt you understand what I was tellinā you?ā
āYes.ā
āYou sure? I reckon you didnāt. I offeredā āā
āI know, I know! But I canāt take it.ā
āWhatās the matter with you?ā Sheridan was half amazed, half suspicious. āYour head feel funny?ā
āIāve never been quite so sane in my life,ā said Bibbs, āas I have lately. And Iāve got just what I want. Iām living exactly the right life. Iām earning my daily bread, and Iām happy in doing it. My wages are enough. I donāt want any more money, and I donāt deserve anyā āā
āDamnation!ā Sheridan sprang up. āYouāve turned Socialist! You been listening to those fellows down there, and youā āā
āNo, sir. I think thereās a great deal in what they say, but that isnāt it.ā
Sheridan tried to restrain his growing fury, and succeeded partially. āThen what is it? Whatās the matter?ā
āNothing,ā his son returned, nervously. āNothingā āexcept that Iām content. I donāt want to change anything.ā
āWhy not?ā
Bibbs had the incredible folly to try to explain. āIāll tell you, father, if I can. I know it may be hard to understandā āā
āYes, I think it may be,ā said Sheridan, grimly. āWhat you say usually is a little that way. Go on!ā
Perturbed and distressed, Bibbs rose instinctively; he felt himself at every possible disadvantage. He was a sleeper clinging to a dreamā āa rough hand stretched to shake him and waken him. He went to a table and made vague drawings upon it with a finger, and as he spoke he kept his eyes lowered. āYou werenāt altogether right about the shopā āthat is, in one way you werenāt, father.ā He glanced up apprehensively. Sheridan stood facing him, expressionless, and made no attempt to interrupt. āThatās difficult to explain,ā Bibbs continued, lowering his eyes again, to follow the tracings of his finger. āIā āI believe the shop might have done for me this time if I hadnātā āif something hadnāt helped me toā āoh, not only to bear it, but to be happy in it. Well, I am happy in it. I want to go on just as I am. And of all things on earth that I donāt want, I donāt want to live a business lifeā āI donāt want to be drawn into it. I donāt think it is livingā āand now I am living. I have the healthful toilā āand I can think. In business as important as yours I couldnāt think anything but business. I donātā āI donāt think making money is worth while.ā
āGo on,ā said
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